Latest Sightings
The past few days at Martin Mere may have been chilly, but the wildlife has been as exciting as ever.
The now resident Ring-necked Duck continues to show from the Discovery Hide, and the Short-eared Owl behind Tomlinson Hide is as showy as ever – along with at least two Barn Owl in the same area.
A juvenile Spoonbill was seen on the Mere on Friday afternoon, where an impressive number of Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit and Pochard are present, along with the usual cast of wintering wildfowl such as Whooper Swan and Pintail.
The Ron Barker Hide has been productive, with Barn Owl seen regularly, as well as a good number of Teal both on Sunley’s Marsh and in the Sluice in front of the hide – this has also been the site of Little Grebe and, on Sunday, a Water Rail.
At the Janet Kear hide, the leucistic Reed Bunting – a bird with a genetic condition causing it to be partially white – has been the source of some interest, and a Great-spotted Woodpecker has been drumming here. The common ‘garden birds’– i.e. Great Tit, Coal Tit and Chaffinch – are often seen here on the feeders.
In the Reedbed, both Water Rail and Cetti’s Warbler have been heard quite often, and late last week one of our Wardens stumbled across a pair of Woodcock whilst carrying out habitat management work.
Photograph of a female Pintail.
