News
Today's sightings
Tack Piece 91 Bewick's Swan feeding on the flood during the middle part of the day, 7 were present at dawn. Other early morning counts were 850+ Wigeon grazing on adjacent to the main channel as well as 16 Ruff, 6 Redshank, 500 Lapwing, 65 Pintail, 200
8 January 2018
Recent Sightings 8th January 2018
A very frosty morning here on the reserve, with the Freshwater Lagoon, Main Lake and Limestone Lake partially frozen. The following sightings were recorded today from the reserve at Castle Espie. Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Ob
8 January 2018
Taiga Bean Goose
Brief update for Monday. Taiga Bean Goose with Pink-footed Geese on Plover Field late morning. Water Rail out on the ice along the Reed Bed Walk. Kingfisher in front of the Ron Barker Hide. Check out the previous days sightings for a fuller picture of wha
8 January 2018
Wildlife sightings - 08/01/18
a.m. Tide Level: High Wader Lake Common snipe 1 Curlew 74 Kestrel 1 Jackdaw 1 Teal 4 Shelduck 1 Lapwing 67 Herring gull 20 Great black-backed gull 2 Black-headed gull 310 Saline Lagoon Frozen Hawthorn Wood Great spotted woodpecker 2 Robin 3 Great tit 9 Bu
8 January 2018
Artist Ben Green features in the gallery this January & February
Whooper swan evening by Ben Green Ben Green is a local artist who has spent many hours looking out across the Washes at the magnificent spectacle of wildfowl and waders, sketching them and painting them in watercolour
8 January 2018
Otter enclosure improvements
We will be carrying out some maintenance work in our otter exhibit to make some fantastic improvements that will hugely benefit our cheeky family of Asian short-clawed otters. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week (8, 9 and 10 January 2018),
8 January 2018
Wildlife sightings for 8th January 2018
1 Bittern - main lake N shore. One bird flew across reedbed, landing in the middle sections to roost p.m. 1 Jack Snipe - headley hide 4 Snipe - headley hide 1 Tawny Owl - calling from the W perimeter of reserve 1650hrs 1 Marsh Harrier - flew over heading
8 January 2018
Bittern
Stunning winters day with a very light North Easterly which is always ideal as the majority of the hide windows face west and south. Frosty start on the Mere Bird of the day was a Bittern that flew onto Vinson's Marsh
7 January 2018
Sightings Sunday 7th January
Bright and Sunny Start to the day, all hides remain closed due to the water levels however the main observatory is open and there are still lots of birds to see from here as well as Lady fen where not only is there Whooper swans but also 35 pink-footed ge
7 January 2018
Wildlife sightings for 7th January 2018
1 Goldeneye - main lake N shore (from WWF hide) 2 Bittern - main lake N+SE shores 2 Shelduck - scrape 2 Pintail - main lake 17 Siskin - south route Alder trees 14 Redwing - world wetlands, wildside 1 Brambling - flew over south route heading NW towards
7 January 2018
Maisie has landed
Today we've been celebrating our Bewick's Swans with a special weekend dedicated to them as part of our Wild Winter weekends. The Bewick's Swan weekend continue tomorrow, more details available here. We've also welcomed at least 8 new swans today incl
6 January 2018
Today's sightings
Mute swan Whooper swan Bewick's swan Greylag Shelduck Mallard Shoveler Gadwall Pintail Wigeon Teal Pochard Goldeneye Great crested grebe Tufted duck Cormorant Coot Moorhen Grey heron Black-tailed godwit Redshank Snipe Dunlin Golden plover Lapwing Great bl
6 January 2018
Latest Sightings
Some great winter birding to be had on and just off the reserve at the moment added to the excellent weather forecast for the next week ahead. Winter birding at it's best. No counts as yet in 2018. Certainly over 1000
6 January 2018
Wildlife sightings for 6th December 2018
1 Bittern - main lake 2 Shelduck - main lake 4 Pintail - main lake 17 Redwing - sheltered lagoon 1 Water Pipit - wader scrape 2 Stonechat - grazing marsh 1 Grey Wagtail - wader scrape 2 Peregrine - perched on hospital ledge December bird highlights:
6 January 2018
WWT Martin Mere review of the year 2017
As promised a review of 2017! During the year 151 species of birds were recorded and this was one of the lowest counts in recent years. It did however included two first's for the reserve and a number of species unrecorded for over 20 years. January start
5 January 2018