Latest Sightings
Good viewing conditions on Tuesday but a little on the wet and windy side on Wednesday. At least the forecast into the weekend looks much better.
Still packed with wintering wildfowl. The numbers will tend to hold up into March but then quickly decline as birds start their journeys back to the breeding grounds.
Counts included 500+ Whooper Swan (more roosting), 3100+ Teal, 1100+ Wigeon, 900 Shelduck, 1500+ Mallard, 280+ Pintail, 40 Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler and 2 Goldeneye. A few thousand Pink-footed Geese are roosting and 5-600 can be seen on and off during the day.
Yesterday's newly arrived Avocet were joined by another bird. At least 2000 Lapwing still present, 110+ Ruff, 29 Oystercatcher, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 5+ Snipe, 2 Redshank and a Ringed Plover.
Again good for raptors on Tuesday at least with Merlin again (male), 4+ Marsh Harrier, 8 Buzzard, Peregrine, 3 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawk.
Other reports included the roosting Tawny Owl(s), 3 Little Egret, Kingfisher, 30+ Tree Sparrow, 20+ Stock Dove. Along the Nature Trail Coal, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tit, also Goldcrest are being seen, Mistle and Song Thrushes are also around. On the feeders plenty of Reed Bunting are coming in, also Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
If you are visiting Martin Mere for the first time and would like to know what is around and the best areas to see specific species do call in at the in focus shop, next to the Discovery Hide which over looks the Mere. It should be possible to see over 60 species in a day without too much difficulty.
Also thanks to Lee Bailey for the wildfowl and wader counts.
