News
Latest sightings
Over the weekend we had sightings of 7 different raptor species; 9 marsh harriers, buzzard, kestrel, sparrowhawk, peregrine, merlin and an unidentified harrier, most likely a hen harrier but possibly a montagu's or, (very unlikely) a pallid harrier.
2 November 2020
Latest sightings
Was a good day for birds of prey on the reserve yesterday; with a report of a male merlin, 1 hen harrier, 5 marsh harriers, 2 sparrowhawks and a kestrel.
29 October 2020
Latest sightings
A great Egret and at least two little egrets seen on the reserve, look out for them at Ron Barker hide and on the reedbed walk.
26 October 2020
Latest sightings
The Marsh Harriers at Martin Mere today have been putting on a show with up to 9 seen at once. They are still roosting next to the Harrier Hide and flying out around 10am hunting over the reedbed woodend marsh and the wet grassland fields. We still have g
22 October 2020
Egyptian Geese
About eight egyptian geese have been sighted on the mere today, a record number for the site, Photo by Joseph Taylor. Elsewhere in the reserve, fieldfare and redwings have arrived and lots can be seen feeding on berry bushes.
17 October 2020
Latest sightings
Whooper swan numbers continue to increase with 160 across the reserve at last count. Pintail, wigeon and pochard are also increasing in number on the mere. Stock Photo - Whooper SwanBarn owls have been showing very well at the United Utilities hide with k
15 October 2020
Latest sightings
We had some high rainfall this week which meant the waterfowl collection was closed but the reserve has been unaffected. Large numbers of wildfowl have continued to arrive this week, on the Mere there are some lovely Pintail, Wigeon and Pochard showing w
8 October 2020
Latest Sightings
Whooper swan numbers have been increasing, with 45 counted at dawn earlier this week along with 10,300 pink-footed geese. The maximum count of pink-footed geese this week was around 30,000. The swans can be seen and heard throughout the reserve. 35 shovel
5 October 2020
Wilson's Phalarope
The Wilson's phalarope is showing on and off it was at Ron Barker hide at 9am, was seen on the Mere at 10:50, on woodend marsh at 11:15 and has now headed towards Ron Barker at 11:30. I would recommend spreading out across the site as it has been on ever
30 September 2020
Wilson's Phalarope
A Wilson's Phalarope has been showing well today at the Ron Barker hide it has flown off a couple of times but luckily keeps coming back. The bird was found by John and Pam Hall and Phil Johnson.Wilson's Phalaropes breed in North America and migrate down
29 September 2020
Latest sightings
The pink-footed goose numbers are increasing everyday, they aren't just spending the night with us they are here all day and visitors are getting great views. We went out at dawn this morning and counted 18,000 pink-footed geese spreadout across the site
28 September 2020
First whooper swans arrive
This morning the first whooper swans have arrived, 3 flew in and landed on woodend marsh (in front of the Gordon Taylor hide), they have now flown onto the mere. We have 6 whooper swans that oversummer with us at Martin Mere because they have broken wings
26 September 2020
Pink-footed geese
The number of Pink-footed geese is increasing by the day; there was a roost count on Tuesday of 9600 and more are still flooding in. The majority are feeding in local fields during the day but good numbers are staying on site grazing in the fields and the
24 September 2020
Latest sightings
We have done lots of managemnet works infront of the Ron Barker hide getting the site ready for the winter, we have cut the hedge next to the hide so visitors can see the barn owl hunting, we have strimmed the islands and the bank edges for the geese duck
17 September 2020
Latest sightings
The weather has been great for migration and all day pink-footed geese are streaming into the reserve. They are loving Plover field which can be seen from the United Utilities hide. This morning we counted 1706 pink-footed geese that roosted on the reser
14 September 2020