The balcony feeding station came down on Monday as we bid goodbye to Big Garden Birdwatch for the year. Some of the regular birds returned for a few days and looked a little bereft that their dinner had gone missing, but they’ve grown used to the feeders being down in the Wildlife Garden again. There also appears to have been an explosion of finches, with at least seven bullfinches out there the other day.

Don…

Here's a blog from Jonny, our warden intern.

My time as an RSPB warden intern is coming to an end. I can honestly say it’s been an amazing experience!

Surveying is a key element of our work and it’s an aspect of the work I particularly enjoy. Spring and summer are particularly busy times and getting up at sunrise can be a bit tricky sometimes but you do get to hear the most amazing bird song. Of course…

Another amazing week for birds of prey here at Fairburn.  Red kites and marsh harriers have been seen every day, a peregrine was over Hickson’s Pool on Tuesday and today five buzzards were seen together from Pick-up Hide.

One of the most exciting sighting this week was a female smew out on main bay. It was reported on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and there is still time today so hopefully it’s still around!…

Snowdrops flowered in the Discovery Trail this week and catkins have started appearing on the alder trees. Cormorants and herons have begun nest building, and woodpeckers have started drumming. So while it may be grey, and it may or not be snowing, it’s time to start looking forward to spring!

Discovery trail snowdrops, taken by Sally Granger

Birds of prey have been spotted across the reserve with a sparrow…

Well, where to start, there are all sorts of exciting things happening on the reserve at the moment. The beautiful weather has enticed so many people out into the fresh winter wind, and the wildlife hasn’t disappointed either.

Perhaps the biggest excitement of the week was the brimstone butterfly sighting near Phalarope Pool on Monday.  We have since found out that this was the first sighting in the UK this year…

Just a quick update from Fairburn Ings today.  

Its a gorgeous crispy day here with the reserve covered in a frosty blanket. The icy weather is encouraging lots of birds to visit our feeders with willow tits, bullfinches, tree sparrows, reed buntings and even a water rail spotted outside the visitor centre today. The long-eared owls are still roosting in their usual spot and several sightings of kingfishers have been…