Sightings - Martin Mere
Six Species of Raptors
An excellent raptor day with calm and warm conditions seeing many birds on the wing. A Hobby hawking for insects over Top Mere was the pick of the bunch which also included 5+ Kestrel, 8+ Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Marsh Harrier and Peregrine. The R
2 September 2014
Pink-feet?
It's that time of year were thoughts turn to returning geese. There has been a build up of feral geese with ~350 Greylag and 40+ Canada Geese on the reserve today. In among the Greylag flock were two Pink-footed Geese. In recent years the first local si
1 September 2014
All change
With a lot of over night rain the water levels covered most of the remaining mud, so there was a clear out of the small waders from yesterday. Only 1 Dunlin was seen today but Ruff numbers broke 60 for the first time this autumn. A single Golden Plover wa
30 August 2014
Curlew Sandpiper
The juvenile Curlew Sandpiper is still present from yesterday along with the juvenile Little Stint and a few Dunlin for comparison. A Greenshank appeared on the Mere briefly mid afternoon before being flushed by a Marsh Harrier. Good numbers of Ruff and L
29 August 2014
Little Stint again
A juvenile Little Stint was again from Ron Barker hide moving between Vinson's and Sunley's this afternoon along with 3 Dunlin (juvs), 4 Little ringed Plover (juvs), Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank (adult), 15+ Snipe and at least 54 Ruff this evening. Also up
27 August 2014
Little Stint
The best sighting of the day was a Little Stint distantly from Ron Barker which later flew off high west with 2 Dunlin. Other waders included at least 20+ Ruff (15 juvs), juv Little ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper and 300+ Lapwing.
26 August 2014
Latest Sightings
Chilly in the shade/hides today. Early rain didn't appear to drop a huge number birds in although the 10 Dunlin recorded might be new. Four Little Ringed Plover from the Ron Barker Hide with one Ringed Plover, Curlew and 12 Ruff. At least 300 Lapwing arou
23 August 2014
Spotted Redshank
A proper autumn feel today as the air mass is coming from the North but blowing a brisk westerly. A classic date for a good wader or two with a Wilson's Phalarope turning up today in 2009. Nothing quite as rare but a Spotted Redshank which flew onto Vinso
21 August 2014
Yellow Wagtails !
Some excellent birding on site at the moment, yesterday Tuesday 19th we had a possible record count of Yellow Wagtails, certainly a record in the last 10 years or so? At least 18 Yellow Wagtails were counted and all seemed to be juvenile birds, in recent
20 August 2014
Yellow Wagtails and Kingfishers
A good time on site to catch up with Yellow Wagtails and Kingfishers, both are being seen most days from the Ron Barker Hide, with up to 6+ Yellow Wagtails including a cracking adult male seen today along with 4 juveniles. At least 3-4 Kingfishers have be
18 August 2014
Recent sightings
More of an autumnal feel to the weather over the last couple of days and one or two new birds being seen. On Friday 15th: the best sightings were 2 Wheatear out on the reserve, 2 Greenshank briefly in the morning on the Mere, 4 juvenile Yellow Wagtail and
17 August 2014
Greenshank
More signs of waders on the move today, with 2 Greenshank new in along with 10 Dunlin which joined the Ruff flock which today numbered 31 birds. Several Common Snipe are being seen each day at the moment and as the autumn progresses the numbers can build
14 August 2014
Bird News
Still breezy but the weather offers the chance of interesting migrant birds turning up on the reserve! A similar selection as of late. Raptors providing the greatest entertainment with at least 2 juvenile Marsh Harrier roving around, 6+ Common Buzzard, 2
13 August 2014
Greenshank and other waders
Windy throughout the day with more signs of migration and perhaps some wind blown coastal birds. Waders to the fore with new birds in including Greenshank, 2 Avocet, 11 Ringed Plover and potentially 4 Bar-tailed Godwit which would be new for the year. Als
11 August 2014
Bird News
Quite a few people out and about looking today despite the forecast which turned out to be calm and mostly dry until late afternoon. Another good raptor day with 8+ Common Buzzard, 5 Kestrel, Peregrine, 2+ Marsh Harrier and 2 Sparrowhawk. Wood Sandpiper s
10 August 2014