Latest Sightings
Calm condition continued over the past two days, frosty on Monday and slightly overcast today. The day started off with a catch of 26 Pink-footed Geese on Top Mere and a few Teal. These birds have been ringed and a couple have had satellite tags added so the birds can be tracked around the UK and back to Iceland/Greenland. Follow this link to see the tracking http://telemetry.wikispaces.com/home
The Mere has been packed with birds enjoying the windless conditions. Up to 100 Whooper Swan have been present towards the late swan feed (3pm) and over 250 roosting.
Over 10,000 Pink-footed Geese have been roosting but less during the day. Big numbers of Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Shelduck and good counts of Pintail, Shoveler, Gadwall plus small numbers of Tufted and Pochard.
Raptors included 4+ Marsh Harrier, Peregrine (juv), 8+ Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, and 2 Sparrowhawk.
Wader counts; 600 Lapwing, 40+ Ruff, 30+ Snipe, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, 2 Dunlin and Green Sandpiper.
Other sightings included c.40 Fieldfare near the Sewage Works and smaller numbers with Redwing (30+) around the reserve. At least 4 Stonechat out on the reserve fields. Minimum of 3 Cetti's Warbler on the Reed Bed Walk. A few Grey Wagtail around the reserve too.
The Starling roost can be observed on the Outer Reed Bed Walk only now as the reserve closes at 4.30pm (Park carefully on Marsh Moss Lane).
An dog Otter was seen well from the Ron Barker Hide this afternoon when it hopped out onto the bank as Kingfisher looked on!
If you are visiting Martin Mere and want more information on the best spots for certain species, or you've seen something of interested, do call in at the in focus shop next to the Discovery Hide.
Currently it's possible to see 60+ species in a days birding.
