Blog - Martin Mere

Flamingo chicks hatch at WWT Martin Mere

Flamingo chicks hatch at WWT Martin Mere

Four greater flamingo chicks have been born at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre. The cold weather has meant that the flamingos were late to lay their eggs. Twelve eggs have been laid so far this year; so the grounds team are still expecting many more chicks

24 May 2013

A hatching duckling

A hatching duckling

Every day this week we are telling you how a duckling develops and hatches from an egg. On average it takes 16 - 18 hours for a duckling to hatch. The duckling is very tired when it hatches and will often just want to rest and stay warm until it dries and

24 May 2013

Internal pipping?

Internal pipping?

Every day this week we are showing you how new life develops inside an egg and ultimatley hatches in preparation for Downy Duckling Week that begins on Saturday. Once the duckling enters the airspace it begins 'Internal pipping' and the duckling is breath

23 May 2013

An incubated egg at week 4

An incubated egg at week 4

Every day this week we are showing you how new life develops inside an egg. The hatching will take place on Friday in time for our Downy Duckling Week that is starting on Saturday 25 May. At 4 weeks the duckling is almost fully grown and the egg is domina

22 May 2013

An incubated egg at 2 - 3 weeks

An incubated egg at 2 - 3 weeks

Every day this week we are telling you how a duckling develops inside an egg. Today we are looking at an egg that has been incubated for 2 - 3 weeks. There is a lot of difference as the duckling is developing quickly. The duckling is the black mass that

21 May 2013

Day 1: How does a duckling develop inside an egg

Day 1: How does a duckling develop inside an egg

All this week we will be telling you all about how a duckling develops inside an egg for the forthcoming Downy Duckling Week starting on Saturday 25 May. 1 week incubation We know that this egg is fertile because you can see small veins that extend out fr

20 May 2013

Calves born at WWT Martin Mere despite heavy rain

Calves born at WWT Martin Mere despite heavy rain

Four Long-horn calves have been born at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, helping the Centre to traditionally manage the reserve. The calves can be viewed from the community reedbed walk and they were born last weekend despite the heavy rain and wind. Marti

16 May 2013

Three calves born on reserve

Three calves born on reserve

Three Long-horn cattle calves were born yesterday at Martin Mere. They can be seen from the community reedbed walk.  We will create a video ealry next week (once the rain has stopped!) showing the calves and how the cattle help to maintain our reserve.

12 May 2013

Come and see watervoles at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre

Come and see watervoles at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre

Watervoles have been sighted on the canoe safari and boat tours area at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, offering visitors a unique opportunity to spot, get close to and photograph watervoles in their natural habitat whilst enjoying a guided boat tour. Wor

12 May 2013

WWT Martin Mere pays tribute to late Pat Wisniewski

WWT Martin Mere pays tribute to late Pat Wisniewski

WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre has paid tribute to the late Centre Manager, Pat Wisniewski by officially naming the 183 acre reedbed that he created the ‘Pat Wisniewski Reedbed’ The launch of the Pat Wisniewski Reedbed happened on Wednesday (1 May) wh

2 May 2013

Meet Nick, our new Centre Manager

Meet Nick, our new Centre Manager

Nick Brooks has now started at Martin Mere as our new Centre Manager. Nick lives in Burscough but with his last job he was commuting to Sussex as the Area Manager for RSPB Sussex reserves, so he has a very good background and knowledge of managing a reser

1 May 2013

Bring your little ones to meet ours this Bank Holiday

Bring your little ones to meet ours this Bank Holiday

Families will have a great day out this Bank Holiday weekend at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre with ducklings, goslings, cygnets and chicks springing up all around the centre. Starting on Saturday 4 May, you can also get a close encounter with nature and

28 April 2013

Goodbye to Andy Wooldridge

Goodbye to Andy Wooldridge

Today we are syaing goodbue to Andy Wooldridge, Centre Manager here at Martin Mere.  Andy has been at the centre since he was 16 years old and he has dedicated his whole life to making Martin Mere the fantastic place it has become. When he started he had

26 April 2013

Watervoles seen on guided boat tours

Watervoles seen on guided boat tours

Watervoles have been seen each day whilst visitors have been out on the guided boat tours. The watervoles are located around the two large ponds and there are clear signs that they have started to establish themselves in this area with visible holes in ba

25 April 2013

April images by Tom Clare

April images by Tom Clare

Tom, our reserve warden, has been out taking photographs in the last few days of the April wildlife, fauna and butterflies on the reserve.  See a selection of images below. Barn Owl, fox footprint, reed bunting, dunlin (black bellied wader), lapwing, s

23 April 2013