Sightings - Martin Mere
Tuesday's Sightings
Mere - Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, 3 pair of Common Tern, 3 adult Med Gull, 250 Black-headed Gull, 30+ Gadwall. Plover Field/Ashton's - Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, 3+ Buzzard (some distant). Woodend – 33 Black-tailed Godwit, 73 Lapwing, Little Egret and
25 June 2019
A reserve first - Obscure Wainscot
Some milder nights have seen our reserve placement students running the moth trap. The reserve has a reasonable list with ~ 560 species of moth recorded. Saturday night produced a good catch including Obscure Wainscot (picture below by Maria Scullion), a
24 June 2019
Sunday's Sightings
'Bird of the day' has to go to this Whooper Swan that flew in late afternoon. We can only guess it's story but it must be interesting... Common Sandpiper on the Mere, another returning 'autumn' bird. Little Ringed Plover on the Mere, Avocet with chicks th
23 June 2019
Today's Sightings
A lovely day, coolish breeze in the hides, warm in the sun. Plenty of breeding activity in full swing with many birds fledging young and other on a second go. If you spend a little time looking you will come across adults feeding birds that have recently
19 June 2019
Great White Egret
A Great White Egret was seen in flight from the Reedbed walk area in the morning which is the first sighting of the year of this species, also at least 2 Little Egret around today. The other first sighting was of a Hobby in flight over Vinson's Marsh from
18 June 2019
Common Terns
The Common Terns nesting on the Mere this year so far seem to be doing very well with the second pair hatching at least 2 chicks this morning, so that's at least 5 chicks on that island and another pair hopefully to hatch more young on the second island.T
17 June 2019
Breeding Bearded Reedlings!
The outstanding news today concerns the first confirmed breeding of Bearded Reedlings on the reserve and also the first breeding in Lancashire away from the Leighton Moss/Barrow Scout area! A female was caught and ringed in the Reedbed walk area this morn
15 June 2019
More Med Gulls
More Mediterranean Gulls on the Mere with at least 5 birds today, 2 pair of adults and a 1st sum/2nd cal year. One pair were actively looking around for nesting sites among the Black-headed gull colony, were there are lots of young Black-headed Gulls from
12 June 2019
Black-necked Grebe
A fabulous breeding plumage Black-necked Grebe was the highlight of the day, present all day on the Mere and showing very well. This is either the 4th or 5th record for the reserve.Other sightings included the usual Marsh Harrier that has been with us for
5 June 2019
Sightings
A quiet day for new sightings but plenty of new chicks hatching everyday as well as plenty more yet to hatch. Two pair of Common Tern are currently sitting on eggs on the Mere which is the first time they have bred on the Mere.Another 4 Avocet chicks hatc
4 June 2019
Spoonbill & Spotted Flycatcher
An excellent day on site with two new birds for the year, a Spotted Flycatcher that was seen and photographed near Kingfisher Hide but wasn't seen after initial sighting. Then a Spoonbill was seen flying towards Ron Barker area where it landed on Sunley's
3 June 2019
The day of the Knot
A fantastic large flock of 180 Knot appeared in flight mid afternoon over Ron Barker area before settling down on Woodend Marsh viewed from UU Hide. This count smashes the previous site record of 32 in August 2007, and could also be a contender for the la
1 June 2019
Sightings
A Sanderling was on Woodend Marsh this morning also a good count of 196 Black-tailed Godwit. Newly hatched broods of young chicks are appearing daily including two broods of 2 & 4 Pochard from Ron Barker Hide today.Two pairs of Great Crested Grebe with yo
30 May 2019
Tuesday's Sightings
Starting off with a rare sighting of the Bearded Reedling this morning when a female popped up in the Reed Bed briefly before moving off. Out on Woodend Marsh; 93 Black-tailed Godwit, two pair of Avocet now have chicks, 2 Little Ringed Plover. Three pa
28 May 2019
Sanderling
Sanderling moulting into breeding plumage on Woodend Marsh this morning, viewed from the banking. At least one tundra race Ringed Plover there too. Sixty eight Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 8+ Avocet, Oystercatcher and Lapwing
27 May 2019