Latest Sightings
It’s been a wildlife-packed few days at Martin Mere, with Autumn in full swing.
Firstly, a whopping 51 Cattle Egret have been feeding with our herd of English Longhorn cattle – these can currently be seen distantly from the United Utilities hide. Other sightings from this hide include a Barn Owl hunting over Langley’s (towards the railway) and various other raptors including Buzzard, Kestrel and Marsh Harrier. Excitingly, a Spoonbill was also spotted over the Reedbed Walk today (Monday).
11 Marsh Harrier were counted at the Ron Barker hide on Friday, along with 182 Whooper Swan – these were seen on a dawn survey, with a site total of 466 birds, along with 1,637 Pink-footed Geese across the site. The Ron Barker hide also continues to be a reliable site for Teal, with 400 counted on Friday – note that habitat management work is currently taking place on Vinson’s in front of this hide.
The Mere View hide – formerly the Kingfisher Hide – has been producing Great Egret and Cetti’s Warbler, and a Tawny Owl has been sighted in the nearby woodland. A Water Rail was also reported from the Sluice.
From the Discovery Hide, Pintail, Pochard, Wigeon and Shelduck continue to show reliably, particularly at the 3pm feed. Redwing and Fieldfare can be seen across the site, and small flocks of Long-tailed Tit are often recorded near the Gladstone Hide.
Photograph of a Barn Owl.
