Print pageSeasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Wading birds - lapwings redshanks and snipe - displaying and visible/audible from the hide. Nesting mute swans. Smaller birds such as skylarks, yellow wagtails and reed buntings singing and visible from the trails. Grey herons, kestrels and buzzards are often seen.
Summer
Little egrets, grey herons, mute swans, mallards, kestrels and buzzards are nearly always visible throughout this period. Four-spotted chasers and other dragonflies are abundant with occasional signtings of stoats, hares, grass snakes and water voles.
Autumn
Little egrets, grey herons, kestrels and buzzards are visible with large flocks of wigeons, teals and lapwings once the reserve floods in the latter part of this period. Kingfishers, green sandpipers, snipe and greenshanks are occasional, with merlin and peregrine also possible. Dragonflies are abundant, with occasional signtings of stoats, hares, grass snakes and water voles.
Winter
Large flocks of wigeons, teals and mallards on the flooded fields from the hide. Occasional shovelers, gadwalls and pintails. Flocks of lapwings are sometmes joined by golden plovers, dunlins, ruffs and black-tailed godwits. Peregrines can occasionally be seen.