A new look!

Well, as many of you will know, the visitor centre has been closed for the last week as we have had a bit of a change and a refurb. We’ve changed the layout of the shop and the reception area and added some wonderful new technology to bring you even closer to the wildlife that goes on around the centre. We’ve got new large maps that show the reserve in greater detail too.

The old look of the visitor centre

Our new sightings, map and membership area

Big change to the reception area

We still have bird food for sale, but notice the new addition!

Yes the volunteers and reserves team have been hard at work painting, varnishing, making and creating a new look to the centre. One of the newest additions to the centre is the wildlife camera TV which was very generously donated to us by Hughes Electrical of Stowmarket. This allows our visitors to see the wildlife that goes on around the centre via some new cameras that have been set up.

We currently only have 3 cameras in position and these are a bird feeder cam placed on top of one of the feeder posts outside. 

Not a speed camera, but the new bird feeder cam.

The small mammal, or critter cam placed inside a box which is buried into a bank of earth near the pond and a nest box cam fitted to a brand new nest box made by Wildlife Gadgetman, Jason Alexander.

A Robin checks out what’s on offer as a Blackbird patiently awaits his turn in the background.

A Long-tailed tit grabs a snack

A mouse having a nibble on critter cam

As yet, we have nothing to show from the nest box, but with fingers firmly crossed, we hope to get some new tenants soon!

We were supposed to have some new tables and chairs in the centre, but unfortunately, they’ve been delayed by a couple of weeks. But we still have goodies in sale in the shop which has been re-sited in the centre.

Lots of wildlife goodies to buy.

So why not come on down and pay the new look visitor centre a visit for yourself, we still sell hot drinks and cakes and you might even get to spot a Marsh tit on the feeder cam or spot the mouse on the critter cam like our video shows

Marsh tit.

Sightings

Bullfinches continue to be spotted around the reserve along the Church Walk, car park and the Kingfisher trail by the Sailing lake. Whilst looking for Bullfinches along the path, look out for the Yellow-legged Gull on the sailing lake. Up at Bill’s Hide on the Slough, 8 Goldeneye have been reported with the males beginning to display.

New for this year we’ve had two separate sightings of a Merlin on the reserve, so one to keep an eye out for! Bittern is still showing at Jason’s pool and the right hand pool at Steggall’s, which was captured in these superb photos from Ian Goodall:

© Ian Goodall

© Ian Goodall

© Ian Goodall

Up, up and away!!!

Photographer John Lord came to the reserve last week and with a special licence was able to capture these superb images of Lackford and of Steggall’s hide using a drone.

The visitor centre, sailing lake and Slough at top © John Lord

Looking westwards at the new hide at Steggall’s © John Lord

Steggall’s from above © John Lord

Please note: These photos were taken under licence and permission needs to be gained before any drones can be operated on site.

That’s about it for this week, please pop in and see us and the changes we’ve made at the centre, we always look forward to seeing you.