Latest sightings
A Slight Thaw
A touch of black ice and fog is never an ideal start to the bird watching day, but by mid afternoon the sun was out, the mist had cleared, and we had hit a barmy 5 degrees centigrade on the reserve. P [...]
5 February 2012
More Geese
More geese this morning just off the reserve in a harvested carrot field between here and the LWT reserve at Mere Sands Wood. Seven Tundra Bean Geese and 5 European White-fronted Geese nearby at Windm [...]
4 February 2012
Whoopers and Beans!
This morning's count of 1,850 Whooper Swans was the highest of the year so far. Also this morning, a group of 10 "tundra" Bean Geese were feeding with Pink-footed Geese in fields bording [...]
3 February 2012
Water Rails
3 Water Rails, 2 from the Kingfisher hide and 1 from the Janet Kear hide were among today's birding highlights. Although present all year, and not uncommon, this species can prove very difficult t [...]
2 February 2012
Sallow Button (picture)
As promised a picture of Acleris hastiana (B&F 1053) or to use the new(ish) proper name Sallow Button, which is rather pleasant. Caught on the 24th January, it was the first record of this spe [...]
1 February 2012
Woodcock
Dawn till dusk sunshine and great visibility yet again, although well worth putting a couple of extra layers on if you want to sit it out in the hides! Woodcock from the Janet Kear Hide was new fo [...]
1 February 2012
92 Species
What a brilliant start to 2012 it has been. The mild and relatively benign January has meant plenty of observers in the field and bird numbers high on the reserve. A count of 4350 Lapwing at the begin [...]
31 January 2012
Bird News
Another marvelous day, light winds, great light and excellent visibility throughout the day. At least four Marsh Harrier morning and afternoon, 2 Peregrine, 3 Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. [...]
30 January 2012
Bean Goose and Yellow-legged Gull
A Bean Goose dropped in with Pinks-footed Geese around 12 am viewed from the Ron Barker Hide. Bean Geese can be difficult to assign to a race, although observers thought this bird showed characteristi [...]
29 January 2012
Top Winter Birding
A frosty start to the day, calm winds and great light made for ideal condition to experience some of the best winter birding anywhere in the UK. A Harrier fest with 5 Marsh Harrier seen throughout [...]
28 January 2012
Cetti's Warbler, a first for the reserve.
A brilliant day's birding at Martin Mere with no less than 4 new birds added to the year list; Kingfisher, Golden Plover, Corn Bunting and last but by no means least, Cetti's Warbler. The bird [...]
25 January 2012
Harriers
Not the best of days for viewing, very murky condition until mid afternoon. Apart from Pink-footed Geese which are dropping back in numbers the reserve was looking jam pack, particularly on the Mere w [...]
24 January 2012
Year of the (Water) Dragon
The Chinese new year starts today and auspiciously it the Year of the Dragon. Having just looked it up, 2012 is a 'water dragon' year so that's got to be good, if you believe in things uns [...]
23 January 2012
Short eared Owl
A Short eared Owl was seen again from Ron Barker Hide which along with 2 White fronted Geese (race unknown) were the highlights of the day. The single Bewick's Swan spent most of the day in Plover [...]
22 January 2012
Bewick's Swan
The single Bewick's Swan was present again today feeding most of the morning in a field with Shelduck viewable from the United Utilities hide. Upto 1700 Whooper Swan are still present along with u [...]
21 January 2012