Latest Sightings
This Weekend at Martin Mere was the North West Bird Watching Festival, a wonderful celebration of all the birds here at the reserve and many people came to experience the incredible spectacle of the Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swans stopping off on migration.
Three Glossy Ibis were noted on the Mere on Saturday. These stunning birds can still be reliably seen from Ron Barker and United Utilities Hide.
Duck numbers continue to increase, with 16 Pochard and 204 Wigeon counted on the Mere on Sunday, 104 Shoveler and 33 Gadwall at Harrier Hide, and from Gordon Taylor 300+ Teal are regularly feeding in Woodend Marsh
Ten Black-tailed Godwit joined the waterfowl on the Mere this weekend. Another visiting wader was a single Common Sandpiper, spotted on the Mere on Saturday. A Mediterranean Gull adds to the exciting sightings from the Mere.
A female Brambling was briefly seen on a feeder near Ron Barker on Sunday. Further autumn migrants notable over the past few days include the continued passage of thrushes, with growing Song Thrush numbers throughout the reserve, and small pushes of Redwing and Fieldfare, particularly around dawn and dusk. 24 Fieldfare flew over Pumphouse Field and Ron Barker on Sunday.
Photo by David Gibson of one of the three Glossy Ibis at Martin Mere.
