Latest sightings
Transit of Mercury
Transit of Mercury showed well at Martin Mere today. Mercury in front of the Sun (the 10 o'clockish dot) Hottest day of the year with pretty much non stop sunshine and easterly winds. Clear condition aren't usually th
9 May 2016
Whimbrel
A group of 4 Whimbrel appeared on the Mere mid afternoon for a drink and a bathe before heading off north. Other signs of wader passage were a group of 8 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin on Woodend Marsh this morning. Other waders included single Curlew, Ruff
7 May 2016
Bird News
A bright, warm day today, with a good variety of species again seen around the reserve - a 'day list' of 70+ species can be acheived without too much difficulty at the moment. Today's highlights included a Cuckoo and Barn Owl from the Janet Kear hide and
6 May 2016
Ibis and Warblers
A Glossy Ibis was reported by " a member of the public" flying away from the Harrier hide early this afternoon, but no further information available. A good variety of warblers around the reserve, with a probable Garden Warbler, as well as Chiffchaff, Wil
5 May 2016
Little Gulls again
A breezy chilly start to the day followed by blue skies and sunshine. Some Orange-tip butterfly took to the wing today, summer is round the corner! The Harrier Hide in the distance looking from one of the viewing platforms
3 May 2016
Whimbrel continue
A rain front passed through by 12am followed by breezy and mostly sunny conditions. Today's news is mostly about waders but as of late some excellent birding with the potential of seeing over 80 species on and around the reserve (see previous sightings re
2 May 2016
Little Tern
Misty rain for most of the day had all the possibility of interesting birds which did materialise early on and late in the day! First up, a Little Tern was present early on Woodend Marsh viewed from the public footpath signage next to 'Wheatear Field'.
1 May 2016
Farmland Specialists
Slightly warmer today although not exactly a heat wave! The fact that a few Swift went through the reserve late afternoon can only be a good omen. Mossland sunrise Starting off with news from around the reserve and on
30 April 2016
Wader-fest
Last of the winter blast today hopefully as slightly milder condition set in. The next 6 weeks are some of the most exciting in the birding calendar and over the past 6 years have produced rarities such as White-spotted Bluethroat, Montagu's Harrier, Red-
29 April 2016
Bird News
Another cold day, this time with rain thrown in for good measure! A pair of Mediterranean Gulls spent part of the day on the Mere, along with 6 Black-tailed Godwits, several Avocets and a Common Sandpiper. Another Common Sandpiper was in the collection ar
28 April 2016
Dotterels nearby !
Off the reserve, 3 Dotterels were in fields stubble fields along the public footpath from Fish Lane over Tarlscough Moss between the adandoned building and Mere Lane this afternoon. A very bright but cold today, with an adult Little Gull, seen on both The
27 April 2016
Latest Sightings
Chilly again but good visibility with cloud cover. A good selection of species to be seen at present with more new arrival. A drake Garganey joined the 70+ Teal that are still present on the reserve. The bird was still present on Vinson's Marsh late morni
26 April 2016
Swift and other birds
Starting off with some late news from Saturday with the first sighting of Swift over the Reed Bed. We did have another today and although these cold Northerlies can't be great for these birds, they are such strong flyers they'll probably just go South unt
25 April 2016
Yellow Wagtail and Rook!
Overcast with the occasional light shower only the cool Northerlies taking the edge off classic conditions for dropping some waders in. On saying that 5 Common Sandpiper were obviously new arrivals as well as Dunlin and a couple of Ringed Plover. More Ruf
24 April 2016
Redstart new for the year.
A chilly winds from the North and clear skies aren't the best for producing birds coming to summer in the UK but we are in the heart of this migration so the arrival of a couple of new species for the year shouldn't be so surprising. Bird of the day was a
23 April 2016