First Osprey of the year and the earliest recorded here on the 15th March and presumably the same bird seen again on the 16th. The Ribble Valley is a migration hot spot for many species including Osprey so we can expect more birds to come.

Another early arriving species is Northern Wheatear the first of these likely to be local breeders. Later into April and early May Greenland Wheatear will also move through.

Sand Martin counts have topped 20 birds, still many more of these to come. A Swallow was reported on the 23rd March.

Daily sighting of Mediterranean Gull on the reserve with a count of 9 adults on the 21st.

Plenty of other activity around the reserve. Two Jack Snipe have been showing around the edge of No.1 Pit Island. Bittern still Meadow Lake. A few pairs of Tree Sparrow were seen on the 20th March, uncommon here.

General waders included 20+ Lapwing (some seen scrape making), 8 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher, 8 Snipe, Dunlin and a fly over flock of 15 Golden Plover on the 20th.

Wildfowl numbers dropping still with counts including, 2 Pochard, 47 Wigeon, 15 Teal, 27 Shoveler, 42 Tufted Duck, 8 Goosander, 8 Goldeneye. Locally Garganey have been turning up so only matter of time before one gets here?

Other sightings have included Rock Pipit (with 25 Meadow Pipit) on the 15th March. Up to 7 Common Buzzard thermalling. 15+ singing Chiffchaff. Tawny Owl seen during the day, Barn Owl present. Reed Bunting are unmissable with many breeding pairs scattered around the reserve and the males 'singing' out in the open.

We have a newly installed sightings board in the in focus shop, based in the Lookout.

It should be possible to see 50+ species of bird on the reserve currently, so if you are visiting the reserve and would like to know what is around and where the best spots might be or have something to report, feel free to drop into the in focus shop, based in the Lookout and we can point you in the right direction.