Avocet Influx
Warm in the sun, cool in the hides, spring like.
Great to see the Avocet coming back in after the cold snap. Four nine birds seen today is the highest count of the spring so far. Lapwing have returned too with 1100+ birds, also 43 Oystercatcher, 78 Black-tailed Godwit, 112 Ruff, 2 Redshank and 5+ Snipe.
On the raptor front 3 Marsh Harrier, 10 Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.
On the wildfowl front 1000+ Pink-footed Geese in the area, on and off the reserve. At least 1400 Teal, 900 Wigeon, 310 Pintail, 20 Pochard, 16 Tufted Duck.
Also seen; Med Gull, 2 Stonechat, 3 Little Egret and Water Rail (Janet Kear Hide), 30+ Tree Sparrow, 20+ Stock Dove. Along the Nature Trail Coal, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tit, also Goldcrest are being seen, Mistle and Song Thrushes are also around. On the feeders plenty of Reed Bunting are coming in, also Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
If you are visiting Martin Mere for the first time and would like to know what is around and the best areas to see specific species do call in at the in focus shop, next to the Discovery Hide which over looks the Mere. It should be possible to see over 60 species in a day without too much difficulty.
