Sightings - Martin Mere
Cetti's Warbler, a first for the reserve.
A brilliant day's birding at Martin Mere with no less than 4 new birds added to the year list; Kingfisher, Golden Plover, Corn Bunting and last but by no means least, Cetti's Warbler. The bird [...]
25 January 2012
Harriers
Not the best of days for viewing, very murky condition until mid afternoon. Apart from Pink-footed Geese which are dropping back in numbers the reserve was looking jam pack, particularly on the Mere w [...]
24 January 2012
Year of the (Water) Dragon
The Chinese new year starts today and auspiciously it the Year of the Dragon. Having just looked it up, 2012 is a 'water dragon' year so that's got to be good, if you believe in things uns [...]
23 January 2012
Short eared Owl
A Short eared Owl was seen again from Ron Barker Hide which along with 2 White fronted Geese (race unknown) were the highlights of the day. The single Bewick's Swan spent most of the day in Plover [...]
22 January 2012
Bewick's Swan
The single Bewick's Swan was present again today feeding most of the morning in a field with Shelduck viewable from the United Utilities hide. Upto 1700 Whooper Swan are still present along with u [...]
21 January 2012
Bird News
Despite awful weather, plenty of good birds to be seen including 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 2 Ravens and 2 Peregrines and a single Oystercatcher around the Mere. The feeders at the Ja [...]
20 January 2012
Little Egret new for the year
At least 120 Jackdaws were amongst Lapwings around the Mere this morning. From the Ron Barker hide, 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrines, a Bewick's Swan and a distant Little Egret which [...]
19 January 2012
Whooper Counts
Biggest count of the winter so far with 1800+ Whooper Swan. Some of this group were also aged and brood sizes recorded. There were 1094 adults with 168 juveniles. Forty one pairs had one juvenile, 31 [...]
18 January 2012
Some Counts
Assorted recent wildfowl counts included; 269 Pintail, 980 Wigeon, 96 Pochard, 16 Tufted Duck,10 Shoveler and 3 Goldeneye. A single Bewick's Swan again this morning on the back of the Mere and [...]
17 January 2012
Winter Sunshine
Another glorious day, dawn till dusk sunshine and windless too. A brilliant day for the photographers amongst you. At least 3 European White-fronted Geese this morning. Most of the geese were off [...]
16 January 2012
Tundra Bean Geese Record
A record count of 10 Tundra Bean Geese flew in with 42 European White-fronted Geese and Pinks around 10:30 and were still present 11:30 viewable from the Ron Barker Hide. Merlin was also a new add [...]
15 January 2012
Top Winter Birding
Glorious winters day, the first in a long time with sub zero conditions and some ice formation around the edge of the Mere. The calm weather also meant a wildfowl pack mere with thousands of Teal, Wig [...]
14 January 2012
Bullfinch (mega)
A male Bullfinch was photographed along the path leading to the United Utilities hide this morning, and feeders in front of the Janet Kear hide hosted a range of species, including the long-staying (n [...]
13 January 2012
Year List
A new species for the year in the shape of two Oystercatcher. It was unlikely that we would miss this large (noisy) wader as a few pairs breed on site and spring passage numbers regularly top 100. The [...]
11 January 2012
Bewick's Swan and Green winged Teal
A single Bewick's swan spent the day mainly asleep on the far side of the Mere again as it did yesterday, this is only the 5th day of the winter Bewick's have been recorded, and the last 3 day [...]
10 January 2012