Sightings - Martin Mere
Woodcock again
Woodcock again throughout the day from the Janet Kear Hide. In the afternoon it spent sometime 'sun bathing' next to a tree stump, no photo I'm afraid. Just under 10,000 Pink-footed Geese roosting on the reserve. Marsh Harrier active today, one apparently
10 December 2012
A 'twitchable' Woodcock
Quite a few people coming in today to see the Woodcock which was showing again from the Janet Kear Hide. Not easy to see well under the normal circumstances of birds roding at dusk during the breeding season or being flushed on the (east) coast during mig
9 December 2012
Woodcock and a few new waders.
Woodcock again from the Janet Kear Hide. Some new waders in with 7 Dunlin, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, 12 Common Snipe, 1000+ Lapwing and 97 Ruff. The mega flock of 36,000 Wood Pigeon again around the edge of the reserve. Male Hen Harrier, Merli
8 December 2012
Woodcock
More signs of winter in this late autumn period with the arrival of a Woodcock, seen well from the Janet Kear Hide late afternoon. The Janet Kear Hide is historically the best spot to catch up with this well camouflaged woodland wader. Also Brambling from
5 December 2012
Local Waxwings
If you are visiting the reserve in the next few days it's worth checking for Waxwings as there is 30+ birds feeding on Rowan along Red Cat Lane which is the road leading to Martin Mere from Burscough from the A59. The Mere has been looking very busy over
4 December 2012
Record count of Whooper Swan.
A dusk count of Whooper Swan produced an average of 2480 birds. The highest previous count was 2100 in 2010. Interesting to note that many of the previous high counts have occurred during cold snaps which seem to encourage birds which roost elsewhere to v
2 December 2012
The winters first Bewick's Swan and Waxwings
Two or three Waxwing were seen around 13:20 between the Gladstone and Janet Kear Hides. It's a good year for Waxwing with many thousands now in the UK. More Waxwing were seen near the reserve between Red Cat Lane and Laurel Avenue in Burscough. Of course
1 December 2012
Dawn Count
This morning's dawn count produced the highest Whooper Swan numbers of the autumn so far with 1717 birds (give or take a few..) and 11500 Pink-footed Geese. The male Hen Harrier showed well this morning from the Ron Barker Hide. Also 2 Peregrine, Marsh Ha
28 November 2012
Another Raptor Fest.
Far better conditions today as the winds swung round to the North East. Certainly chiller but crystal clear viewing with sunshine in the afternoon. Another good raptor day with seven species seen. The male Hen Harrier was reported in the afternoon from th
27 November 2012
A Big Thanks.
A big thanks to everyone who attended the North West Bird Watching Festival over the last two days. Didn't manage to get round to reporting yesterday's sighting so I'll include the highlights here now. Male Hen Harrier showed well. Again making it 7 speci
26 November 2012
Hen Harrier, Green-winged Teal and Firecrest.
A top day! The influx of keen birders for the North West Birdwatching Festival paid dividends with a cracking Male Hen Harrier seen a couple times during the day, the first this autumn. The somewhat elusive Firecrest, assuming it's the same bird was seen
24 November 2012
North West Birdwatching Festival starts tommorrow!
Just to mention, the 'North West Birdfair' is on this weekend. The weather is looking good (lucky were aren't in the South West...) and there is loads of stuff on which can be found on the WWT Website. Over the years a number of good rarities have been fo
23 November 2012
Bird News
Rather grey but most of the 'weather' held off til late afternoon. Very mild in the strong southerlies. Some counts across the reserve included 2000+ Pink-footed Geese, 51 Canada, 560 Greylag, 560+ Shelduck, 400+ Wigeon, 3000+ Teal, 40 Shoveler, 32 Pochar
22 November 2012
Some counts
Some counts of selected species on the reserve included 2390 Teal, 450 Wigeon, 352 Greylag, 4700 Pink-footed Geese, 270 Pintail, 41 Pochard, 20 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 50 Canada Geese, 14 Shoveler and Goldeneye. A single Barnacle Goose with Pink-footed G
19 November 2012
Green-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal again with Eurasian Teal from the Ron Barker Hide this afternoon. A six species of raptor day with 3+ Peregrine showing very well, female Merlin, Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Over 1000 Lapwing and highest c
18 November 2012