Bittern and other birds
Mild on Tuesday followed by some squally wintry showers on Wednesday.
Starting off with a Bittern seen from the Outer Reedbed Walk on Tuesday afternoon. It is likely that it is the same bird that was seen earlier in the month. Never an easy bird to catch up with at Martin Mere although last year a bird was 'booming' in the same area in April. Cetti's Warbler calling in the area this morning.
Six species of raptor with at least 6 Marsh Harrier, 4+ Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Merlin (on Tuesday) and Peregrine, the later spectacularly jousting with harriers over the reserve fields. Barn Owl hunting today and Tawny Owl roosting.
See previous days for a fuller picture of the wildfowl counts.
Similar wader counts with 1500+ Lapwing, 80+ Ruff, 21 Oystercatcher, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 10+ Snipe, 2 Redshank and just off the reserve 2 Green Sandpiper.
Other species noted; Redwing feeding in the Ivy near the Kingfisher Hide, Treecreeper near the Raines Observatory, Grey Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch and a few Meadow Pipit near the Sewage Works.
Just off the reserve 8 Corn Bunting, 6 Red-legged Partridge and 2 Grey Partridge.
A fairly average start to 2018 with 90 species recorded to the end of January. Notable species missing this winter Hen Harrier and Bewick's Swan.
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.
