Latest Sightings
The mild weather over the weekend provided plenty to see here at Martin Mere. As Storm Floris passes through today, many birds are sheltering in dense vegetation or flocking together.
Cattle Egret numbers are increasing, with a current count of 22. They can be observed from Discovery hide, Hale hide, or Raine's Observatory, around the English Longhorn Cattle herd near the Mere.
On Friday morning, over 300 Greylag Geese were roosting on the reedbed lake, as observed from the Harrier hide. On the Mere, 7 juvenile Tufted Ducks were learning to dive, accompanied by four adults. 6 Kestrels and 2 Skylarks were seen flying over Ploverfield, visible from the United Utilities hide.
On Saturday, a White-Cheeked Pintail arrived on the Mere. Native to the Caribbean, South America, and the Galapagos, this individual may have been captive and is now living in the wild. Also seen on the Mere were 1 Ruff, 3 Shoveler, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Cormorant, 12 Swallows, 5 Grey Heron, 15 House Martins, and 10 Shelduck.
A Water Rail was spotted from the Ron Barker hide on Saturday, along with 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Buzzard, 1 Linnet, and 1 Whitethroat. 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Goldcrest, and 2 Chiffchaff were seen from the Mere view hide.
1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Little Ringed Plover, and 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls were observed at the Gordon Taylor hide, and 14 Stonechats were seen on the Tomlinson route.
Today, 3 Whooper Swans were observed from Ron Barker hide, along with 1 Common Sandpiper and 5 Marsh Harriers.
3 Snipe were seen on the Mere, and 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, and 1 Wood Sandpiper were reported from Gordon Taylor hide.
Photograph of Tufted Ducks.
