As spring rolls in, the wildlife across our nature reserves begins to awaken from its wintery slumber. From our regular favourites to rare, and even new sightings, March has brought us some incredible sights!

Brockholes

Brockholes, with its abundance of nature, never fails to disappoint with its incredible wildlife! This month we have seen the return of some amazing birds.

This month we have seen the return of the Chiffchaff to Brockholes! This stunning Chiffchaff was spotted perched on a branch, enjoying a light snack, by John Wallace. One of our earliest arrivals, the Chiffchaff can be heard singing away in early spring in woodland, scrub, parks and gardens across the UK.

The incredibly rare Spoonbill was spotted at Brockholes this month! Marking only the fourth recorded sighting of this magnificent bird at Brockholes, Bill Aspen captured this stunning photo of the Spoonbill in flight! Once absent from our shores this rare bird can now be seen infrequently across England.

Did you know … Spoonbills are named after their incredible bill, shaped like a spoon!

Freshfield Dune Heath

March brought us an incredible moment at Freshfield dunes as we had the first ever Great Crested Newt sighting at this incredible nature reserve! This female Great Crested Newt was spotted by Lancashire Wildlife Trusts very own, Hannah Stevenson, and marks an incredible achievement for the Freshfields conservation efforts!

Great Crested Newts are our biggest newts and are a protected species which are almost black in colour. They have warty skin giving them a ‘dinosaur’ look and males can be identified by their long, wavy crest along their body and tail.

Lunt Meadows

Located in Merseyside, Lunt Meadows is a haven for wildlife! This fantastic Barn Owl was spotted flying high and low over this incredible reserve by Kevin Hall.

Barn Owls can be found in many places across the UK and are one of the most well-known Owls. Their distinctive heart-shaped face, pure white feathers and almost silent flight, make these lovable birds easily recognizable.

What will you spot at our nature reserves this month? Let us know on social media using the buttons below.