Latest Sightings
The week so far on the reserve here at Martin Mere has been rainy but abundant with bird life.
On the mere recently, 30 Cormorants, 2 Great Black-Backed Gulls (one adult, one juvenile), 1 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 49 Pochard, 31 Tufted Ducks, 280 Pintail, 420 Wigeon, 446 Shelduck, 510 Lapwings, 1 Ruff, 10+ Snipe, 3+ Black-Tailed Godwits, and 1 Redshank were counted.
On Plover Field (one of the fields at the back of the mere) today, 4 Marsh Harriers (2 adult female, 2 juvenile) and 18 Cattle Egrets were seen, along with 1 Great White Egret. Yesterday on the outer reserve, 2 Grey Herons were seen.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker was spotted at Janet Kear hide today and on Wednesday, and another was seen on Tuesday from Ron Barker hide. Other birds seen at Janet Kear in the past few days include 10 Blackbirds, 16 Long-Tailed Tits, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 10+ Blue Tits, 10+ Great Tits, 5 Coal Tits, 2 Dunnocks, and 1 Cetti's Warbler. Today, 1 Sparrowhawk male was observed hunting for prey around the feeders.
Just further up the path from Harrier hide, 1 Barn Owl was seen today sitting on a fence gate before flying over the pond towards the reed bed. 14 Gadwall were spotted from Harrier hide on Wednesday.
On Woodend marsh, 870 Teal and 58 Shovelers were counted yesterday. 1 Short-Eared Owl was spotted from United Utilities hide as it flew behind Tomlinson hide at the edge of the reserve.
At Ron Barker hide's feeders, 8 Greenfinch were present today. 35 Fieldfare were seen in the tall bush between the feeders and the bull field (Pumphouse Field).
Photograph of a Short-Eared Owl.
