So that's flood No.4 on it's way down again! The latest round of flooding was the worst so far this year but even so water levels are falling quickly. All roads to the reserve are now open with the exception of the road along the flashes between the visitor centre and Barnsdale Road. Cut Hide is now accessible as is Bob Dickens as we have opened the workyard gates to allow access through whilst the waters fall around…

We put out our trail cam most evenings at various locations on the reserve. Often we get shots of wood mice, sometimes grey squirrels, occasionally a fox and even once a pair of labradors! Last night however we hit the jackpot!!! Imagine our surprise and joy this morning when we downloaded the images to find this superb shot of a dog OTTER!!

We have found spraints (poo) and seen foot prints in the snow before, so we…

Autumn migration continues to trickle through the reserve with a variety of waders and passerines seen in the last couple of days. Waders have included Green and Common Sandpipers, Snipe, Spotted Redshank and Dunlin. There have been a number of Yellow Wagtails seen, Spotted Flycatchers and a Whinchat. There are at least 3 Peregrines hunting over the reserve most days and male and female Marsh Harriers and Red Kites have…

As promised yesterday here is the superb picture of the Osprey taken by Keith Bowyer as it flew low over the flashes.

Nothing as exciting to report today but at least four Garganey still around the New Flash area. If you fancy an ID challenge then most species of warbler can still be found down the Lin Dike path including the more tricky juvenilles.

....actually it wasn't. You know those times when you glimpse something unfamiliar and your immediate reaction is to think it must be the rarest thing ever? Well you won't be surprised to hear that the large flying creature with vivid red underwings that I flushed from a fence post this morning wasn't actually a Wallcreeper (we can all dream). Turns out it wasn't even a hawkmoth...so apologies to those people who I told…

At least three Garganey have been showing well on New Flash and Cedric's this morning. A few Ruff are still present in the same area with Yellow Wagtails keeping them company around the flashes. Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler have been seen today along with a Peregrine and several Common Buzzards. The sunshine has prompted a late flourish of butterflies with our first sighting of Painted Lady…

The past week has seen lots of passage migrants moving through the reserve. Several Turnstones have been the pick of wader passage which has also included Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff and Little Ringed Plovers. Migrant passerines have included several Redstarts, Whinchats, Yellow Wagtails and Spotted Flycatchers. Raptors are still very much in evedence with daily sightings of Hobby, Red Kite and Marsh…