Sightings - Martin Mere
Latest Sightings
A chillier feel today with a few showers moving through. Five Avocet today are late migrants. It would be interesting to know where these birds have come in from? Other waders include 30+ Ruff, 800+ Lapwing 10+ Common Snipe and a probable Dunlin. Yesterd
6 November 2014
Six species of Raptor
A good raptor day, free from rain bright and sunny for most of the day. A Merlin was pick of the bunch with 2 Peregrine, 6+ Common Buzzard, 2+ Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. The wildfowl numbers are continuing to build although we have had no r
4 November 2014
Woodcock
The first sighting of Woodcock this autumn with a bird which was flushed along the new Wild Walk inside the waterfowl gardens. Well worth keeping an eye out for Woodcock from now on from the Janet Kear Hide. Peregrines (adult male and imm female) hunting
2 November 2014
Willow Tit
A late sighting from yesterday was a Willow Tit seen near the Ron Barker hide, hopefully more sightings to come of this scarce Lancashire bird. Lots of sightings to report from today, winter Thrushes were seen with up to 120 Fieldfare and 50 Redwing and S
31 October 2014
Whoopers
A frosty and misty start to the day followed by a very pleasant day with great viewing. An early morning count produced 500 Whooper Swan, a good count for the end of October. Quite a few reports coming in from Scotland of Whoopers moving in the past few d
29 October 2014
Hen Harrier
A brief update. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen mid morning on the reserve. It's worth noting that this bird was much paler than the recent possible Northern Harrier. Hopefully this bird will stick around with the other raptors present including 2+ Marsh
28 October 2014
Recent bird news
Recent days have seen plenty of sightings, the Water Rail is still showing at times along with up to 2 Kingfisher in front of Ron Barker Hide. Still 4-5 Marsh Harrier in the area, 3 Peregrine and lots of Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.
27 October 2014
The Beast!
Another good day on site with lots of Pink-Footed Geese and c350 Whooper Swan in the area, lots of Wigeon, Teal and Pintail. The Water Rail has been showing on and off from Ron Barker again along with 2 Kingfishers. Still at least 4 Marsh Harriers seen to
25 October 2014
Latest Sightings
Been off the web for a few days but plenty of activity since the weekend although no major rarities on the reserve post ex Hurricane Gonzalo, or if there is they haven't been found yet... It still appears that big numbers of Pink-footed Geese are coming i
23 October 2014
Cormorants
Good numbers of Cormorants on the Mere this afternoon with at least 45 counted, still at least 3-4 Marsh Harrier inc the green wing tagged bird from Norfolk which has now lost one of it's tags and adult Peregrine seen again. The Kingfisher was again from
19 October 2014
Recent sightings
Still at least 4-5 Marsh Harriers hunting around the reserve, with the usual pair of Peregrine being seen, good numbers of Common Buzzard up to 10 birds, 2-3 Sparrowhawk and 2-3 Kestrel. No further sightings of the Hen Harrier sp.
18 October 2014
Harriers
Despite lots of scanning today no further sign on site of the interesting Hen Harrier from yesterday, it was probably seen this morning at Marshside, normally Harriers wander the extensive local areas, between Marshside, the Ribble and the Martin Mere are
16 October 2014
A first for Lancashire?
Another excellent day with attention being grabbed by a fem/imm Hen Harrier that was seen by a few people and was photographed, the photo's look very promising for the North American race often known as Northern Harrier which is sometimes regarded as a fu
15 October 2014
Latest Sightings
Another packed Pink-foot day with 15-20000 on the reserve early afternoon. Recent counts included 150 Whooper Swan, 1070 Teal, 880 Mallard, 350 Wigeon, 96 Pintail, 15 Gadwall, 10 Tufted and 10 Pochard. More raptors with 5 Marsh Harrier including two tagge
14 October 2014
Latest Sightings
Another fine day of swirling flocks and visitors buzzing with exciting as thousands of Pink-footed Geese descend onto the reserve. Similar wader counts as yesterday. Raptors included 14 Common Buzzard, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawk. Tawny O
12 October 2014