Autumn migration continues well across Martin Mere, with Pink-footed Goose numbers starting to increase quickly across the reserve. After a slow start to Autumn, our recent dawn counts produced fantastic totals, with 2,160 birds recorded from Ron Barker Hide, 265 on the Mere, and eight in Plover Field. Highlights peaked during Saturday morning’s Dawn event, where an incredible 3,000 to 4,000 Pink-feet took to the skies over the Discovery Hide in a memorable spectacle!
The Mere has been seeing more and more wildlife, including 81 Shoveler, 75 Teal, 30 Wigeon, 18 Pintail, 12 Tufted Ducks, 27 Greylag Geese, and five Mute Swans. Both a Great White Egret and a Little Egret, while two Snipe and a Little Grebe added extra interest. Raptors were out in force over the Mere too, with a female Kestrel, a female Sparrowhawk, and two Buzzards hunting over the water.
Over at Ron Barker Hide, birders enjoyed an impressive tally of egrets, including 24 Cattle Egrets, two Great White Egrets, and a Little Egret. Other highlights include a Marsh Harrier and a passing Red Kite, alongside a Kingfisher, two Cetti’s Warblers, and a Reed Warbler.
Raptor activity extended right across the reserve, with a Peregrine putting on a show from Harrier Hide, as well as a female Marsh Harrier and two Buzzards from United Utilities Hide. The highlight of the weekend though was an incredible Short-eared Owl spotted over Langley’s Field at the back of the Tomlinson Hide!
Smaller birds provided plenty of charm throughout the day. A Wheatear was a welcome sight from Rees Hide, while the feeders around Janet Kear Hide were lively with five Great Tits, four Blue Tits, two Long-tailed Tits, a Goldcrest, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Photograph of Short-eared Owl. Credit to Tony Orwell.
