Latest Sightings
It has been a quiet weekend here at Martin Mere. We've still got Mediterranean Gulls making their home on the mere with 6 spotted today, they are viewable from Rees Hide. A Sparrowhawk was also seen flying over the Mere today. We have had 620 Pink-footed Geese arrive today, likely getting ready for their migration to Greenland.
At Ron Barker Hide, the Glossy Ibis was spotted on Saturday and a Barn Owl was seen in the distance today. Out on the Reedbed Walk, the Bittern is still booming. A pair of Bullfinches were also seen along with Blackcap, Fieldfare and Redpoll.
This morning, our reserve team conducted our monthly Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). WeBS helps us to monitor internationally important wetland species and determine trends in their population and distribution. Below is a list of species and quantities we found across our site throughout the morning:
Wigeon 259 Little Grebe 2
Gadwall 29 Great-crested Grebe 2
Teal 115 Black-headed Gull 656
Mallard 578 Lesser Black-backed Gull 10
Pintail 9 Shelduck 92
Shoveler 96 Greylag Goose 31
Pochard 21 Canada Goose 60
Tufted Duck 31 Pink-footed Goose 622
Mute Swan 2 Moorhen 117
Whooper Swan 5 Coot 51
Lapwing 12 Ruff 4
Black-tailed Godwit 102 Oystercatcher 12
Avocet 68 Herring Gull 1
Mediterranean Gull 8 Greater Black-backed Gull 2
Photograph of a Blackcap
