Latest Sightings
Spring is in full force here on the reserve at Martin Mere. Throughout the week, the male Bittern have been making their booming calls to attract females in the reedbed, and the Chiffchaff have also begun making their distinctive 'chiff-chaff!' breeding season calls across the site.
1 Ring-Necked Duck male, which has been residing on the reserve for the past few months, is still present, being seen most days of the week diving for food in the water right in front of the windows at Discovery hide. On Wednesday, 2 Mediterranean Gulls were seen on the mere. Other birds spotted on the mere throughout the week include 2 Great Black-Backed Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls, 32 Pochard, 46 Cormorants, 1 Sparrowhawk female, 106 Black-Tailed Godwits, 30 Oystercatchers, 17 Tufted Ducks, and 2 Stock Doves, and 1 Grey Heron. 2 Roe Deer (1 male and 1 female) have also been feeding at the back of the pond.
Along the path to Janet Kear hide today, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Coal Tit, and Blackbird have been foraging in the trees.
From Harrier hide, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 3 Little Grebe have been showing consistently on the pond. Along the Reedbed walk, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Water Rails, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Linnet, 1 Skylark, 3 Gadwall, 3 Song Thrush, and 1 Kestrel have been seen and heard.
This week, 32 Golden Plover, 7 Ruff, 25 Avocets, 12 Wigeon, 12 Shelduck, 22 Shovelers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Buzzards, 110 Black-Headed Gulls, 30 Teal, 1 Stonechat, 2 Great White Egrets, and 2 Mute Swans have been observed from Gordon Taylor hide, which looks over Woodend Marsh.
Be sure to keep an eye out for 1 Glossy Ibis juvenile that has been frequently seen with a group of around 50 Cattle Egret recently. These birds are most likely to be seen from United Utilities hide or Ron Barker hide.
Photograph of two Great Crested Grebes.
