Latest sightings
Whimbrel and Yellow Wagtail
First up date for a while. Ive been off for a few days apparently some difficulties accessing the website. No new birds on the reserve until today with the arrival and departure of Whimbrel and 2 Yellow Wagtail this morning, both species briefly from th
26 April 2015
Spotted Crake
Late afternoon a Spotted Crake was flushed from undergrowth next to the pool right of the Ron Barker Hide. Spotted Crake are passage migrants/summer visitors to the UK and have been recorded at Martin Mere regularly in the past few years. They are however
20 April 2015
Greenshank
A cool and overcast start to the day. Greenshank on Woodend Marsh early on was new for the year. Common Sandpiper still present there. Also 54 Avocet, 26 Ruff, 40+ Black-tailed Godwit, 10+ Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, Lapwings and a few Oystercatcher. Rapto
19 April 2015
Little Ringed Plover
Both Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper were on the Mere in the morning. Around 25+ Black Tailed Godwit At least 5+ Sedge Warbler and 1 Reed Warbler along the Reedbed Walk, plus Chiffchaff's and Blackcap's around the reserve. The Tawny Owl was agai
18 April 2015
Warblers
A big influx of warblers today as we add Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warbler to the reserve's year list. Noticeably greater numbers of Willow Warbler and Blackcap around today. More Wheatear again this morning opposite the reserve. At this time of year
16 April 2015
Waders arriving
Warmest day off the year.... but not here as the day started with some murky misty rain. This of course is just the right conditions for bringing some birds down onto the reserve that may have just passed over. As a result it was very much a wader orienta
15 April 2015
Ring Ouzel (mega)
With migration now coming into full swing we have been looking with envy at sites (mostly coastal) turning up migrants. This has been particularly true regarding Ring Ouzel. This male (below) was feeding along the boundary of the reserve parallel to the r
14 April 2015
More Spring
A couple of new arrivals with Blackcap yesterday (and today) singing along the nature trail and Willow Warbler today with 3 different birds singing around the reserve. We can expect Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warbler in the near future. A 3rd year(?) mal
13 April 2015
Latest Sightings
Quite a change compared to the previous few days with rain early on and a blustery cool wind throughout the day. A couple of Swallow feeding along Langley's Brook may have been wondering what had happened to the summer like conditions. A limited number of
11 April 2015
Common Sandpiper
Some of the highlights from today include a Common Sandpiper on the Mere all day, also a nice flock of 5 Golden Plover in breeding plumage were in the field opposite the entrance this morning. A group of 10 Corn Bunting feeding in the hedge along the Reed
9 April 2015
Latest Sightings
A brief update. A Wheatear along the back of the Mere this morning was new in. At least 4 Mediterranean Gull present today. Two Tawny Owl still showing. Kingfisher from the Ron Barker Hide and unusually the Kingfisher Hide! Over 70 Black-tailed Godwit tod
7 April 2015
Little Gull and House Martin
A first summer Little Gull from the Ron Barker Hide this afternoon is a first for the year. Also new in House Martin. Four adult Med Gull present on the Mere today. Three Little Egret and 6 Grey Heron feeding on the reserve. At least 3 Sand Martin
6 April 2015
Swallow
First Swallow of the year, two in fact, hinting at warmer times to come! Willow Tit by the Kingfisher Hide this morning. If you see this bird please report it to the in focus shop. Two Tawny Owl today and Barn Owl distantly from the United Utilities Hide.
5 April 2015
Latest Sightings
A lovely day out in the sun although still nippy in the hides with a slight northerly. Probably not encouraging the arrival of many migrants although many species will be trickling through perhaps unseen. A few Chiffchaff present in song along the Nature
4 April 2015
In like a Lion, out like a Lion....
A wild and windy couple of days putting pay to any further influx of spring migrants. On saying that a Wheatear was found today on islands from the Harrier Hide, probably taking shelter from the coast! Just over 50 Whooper present today. Shoveler are gett
1 April 2015