News
All the B's Barnacle and Blackcap
A calm and cool day at Martin Mere, tomorrow looks even better with perhaps a little sunshine! Two new species to added to the year list with a Barnacle Goose seen with Pink-footed Geese from the Ron Barker Hide and a female Blackcap near the Kingfisher H
Loose Thread Quilters Celebrate ‘Our Food So Good’
A new exhibition celebrating Northern Ireland's Year of Food and Drink 2016 has opened at the Castle Espie Gallery. The ‘Our Food So Good’ quilting exhibition by the Loose Thread Quilters has drawn inspiration from the wealth of quality produce avail
Today's sightings- a frozen scene
Temperatures dropped to below freezing point last night, as a result much of the reserve was covered in ice and the birds concentrated in any open water they could find. The South Lake and Rushy Pen were busiest as many of the waders and wildfowl had move
Wildlife sightings for 19th January 2016
4 Bittern - 1 main lake, 3 reservoir lagoon 2 Shelduck - main lake 3 Pintail - main lake 7 Mandarin - reservoir lagoon 1 Jack Snipe - wader scrape 12 Redwing - entrance lake 1 Peregrine - perched on hospital ledge January bird highlights: Bittern, Brent
Recent sightings - 19th January
The following sightings were recorded today by Toni Castello, warden, near high tide. Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Mallard +200, Tufted duck 13, Coot 3, Black-headed gull 10, Gadwall 2. Wadermarsh - visible from Bren
Reserve access
Sunrise and swans on Lady Fen Water levels continue to drop on the Ouse Washes. The wash road may soon be open and we may be able to have some footpaths and additional hides open at the weekend. This morning we ha
Update, Tuesday Jan 19th
Snow still lying but patchier now as the slow thaw continues. Green-winged Teal and Ring-necked Duck still present though general duck nos. down a bit due to ice on outlying water bodies. 7 Bramblings yesterday around the farmhouse garden and 3 Water Rail
Today's sightings- huge Pintail count!
Northern Pintail at Slimbridge by James Lees Holden Tower - Mega flock of duck out on the estuary today, cold conditions have frozen out birds from some of their normal feeding areas to gather here. A count of 1016 P
Recent Sightings
British Steel Hide Lapwing 133 Redshank 11 Spotted Redshank 2 Greenshank 7 Black-Tailed Godwit 7 Oystercatcher 3 Curlew 2 Glossy Ibis 1 Grey Heron 1 Little Egret 7 Cormorant 10 Wigeon 109 Teal 16 Tufted Duck 27 Shoveler 2 Mallard 263 Shelduck 7 Gadwall 2
Wetland bird survey results
The wardens walked around the entire reserve today counting all the birds they saw on the way. Here are their totals: Wigeon- 8051 Shoveler- 72 Gadwall- 51 Teal- 1482 Mallard- 1133 Pintail- 444 Pochard- 254 (20 females) Tufted duck- 127 Goldeneye- 1 Cormo
Golden Plover and other birds
With a marked change in temperature over the past few days it was always likely we would see a change in numbers of birds on the reserve and perhaps the arrival of something new. A count of 160 Golden Plover yesterday and 80+ today are exceptional numbers
Reserve latest, Monday Jan 18th
Still quite cold, albeit just above freezing. Snow still lying but no underfoot or road problems today. Wellies still recommended though. Lots of Whoopers at the feeds in the snowy conditions - up to 208 this morning; an increase of 80 on the recent avera
Wildlife sightings for 18th January 2016
1 Jack Snipe - scrape (flew up when disturbed by Crow) 7 Snipe - scrape 1 Bittern - reservoir lagoon 1 Peregrine - hunting over the marsh 2 Stonechat - marsh 13 Redwing - entrance area, sheltered lagoon 12 Fieldfare - entrance lake, south route 19 Siskin
Today's sightings-bird movement changes
Great Bittern at Slimbridge by Graham Hann As the heavy rain events have eased off water levels have dropped a little in some places. A few cold nights and the arrival of overnight ice has changed the movements of
Todays Sightings - Festival of swans weekend
A fantastic start to the day with our swans awake event, a beautiful sunrise and lots of whooper and Bewick’s swans! The wash road is unfortunately still closed due to flooding this affects visitors from the West side of the Ouse washes (eg Wisbech, Man