Sightings - Martin Mere
Bewick's Swan still
Another good birding day with excellent visibility and light winds. Bewick's Swan still present and showing very well right at the front of Swan Link hide during the 3pm feed. The bird is spending most of the time on the left hand side of the Mere. At lea
16 January 2014
Bittern Booming
Very mild and spring like today, so much so that a wintering Bittern was practicing it's territorial call, heard in the reed bed from the Harrier Hide. This bird is likely to return to mainland Europe to breed but if it's still calling in May/June it mayb
15 January 2014
Bewick's Swan again
Great light again this morning and with light winds excellent for viewing. The Peregrines were in action early on with 2 birds present, Merlin again, 3 Common Buzzard and Kestrel. A single Bewick's Swan seen from the Swan Link Hide early afternoon. Some w
14 January 2014
Bird News
A lovely clear morning with increasing cloud cover through the day and light winds. A build up of Pink-footed Geese is slowly occurring with 3000+ birds roosting. A good time to find something rarer among them. Also more Whooper Swan present although no c
13 January 2014
First Bewick's Swan of 2014
A single Bewick's Swan was present throughout the day on the Mere with 1000+ Whooper Swan. There have only been 6 Bewick's present in the area this winter. All the evidence suggest that climate change is responsible for the decline of this species winteri
12 January 2014
Pinkfeet and Harriers
Some wildfowl counts on site revealed 980 Whooper Swan, 4190 Pink footed Geese, 344 Greylag Geese, 1610 Wigeon, 2490 Teal and 20 Tufted Duck. No reports of the Bittern today but the best hide to look from should be the Harrier Hide. The imm male Marsh Har
8 January 2014
Bittern
Bird of the day has to go to the Bittern flushed while strimming back some of the reedbed in front of Harrier Hide late morning, it flew and dropped back into the quite extensive reedbed here, hopefully with some of the reeds being strimmed there may be s
7 January 2014
''Yellow legged Gull''
A 'Yellow legged Gull' that has been around on and off for a few years was seen again today, although at times it looks very like a michahellis Yellow legged Gull there a number of features that aren't quite right, the upperpart grey is a little too dark
6 January 2014
Into the new year.
A good start to the day in calm conditions. A Barn Owl was hunting this morning, viewable from the Ron Barker Hide. At least 4 Common Buzzard, Peregrine and Marsh Harrier. Over 1000 Whooper Swan and 1000+ Pink-footed Geese roosting. We can expect more Pin
4 January 2014
Harriers
Both the male Hen Harrier and the Marsh Harrier were seen again today along with at least 1 adult Peregrine and 5 Common Buzzard, also at least 1 Raven was seen. A Grey wagtail and Pied Wagtail were seen and heard around the Mere, also good numbers of Tre
31 December 2013
Hen Harrier again
The male Hen Harrier was seen again this afternoon, it showed well from the appropriately named Harrier Hide, also at least 1 Marsh Harrier in the area and 2 adult Peregrine. At least 80 Ruff and 1500 Lapwing on the reserve and upto 2000 Pink footed Geese
30 December 2013
Hen Harrier
Some news from recent days as well as todays sightings: 25th: A group of 4 Bewick's Swans were seen by staff before departing, these are the first sightings of Bewick's this winter, hopefully they will be seen again soon. 26th: Barn Owl and Tawny Owl were
28 December 2013
Merry Xmas!
Merry Xmas to all our readers and a bird filled New Year!! A single Barnacle Goose was with c300 Pink footed Geese using the reserve today. The usual immature male Marsh Harrier was seen again but only the adult male Peregrine and upto 4 Common Buzzard. T
24 December 2013
Ravens
The pair of Ravens are still to be seen on site, also our resident family of Peregrines (2ad,1juv) were in action today killing a Stock Dove. At least 1 Marsh Harrier (imm male) was seen along with a few Common Buzzard. The male Stonechat is still from R
21 December 2013
Goldeneye
All 3 Peregrines (2 ad & juv male) performed well today, with all 3 spending most of the morning sat on fenceposts at the back of the Mere. At least 1 Marsh Harrier was seen along with the usual Common Buzzards and Sparrowhawk. The 1000+ Whooper Swans
17 December 2013