Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve
An S.S.S.I. Managed by Woolston Eyes Conservation Group
Woolston Eyes Monthly Sightings
2025-10-08
Having spent the best part of three weeks away in Wales, it was good to get back to the Reserve this week. While I’ve been away some of our winter visitors have returned, including the first Pink-footed Geese on the 21st September and Redwings on the 24th. Two Red-breasted Mergansers, which flew onto No.4 bed from the east on the 27th were a good sighting for the Reserve, with six Whooper Swans then over No.3 bed on the 29th and an early Brambling on the last day of the month. October opened with Hawfinch and Rock Pipit on No.4 bed but it was the gales on the 3rd and 4th which produced the best sighting of the autumn so far. With seabirds blown onto the north-west coast and further in land, there was always a chance of something good turning up in the following days. On the morning of the 6th Keith Galley found a Grey Phalarope in front of the Morgan Hide, only the second ever sighting for the Reserve. Despite harassment from the Black-headed Gulls it has been feeding well and was still looking settled today. Grey Phalaropes are small wading birds which breed in the Arctic tundra and winter off the coasts of Africa. They tend to migrate well out at sea and are mainly seen when blown onto shore by autumn gales. Photo of the Grey Phalarope Cheers David Bowman
Submitted by: David Bowman
2025-10-06
One more of the Grey Phalarope from number 3 bed today
Submitted by: Keith Gallie
2025-10-06
Grey Phalarope from today
Submitted by: Keith Gallie