Latest Sightings
It’s been a chilly week here at WWT Martin Mere with a few exciting records to reward those willing to face the wind.
The national influx of Russian White-fronted Geese has continued to bless the Reserve – on Tuesday, a flock of six was ranging between the Ron Barker hide and Plover Field, and today (19th) a further five birds have been present on Plover Field beyond the Mere. The long-staying male Ring-necked Duck has started roaming around the site a little more, and is now often seen from Harrier Hide, where up to 27 Pochard have also been recorded. A member of our team was also fortunate enough to find a Todd’s Canada Goose amongst the goose flocks on site, a scarce subspecies.
Some of our team spent time on a chilly evening carrying out a Marsh Harrier survey earlier in the week, and recorded 26 flying into roost in our reedbeds – most of which were young birds. During the day, these birds have been seen most reliably from the Ron Barker and United Utilities hides, along with Great Egret, Buzzard and Pink-footed Geese on the outer fields. The Reedbed Walk has also been the site of several vocal Water Rails and Cetti’s Warblers.
The Mere has had up to 78 Oystercatcher, as well as a lone Avocet – a sure sign that spring is on the way. The usual Pochard, Pintail and Whooper Swans continue to show well here, best viewed at our daily wildfowl feeds. Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit are also reliable on the Mere.
The Janet Kear hide remains a good place to watch common ‘garden birds’ coming to the feeders, such as Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tits and Robins. When here, listen out for the sound of a Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming on a tree nearby!
Photograph of a Marsh Harrier.
