Latest Sightings
With the weather growing colder here at Martin Mere, it’s feeling more and more like Winter – but that means some exciting wildlife news!
Fieldfare and Redwing – winter thrushes from Scandinavia – have arrived on site in good numbers, and can be seen throughout the reserve, although the Janet Kear hide and the car park are reliable spots for viewing these birds. The feeders here also remain reliable for the more common ‘garden birds’, including good numbers of Great Tit and Chaffinch.
At the very edge of the reserve, from the public footpath on Langley’s Field, a flock of several hundred finches – mostly Goldfinch – has been feeding on seedheads. A number of Chaffinch were with these birds, and at this time of year, there is always a chance of Brambling – a few of which have been seen in recent weeks.
33 Cattle Egret were seen flying over the Mere on Saturday afternoon heading into roost, and a pair of Barn Owl were hunting over Pumphouse Field from the Ron Barker hide – a Great-spotted Woodpecker was also seen here, on the feeders.
A Water Rail was seen in the sluice near Rees Hide, from which a Green Sandpiper, a Peregrine and two Roe Deer were also seen.
Five Marsh Harriers were reported on Saturday on the outer fields of the reserve, with more being seen from hides such as Ron Barker and United Utilities – our reserve team is soon to undertake a roost survey for these birds, so watch this space! Excitingly, a Marsh Harrier with a yellow wing tag – a harmless flag to identify an individual bird, similar to a colour ring – has been identified as a bird ringed in Suffolk in June this year as a chick. More interesting movement and proof that Martin Mere’s birdlife never fails to amaze!
Photograph of a Marsh Harrier.
