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
Spring brings blossom and bird song to the reserve. The feeders visible from the centre abound with finches, tits, woodpeckers and doves building up their strength for the coming breeding season.
A host of other wildlife can be seen, such as brimstone and orange-tip butterflies, rabbits, water voles and muntjac. Lapwings and little ringed plovers are often seen on the scrapes, along with passage waders such as green and common sandpipers and occasional redshanks.
There are plenty of wildfowl, such as gadwalls and shovelers, on the open water, along with great crested and little grebes.
Summer
In summer, the reserve is home to a variety of breeding warblers: reed and sedge in the reedbed, garden, whitethroats, and blackcaps in the surrounding vegetation. These are joined by reed buntings singing from perches and cuckoos calling their name while hobbies hawk over the scrape.
The lagoons provide feeding grounds for wildfowl broods such as tufted ducks and gadwalls. In addition, a colony of common terns can be viewed from the Gadwall hide nesting on specially-made rafts.
Butterflies, dragonflies, grass snakes, harvest mice, and water shrews make up a diverse wetland habitat. European buffalo make an unusual addition grazing the wet meadow that is managed by the HMWT.
Autumn
In autumn, as leaves are changing and the berries bulging, the reserve welcomes back the winter migrants such as fieldfares and redwings which join other thrushes to flock together and eat this bountiful crop.
Waders including green sandpipers, snipe, and lapwings can be seen on the scrapes. Ducks, grebes, and geese dominate the open water as numbers increase to create a winter spectacle.
When evening draws in, starlings, buntings, and finches flock together, swirling over the reedbeds ready to roost in safety and warmth. It is also worth remembering to look about for the unusual passage migrants. Red foxes and muntjac deer make regular appearances throughout the site.
Winter
During the winter, the wildfowl spectacle is at its height with shovelers, pochards, gadwalls and tufted ducks on the open water. Surprise sightings of goldeneyes and the occasional smew add to this wonderful sight. The elusive bittern lurking in the reeds could add to this winter picture at any time by providing a glimpse as it moves silently through the reedbed.
As dusk settles, red foxes emerge while yellowhammers flock together to roost in the reedbeds. During cold weather, many species of bird make use of the free meal provided at the feeding station near the visitor centre.