t is with great disappointment that we have decided to cancel the Race for Wildlife on Sunday on safety grounds. After today’s laying snow and the forecast of further freezing weather, especially on Saturday night, as organisers we cannot take any risks with runners slipping and injuring themselves, due to the conditions on the reserve.

We have re-scheduled the race for a new date of Sunday March 10.

Apologies again…

I generally write a blog about birds when we have some sightings away from the norm, but the most exciting bird I've seen at The Lodge recently may surprise you? Walking around RSPB HQ last Friday, I noticed a single female house sparrow amongst the shrubs, and after a second or two it dawned on me that we don't get sparrows on the reserve! In fact it's the only house sparrow I've seen here in almost 11 years, so a new…

There are still quite a few birders arriving and asking about the four crossbills that have been around occasionally since the new year. It's very difficult to pin them down to give specific advice on where to see them; sometimes they aren't seen all day, and when they are seen, it's usually for a short period of time. I've seen them twice, and both times in the clear fell area behind the overflow car park. Other sightings…

It's a cracking bright sunny winter's day here today, but the wind is chilly around the ears! After a lull over the last week, the crossbills have re-appeared and were seen in the same general area behind the extension car-park yesterday. Sadly no one has managed to get any images (that I'm aware of anyway), that I can share as yet. A nice flock of lesser-redpolls are around the reserve, but very mobile, although…

I've been in the Visitor Info Centre today with volunteers Dickie and Andy, and we heard the call of a crossbill flying over. At first we couldn't locate any birds, but then spotted a male and female crossbill in a bare tree beside the overflow car park. Dickie managed to get them in his 'scope and a couple of birders had views of them before they disappeared.

In the corner of the overflow car-park there has…

The last two days at The Lodge have been very bright and sunny- with classic cold winter early mornings. One of our volunteers, Gill, took these photos when she went down to fill the hide bird feeders yesterday.
A couple of bramblings then took advantage of the food on offer, while a lesser redpoll used the feeder near the entrance on Sunday morning.

Let's hope we get some more bright days lke this over the festive break…

It's nearly time for A Christmas Carol with the Pantaloons at Sandy Village Hall!
Sunday16 December two performances at 2pm and 6pm.

Only a few tickets left now, (2pm show almost full).
Last tickets now available from The Lodge shop only, on 01767 693333.

Looking forward to kicking off Christmas with the Pantaloons!

A couple of very good birds were seen here today, adding to the build up of winter migrants this week, both seen from different locations along the Woodpecker Trail.

A firecrest was reported twice today amongst a good number of goldcrests, on the boundary of the old heath near the estate wall, while a peregrine was seen flying onto a pylon on Sandy Ridge, then another birder saw it flying off  from the pylon some time later.…

With the winds swinging to the north today and the blustery recent weather, we have had a few bramblings arrive, and at least one male is foraging under the feeders near the drive, while another bird was seen at the hide. On the new heath, several meadow pipits and linnets are active,  two woodcocks flew up, while a yellowhammer was spotted in the corner of the extension car-park , the buntings favoured spot when they hop…

We are pleased to let you know that the Buzzard Trail is now open again, as the contractors have completed most of the boundary works.

Cyclists should now only use this trail from the Gatehouse and Bridleway to go to and from Sandy.

The temporary trails that have proved so popular will stay open for walkers until after Christmas, and then be closed so that the heath is undisturbed for the early breeding birds.

The position…

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National Lottery players raise, on average, £30 million each week for projects all over the country. Nature benefits as part of the 20% of good causes funding that goes to heritage.  What has heritage got do with nature? Well, the UK is stuffed full of natural heritage (wildlife and great places…

Welcome back to the new Community Page!

After an incredibly mild period, it finally looks as though winter may be approaching at last, with cold easterlies on the way next week. The mild weather has meant a quiet time for birds on the reserve, the siskins, crossbills and bramblings from a few weeks ago seem to have moved on, but more migrant birds should be coming this way if the winds do come from the east.

As a taster to…

Our RSPB community pages are having an upgrade, so we'll be a bit quiet for a while as the upgrade work takes place!

The best birds this week have come from across the road on Sandy Heath and the quarry, with stonechat, meadow pipits and little owl all seen yesterday. The flock of winter finches is building up on the seed crop here, with reed bunting numbers increasing.

We've had no further reports of waxwings…

A quick update on the last post, the flock of around 16 waxwings has been seen again flying towards Sandy within the last hour, and I've just heard two or three crossbills from the visitor centre, but frustratingly I didn't see them!

With all of the news on half-term events and updates on the boundary work I've not updated on the birds and wildlife recently...apologies!

With good numbers of waxwings in Scotland and the north east of England, and even down to Norfolk, it seems it's going to be one of those good waxwing year's again, and a flock of 16 birds were seen in flight heading south-west over the reserve yesterday.

While I was w…

It's our Fungi Foray this Sunday,and there's still some places left. Led by local expert Alan Outen and the Beds and Herts Fungi group.

Fantastic Fungi
Sunday 4 November 10.30 am – 12.30pm...
Come along to discover and identify some of the many hundreds of wonderful fungi that fill the woodland at The Lodge at this time of the year, with the Herts and Beds Fungi group. Pay and book at the RSPB shop at…

Great news following the message below, the road is now fully re-opened ( from Thursday 25th Oct) and access is open from Sandy and Potton again.

The B1042 has just been closed while road works take place between the reserve and Sandy. We had no prior notice of these works, so apologies we weren't able to give any advance notice.
Please plan your route to come via Potton while the diversions are in place.
The contractors…

Another glorious weekend and a very busy one at The Lodge.

A pair of noisy ravens circled the meadow outside The Lodge house this morning, several flocks of siskins were around, redwings and mistle thrushes fed in the yew's and there's plenty of busy jay's collecting sweet chestnuts!

Here's a few images of the reserve taken today,

The new range of sandwiches, wraps, rolls and salads has just been delivered by Lyndsay's Bakery and look scrummy!