Sightings - Martin Mere
Knot Unusual
Monday rolling update... At least 8 Knot with a flock of ~ 400 Black-tailed Godwit on the Mere this morning. Some years were may only get one or two sightings of Knot, which are primarily a coastal wader. This year we have had exceptional numbers with one
12 August 2019
Little Stint
Better conditions today and more new waders coming in. A Little Stint was found on Woodend Marsh around midday and a Greenshank there was new in. No counts but 1000+ Black-tailed Godwit present, 20+ Ruff including juveniles, 10+ Snipe, 500+ Lapwing, 3 Dun
11 August 2019
Godwit-fest
Not the best of weather today, not that it's putting off the huge numbers (2000+) of Black-tailed Godwit we have on the reserve at the moment. Good numbers of Lapwing with 500+ present, also 15+ Ruff, 10+ Snipe, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper.Peregrine,
10 August 2019
Waders
Water levels on Vinson's and Sunley's Marsh and Woodend are dropping back slightly as the the drainage cut that runs through the reserve beings to drop. Recent rains have made the local fields fairly waterlogged which continues to run off for some while.
8 August 2019
Wood Sands still
Still at least 2 Wood Sandpiper on Woodend Marsh viewable from UU Hide, also 1000+ Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Snipe and a few Ruff including a fresh juvenile. Three Green Sandpiper were on Top Mere.A good count of 100 Shoveler on Vinson's Marsh from Ron Bark
6 August 2019
Hobby and Med Gull
A Hobby was seen a few times today from Ron Barker Hide also at least 2 Marsh Harrier.A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was on the Mere early afternoon also the first juvenile Common Gull of the autumn joined the many young Black-headed Gulls, making a great
5 August 2019
Wood Sandpipers
A group of 3 Wood Sandpiper were a highlight today closely followed by 2 Greenshank both on view mid afternoon from UU Hide, also from here still large numbers of Black-tailed Godwit and up to 15 Ruff. Other notable waders on site include 5 Green Sandpipe
4 August 2019
Barn Owl & Harriers
A Barn Owl was out this morning in the Top mere area best viewed from Ron barker Hide, also 2 Marsh Harrier showing well.Yesterday at least 1 Wood Sandpiper present in Langley's Brook also Common Sandpiper and 2 Green Sandpiper here. Still good numbers of
2 August 2019
New Record Count!
We keep smashing the record count of Black-tailed Godwit (featured image). This morning 2800 have flown onto the reserve. A truly spectacular sight, particularly in flight. More heavy rain overnight and high water levels across the site but they are drop
31 July 2019
After the rain
Nearly 24 hours of rain over the weekend has put the water levels up considerably round the reserve. Once the levels on Pump House Sluice start to drop we should have a bit more wader mud back. A good start to the morning with 620 Black-tailed Godwit roos
29 July 2019
Saturday Sightings
Great to see some of the record count of Black-tailed Godwit starting use the Mere to feed and roost as the water levels are lowered. A minimum of 450 on the Mere and ~ 1000 on Woodend Marsh currently. Four Wood Sandpiper ( three below) on the Mere. Also
27 July 2019
Wood Sandpipers
The two juvenile Wood Sandpipers are still present but moving around the reserve, in the morning they were on view from Ron Barker hide and then mid afternoon they were on the Mere with 2 Green Sandpipers.There are still large numbers of Black-tailed Godw
26 July 2019
Record Count of Godwits
A record count of 2400 Black-tailed Godwits out on Woodend Marsh was the highlight of the day, also on Woodend Marsh were 2 Wood Sandpipers and 4 Green Sandpiper, also 2 Ruff, Redshank, 15 Avocet and plenty of Lapwing.At Ron Barker hide were 1 Common Sand
25 July 2019
Mega Moth Night
The hot and humid night forecast meant that running a couple of moth traps was a must. At the time of typing we have identified 100 species from the overnight session. Beautiful Hook-tip (featured image) is a second record for the reserve and scarce in La
24 July 2019
Black-tailed Godwit
Warm but windy on Monday. Waders are very much the focus at this time of year, although it's not impossible to pick up migrating passerines too as a July juvenile Pied Flycatcher seen a few years ago only goes to prove. Counts of Black-tailed Godwit are l
22 July 2019