Tophill Low Nature Reserve

Tophill Low Nature Reserve Tophill Low Nature Reserve's online community - another place to look at photos and share wildlife sightings info...
(1)

It turns out the Yellow Bellied Slider is not the only American species found in the southern marshes, but instead an Am...
11/09/2026

It turns out the Yellow Bellied Slider is not the only American species found in the southern marshes, but instead an American vagrant has turned up today in the form of a Pectoral Sandpiper, an uncommon visitor which will delight anyone coming to Tophill Low this weekend.
Speaking of vagrants, we have been kindly invited to have a stand at Spurn Points Migration Festival this weekend, so if your attending the festival, please don't be shy and say hello.
Have a nice weekend everyone.

Update from the sightings board today. 34 curlew, a couple of ruff, 30 lapwing, three snipe and two green sandpipers dro...
09/09/2026

Update from the sightings board today. 34 curlew, a couple of ruff, 30 lapwing, three snipe and two green sandpipers dropped into south marsh east this afternoon. A few hummingbird hawk moths still showing on what turned out to be an otherwise quiet day.

Wading birds have slowed up somewhat with change to westerly winds. A few ruff, common sandpiper and green sandpiper st...
06/09/2026

Wading birds have slowed up somewhat with change to westerly winds. A few ruff, common sandpiper and green sandpiper still present. Caspian gull was on D reservoir yesterday and there’s been a fall of hobbys with 4 seen yesterday.

Yesterday’s reserve walk turned up a terrapin; seen infrequently around the reserve it’s unclear whether this is the former north marsh resident now basking at south marsh west next to the new sand Martin hide, or if it’s drifted in from elsewhere. Presumably a yellow bellied slider, we’ve also had red eared previously. Native to the swamps of south eastern America they can live for 50 years so is more than likely an unwanted pet from the teenage mutant ninja turtles craze 30 years ago. Alas they do have a habit of eating whatever native wildlife fits in the hatch so they’re not always welcome.

A bit more welcome has been some of our native mammals, with both water vole and otter showing very well in recent days. Hummingbird hawkmoth still around the on the wing. Image David Graham and Pat Hogarth

Sightings from today courtesy of Jeff and Chris. Still a nice array of waders on south marsh east including greenshank,...
31/08/2026

Sightings from today courtesy of Jeff and Chris. Still a nice array of waders on south marsh east including greenshank, green sandpiper, ruff and Dunlin.

Highlight a yellow wing tagged marsh harrier seen for the second time this week trying to catch coots on D reservoir before harassing a great white egret on south marsh east. It’s presumably from the north west Norfolk ringing group project and of a bird 2024 or younger. We could do with the black code letters off it anyone gets a clear view of photo…

Join us next Saturday morning at 10am for the monthly warden walk - free with standard admission to see the best of September wildlife

Some classic end of season wading birds in the last two days with the highlight two little stint on south marsh east yes...
27/08/2026

Some classic end of season wading birds in the last two days with the highlight two little stint on south marsh east yesterday and another on watton Nr today. In addition curlew sandpiper and 11 ruff. Nice to record a spotted flycatcher in south scrub too - unfortunately just a passage migrant these days.

Image of curlew sandpiper and ruff courtesy of Chris Barker

The heat of recent weeks has brought out some stunning butterflies. Most notably an influx of clouded yellows across the...
24/08/2026

The heat of recent weeks has brought out some stunning butterflies. Most notably an influx of clouded yellows across the reserve.

Another influx of ruff with 17 present today and 27 at the weekend. Green and common sandpiper in good numbers too.

Please note at the end of the week we’ll be undertaking work to start the screening at north marsh now breeding season has largely concluded

Sightings from today on the reserve courtesy of Jeff and Chris. Some nice images of clouded yellows that have again been...
10/08/2026

Sightings from today on the reserve courtesy of Jeff and Chris. Some nice images of clouded yellows that have again been present today by Pat Hogarth, and selection of waders by Dave Ruffles

07/08/2026

With a coolish week, comes the 1st signs of Autumn, like a car park full of leaves, or the steady stream of Waders on the marshes like Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper, also Otter on the prowl within the lagoons and marshes.
So have a go at finding some more elusive species this weekend at Tophill Low.
Other highlights are that the ticket machine is in operation again, and the toilets are open for use.
Goats have been reintroduced into North Scrub, so keep an eye out for them, but keep in mind for your health and the goats, please don't be tempted to stroke them or feed them, they have plenty to eat in the scrub, and you don't know what they've rolled in.
Otherwise have a great weekend and see you at Tophill Low

04/08/2026

Advance warning: there is work due to take place on the reserve on Thursday 6th August which will mean the southern end of the reserve will not be accessible to visitors- (this includes the areas by the poly tunnels, North and South lagoons, O reservoir, members hide, henge hide and Watton nature reserve hide).
This is a temporary measure and the site will be full open on Friday 7th onwards. Apologies for any temporary inconvenience this may cause.

Before the update on this week's species highlights, the WARDENS WALK this weekend HAS BEEN CANCELLED, apologies for any...
30/07/2026

Before the update on this week's species highlights, the WARDENS WALK this weekend HAS BEEN CANCELLED, apologies for any inconvenience.
The volunteers today have done a great job on cutting and collecting the last of the hay meadows for this year, the earliest we've ever done it!! (with a helping hand from the extended dry weather)
Pockets of Knapweed have been left for the butterflies, so still a chance for good photos of Clouded Yellow.
The local Otters have now started venturing into the marshes, as well as the lagoons, and by all accounts have been putting on a show!
Wader passage is nearing it's peak, so we've lowered the water levels and left plenty of mud showing.
Cattles Egrets were over on Watton Nature Reserve, and a potential Bittern somewhere on site, where? it's up to you to find out 👍
So all in all it's looking like a good weekend.

Address

Tophill Low Nature Reserve, Tophill Low
Driffield
YO259RH

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm
Sunday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+441377270690

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tophill Low Nature Reserve posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Tophill Low Nature Reserve:

Shortcuts

Share

Category