Saturday Sightings (+fridays)
Just going to add Saturday's sightings to yesterdays report due to a glitch on entry page which won't allow us to make a new report..
Has autumn arrived already? Yes, a returning Green Sandpiper flew along the back of the Mere this morning and appeared to head for Woodend Marsh. Don't worry one Green Sandpiper doesn't make for autumn.
A Great White Egret roosted overnight on the reserve and was seen on the Reed Bed this morning.
Below an Orange-tip caterpillar rests on its food plant (Garlic Mustard) near the discovery hide. The small fly is Rivellia syngenesiae or Small Semaphor Fly.
Friday's report below.
Breezy but nice in the sun. The Mere is busy with breeding Black-headed Gull with all stages of chicks and recently fledged birds represented. Look out for marauding large gull swooping in, you'll hear the commotion!
Shelduck numbers are dropping back with around 70 birds present. Plenty of Mallard present, 30+ Gadwall and smaller numbers of Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Teal and one female Pintail. Note many of the wildfowl are now coming into eclipse plumage, were the male take on a similar appearance to the females.
On the wader front 21 Avocet on Woodend Marsh also there 79 Lapwing. Sixteen Black-tailed Godwit on Sunley's Marsh, some in stunning breeding plumage, 4 Oystercatcher.
Three pair of Common Tern, two of which are actively feeding young. Great-crested Grebe with young from the Harrier Hide.
Two Little Egret and a Grey Heron in the grounds. Cuckoo (2) showing well from the Canoe Safari. Med Gull on the Mere mid morning.
Again Swifts feeding over the reserve and House Martin. Look out for Hobby around the reserve. The usual raptors; Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk are present.
It's moving into the supposed 'quiet time' for birds when people start looking at the huge variety of insect life that occurs on the reserve.
We have recorded over 560 species of moth at Martin Mere including Thistle Ermine (below) which is conveniently posing on it's food plant.
