Sightings - Martin Mere

Bird News

Bird News

Great visibility on Friday in overcast condtions. Some light misty rain early on had the potential of bringing some birds in. A round up of news from the past few days. Two Spoonbill flew east on Wednesday. These birds seem to be hanging around in the 'gr

30 June 2017

Sandpiper Trio

Sandpiper Trio

Regular viewers on here will be aware that the best time to come birding at Martin Mere is when rain fronts are moving through because there is always a chance that something new will be forced to drop in in the inclement weather! Today a classic trio of

27 June 2017

Spoonbills drop in.

Spoonbills drop in.

A breezy weekend with a little rain passing through. Highlights included 2 Spoonbill today which hung around for a short while late morning / early afternoon before disappearing. Possibly these were the same birds seen a few weeks ago. Wood Sandpiper agai

25 June 2017

New Species

New Species

A change in the weather welcomed if you aren't so keen on the heat with fresh south-westerlies set in for the next few days. New in today, or at least we assume so, a Wood Sandpiper present in the afternoon on Woodend Marsh from  the United Utilities Hid

23 June 2017

Hobby & Dragonflies

Hobby & Dragonflies

A Hobby was seen yesterday along with 2 Peregrine, 4 Buzzard and 2 Kestrel. Another sighting of one of the Cuckoos again yesterday. For both the Hobby and Cuckoo the best chance of seeing them is to spend some time aroubnd the reedbed walk area. Good numb

21 June 2017

Weekend Bird News

Weekend Bird News

Warm to hot over the weekend, the arrival of a Green Sandpiper on Saturday (still present Sunday) was the first of the year on the reserve. Birds like this form part of a post breeding / failed breeding dispersal which see a build up of waders over the ne

18 June 2017

Bird News

Bird News

Overcast and cooler today before it warms up for the weekend. Packed full of breeding birds and over summering species, it's possible to see 60+ species in a days birding on the reserve. Cuckoos are still present with at least 2 birds being seen around th

16 June 2017

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Warming up today feeling very summer like. A Cattle Egret flew onto the reserve around 1pm. Martin Mere had Lancashire's first record in 1999 but in the last two years they have been annual. Once mega rare Cattle Egrets ar

14 June 2017

Wood Sandpiper and Garganey

Wood Sandpiper and Garganey

Wood Sandpiper and drake Garganey new in today. The Garganey is going into eclipse. The usual selection of raptors with 5+ Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawk. An adult female Peregrine was hunting over the Mere during the week and yesterday we received

11 June 2017

Bird News

Bird News

The Little Gull is still lingering on the reserve, although it can be mobile with sightings at both ends of the reserve, although best views recently have been on the Mere itself. Also on the Mere today, up to 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 25 Oystercathchers, a

9 June 2017

Wet

Wet

Virtually non-stop rain today dampening visitors but not bird activity. Great to see some larger broods of Shelduck emerging with one group of 8 just hatched from the Ron Barker Hide this morning. There will be plenty more to come in the next few weeks. Q

5 June 2017

Yellow Wag, Cuckoo and Spoonbills...

Yellow Wag, Cuckoo and Spoonbills...

Much fresher today with a brisk westerly making it chilly in the hides, assuming you were dressed for summer... A pair of Yellow Wagtail were seen briefly in the overflow car park this morning before flying over the road (east).

4 June 2017

Breeding Barn Owls and other birds

Breeding Barn Owls and other birds

Barn Owl nest (pic by Kane Brides WWT) Three pairs of Barn Owl nesting at Martin Mere this year. Two broods of 4 chicks currently and this nest with 6 eggs. Plenty of other birds to keep the WWT conservation team in d

3 June 2017

Bird News

Bird News

The overcast condition and a little rain concentrated 30+ Swift and a few House Martin over the reserve. The Mere, more activity than this photograph can show... Not packed with news today, the wardens are busy elsewh

2 June 2017

Little Gull and other birds

Little Gull and other birds

Little Gull with two Black-headed Gulls on the Mere A pleasant day, 'goldilock' temperatures. Lots of evidence of breeding activity across the reserve with excellent views of Black-headed Gull and Avocet chicks. The s

1 June 2017