Sightings - Martin Mere
Pink-footed Geese arriving
A real classic autumn day here with skein after skein of Pink-footed Geese arriving throughout the day. Skeins coming into roost You could pretty much scan out towards the coast and track flocks of Pink-footed Geese h
1 October 2016
Pale-bellied Brent Goose
Another good day on site with new sightings in the form of the first Pale-bellied Brent Goose for a number of years, first on the Mere then in the Plover field with a few thousand Pink-footed Geese, also a single Barnacle Goose was new before flying off w
30 September 2016
Pecs Again
Positively tropical by the afternoon after another morning of misty rain. It certainly gives an air of 'rarity potential' at this time of year with low cloud hanging over the reserve. Yesterday's two Pectoral Sandpiper were present in the afternoon. They
28 September 2016
Two Pecs
Two Pectoral Sandpiper today out on Woodend Marsh viewed from the United Utilities Hide. First sightings for 7 days here. Quite possibly the same birds that have been present in the area since 16th September. Pectoral Sand
27 September 2016
Some counts
A murky day with rain early on. Just c5000 Pink-footed Geese roosting on the reserve this morning. Many birds fly off early on to return early afternoon onwards. We are predicting a big influx of geese for this coming weekend, so watch this space! Wildfow
26 September 2016
C.15,000 Pink-footed Geese
A brief update. The numbers of Pink-footed Geese are continuing to build up with around 15,000 in the area. If the forecast is anything to go by, some high pressure over Iceland mid week could produce and even bigger count next weekend. Some excellent vie
24 September 2016
Great White Returns
The Great White Egret or another bird spent most of the day on site mainly from Ron Barker feeding in Langley's Brook with an accompanying Grey Heron. Also the Greenland White-fronted Goose spent a while giving great views on the Mere with lots of Pink-fo
23 September 2016
Greenland White-fronted Goose
Another fine autumn day with plenty of activity around the reserve. A definite influx of wildfowl is occurring with increasing numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Pintail. Three Whooper Swan were seen to fly over the reserve mid morning but were not relocated. Th
21 September 2016
Further arrivals
Pink-footed Geese numbers continue to build with 6170 birds counted this afternoon. Some blocking weather fronts over Iceland are likely to slow the progress of birds leaving this week, so it will be interesting to see how the numbers change.
20 September 2016
Sightings
Another excellent couple of days, yesterday a Crake specie was reported from United Utilities Hide, no sign today but it could well reappear, here's hoping! Also yesterday a Curlew Sandpiper was seen but no reports today. The highlights today included the
19 September 2016
Recent Sightings
Another excellent day with lots of new birds, mainly Pink-footed Geese, small flocks could be seen dropping in through out the morning, by late morning more than 600 had been counted. By the end of the day more than 800 had appeared. The eclipse male Ga
16 September 2016
Recent Sightings
The low murk around most of the day looked like it may produce something good but a surprise was 2 Red-breasted Merganser which flew south around 10am, very rare on site with only a few records over the years. The eclipse male Garganey was again among the
15 September 2016
Great White
Calm and warm with a light south easterly, rain later in the day. Two days in a row and another new species for the year list in the shape of the formerly rare Great White Egret. We didn't record one in 2015 and although birds are hanging around on the Ri
13 September 2016
Bar-tailed Godwit new for the year
A Bar-tailed Godwit found yesterday was still present today and is the first record of thiss coastal wader on the reserve this year. More wader action with the arrival of 3 Little Stint best viewed from the Ron Barker Hide. Other waders included 11 Dunlin
12 September 2016
First Pink-footed Geese arrival
Always a red letter day at the WWT with the first Pink-footed Geese of the autumn. Just five birds joining the the mixed feral Greylag and Canada Geese on the Mere this afternoon. Interesting to see if we get many more in the next day or two, although the
10 September 2016