Latest sightings
Cattle Egret & Bittern!!
The change of weather and an influx of birders for the Birdfair brought a flurry of new sightings, at 08.10 Brian Wooley saw a Cattle Egret drop onto the edge of the Mere, it was seen by a few people before disappearing but was seen around lunchtime in fl
21 November 2015
Whooper Swans
With the continuing mild (for the time of year) weather, the Swan count has remained low at just 750 birds, a sudden cold spell could change all this fairly quickly though. The numbers of Whooper Swans are low due to mild
18 November 2015
Kittiwake
An adult Kittiwake that flew past the Ron Barker Hide early afternoon was a good sighting. At least 5 Marsh Harrier (4 juv, 1 2nd cal yr) were seen, also a fem/imm Merlin, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Common Buzzard. At least 1 poss 2 Siskin were s
15 November 2015
Bird News
Some sightings over the last few days have included a flock of 30 Barnacle Geese on Tuesday which were probably feral birds (not truly wild) but you never know they may have been wild. A Little Egret was seen on Wednesday and a Water Rail has been seen or
12 November 2015
Marsh Harriers
The reserve is full of birds at the moment with many more potentially to arrive depending on the severity of the winter, performing well at the moment are at least 5 Marsh Harriers today including prolonged views of one juvenile bird which waited patientl
8 November 2015
Short-eared Owl again
A Short-eared Owl was seen during the afternoon again, eventually giving good views from the Ron Barker Hide. Also at least 4 different Marsh Harrier, several Common Buzzard, a single Peregrine and a Merlin, as well as the usual Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.
7 November 2015
Short-eared Owl
A notable influx of 'Shorties' into the UK in the past week and another sighting out on Woodend Marsh late afternoon of Short-eared Owl. As the nights continue to draw in Barn Owl can be seen from the Harrier Hide and it's not impossible to find Tawny Owl
3 November 2015
Common Gulls and other birds
A full autumn spectacle continues at Martin Mere as big numbers of Pink-footed Geese (10,000+) and increasing numbers of Whooper Swan (300+) use the reserve. No recent counts but all the other wildfowl numbers are increasing with sixteen different species
1 November 2015
Latest Sightings
A lovely day again with calm condition and good visibility. The Whooper Swan numbers have increased with this mornings dawn count producing 361 birds. The Pink-footed Geese numbers are on the other hand drooping back slightly with only 16000(!) roosting.
30 October 2015
Green-winged Teal
A brief update. Green-winged Teal briefly early afternoon from the Ron Barker Hide when it was flushed by a Marsh Harrier. Currently over 1000 Teal on site. Similar counts as of previous days. Pink-footed Geese coming into
29 October 2015
Starling Murmuration
A glorious late autumn day with the reserve playing host to thousands of birds with 60-70 species of wild bird represented. The current 'don't miss' is the Starling 'murmuration' which can be viewed from the Harrier Hide or Reedbed Walk from ~ 4pm untilĀ
27 October 2015
Cetti's Warbler
Cetti's Warbler calling at the Sewage Works end of the Reedbed Walk this morning. It's only the third time this year we have recorded this species. The other two records were in January and February. Given that they tend to be noisy birds it's remarkable
25 October 2015
Merlin and other birds
A wet start to the day making observations difficult. Wildfowl numbers are building up with good numbers of Teal, Wigeon, Pintail and Mallard on the reserve. In among these birds smaller numbers of Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Shelduck are arriving.
24 October 2015
Bird News
A Merlin was reported from the Ron Barker hide, also at least 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier, several Common Buzzard and Kestrel. Thousands of Pink-footed Geese using the reserve on and off throughout the day including a leucistic bird. No reports of any rarer
23 October 2015
Bird News
22 October 2015