Latest sightings
Kittiwake
It pretty much rained all day with that misty murk that isn't ideal for anything, except perhaps for dropping a Kittiwake onto the reserve! Seen for less than a minute the bird took flight off the Mere and headed into the gloom. Almost annual (we had two
31 January 2016
Bewick's Swan again
Two days in a row for the Bewick's Swan feeding on Top Mere viewed from the Hale Hide on a fairly wild and blustery day. The wind drops tomorrow so it should be a better days viewing all round if slightly more showery. A good selection of hides provide so
30 January 2016
Bewick's Swan
A new Bewick's Swan was the highlight of the day, the bird was found feeding on the potatoes on Top Mere best viewed from Hale Hide, this is the 3rd Bewick's Swan of the winter. Still lots of Whooper Swans with at least 1300 around at the moment.
29 January 2016
Oystercatchers
Barn Owls have again been showing well from Ron Barker Hide today, also nearby at least 1 Tawny Owl was in the Ivy. The pair of Peregrine were active today being seen throughout the day, look for them in Plover field sat either on the ground or on Mole hi
28 January 2016
Willow Tit
Following a run in recent winters a Willow Tit was seen on a feeder off the Nature Trail near the Kingfisher Hide. Two adult Peregrine (a pair) out on Plover Field. Marsh Harrier showed well from the Ron Barker Hide, 5+ Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and Sparr
26 January 2016
Med Gull and Lapwings
A barmy 14˚c this morning with light winds before an obvious change in weather as the wind increased and a late heavy shower came through. Mammatus clouds at dusk yesterday Spectacular numbers of Lapwing still on the
25 January 2016
Latest Sightings
Good numbers of people being entertained by huge numbers of birds on a pleasant day which started sunny and ended with rain just after sunset. Whooper Swans and Pink-footed Geese in good numbers, the later certainly on the increase. Locally a few European
23 January 2016
Bird News
A lovely day after the cloud cleared and lots of birds. The mild weather encouraging waders back inland, a few Oystercatcher have been around of late and 3 were present today, also 453 Black-tailed Godwit was a noticeable increase on recent counts, and th
22 January 2016
Bewick's Swan
Glorious day to take part in the classic winter birding on offer at Martin Mere with dawn to dusk sunshine and light winds. If you were counting all the birds on the reserve at the moment the total numbers would top 15000! The Mere was packed with birds s
20 January 2016
All the B's Barnacle and Blackcap
A calm and cool day at Martin Mere, tomorrow looks even better with perhaps a little sunshine! Two new species to added to the year list with a Barnacle Goose seen with Pink-footed Geese from the Ron Barker Hide and a female Blackcap near the Kingfisher H
19 January 2016
Golden Plover and other birds
With a marked change in temperature over the past few days it was always likely we would see a change in numbers of birds on the reserve and perhaps the arrival of something new. A count of 160 Golden Plover yesterday and 80+ today are exceptional numbers
18 January 2016
Minus 3
Harrier Hide view this morning Cold this morning with temperatures down to minus 3 degrees. So cold that frost appeared on some of the roosting Lapwing. We've not seen that here since the winter of 2010-11 were temp
16 January 2016
Barn Owls
Barn Owls are showing well at the moment, a distant one out in the far fields this morning, but then a showy bird which was hunting Carum field in between Gladstone and UU hides late afternoon. The usual 3 Marsh Harrier were active all day, also a family
14 January 2016
Nuthatch
Nuthatch calling between the new Discovery Hide and the Raines Observatory is new for the year. Although Nuthatch is recorded annually on the reserve it is still a note worthy bird. The first record was just over 10 years ago in December 2005. Currently
13 January 2016
Chiffchaff
The Martin Mere year list is slowly developing. No real surprise that a Chiffchaff was hanging around the Sewage Works this morning, it's probably been present all winter. Blustery from mid morning with the occasional shower moving through. Good numbers o
12 January 2016