More Spring
The warmth of the sun is a giveaway, the hawthorn is breaking into leaf and it can't far off for the Blackthorn coming into flower.
Another sign of spring at Martin Mere is the water levels being dropped on the Mere. In the next 7 days many of the submerged islands will emerge as breeding habitat and the lower levels maximises the feeding potentials for many breeding waders and passage migrants.
The Bittern is still booming out on the Reed Bed, heard from the public footpath and the Harrier Hide. Will it attract a mate? Is it just practicing before heading off into Europe?
A single Barnacle Goose was in a flock (c.300) Pink-footed Geese that dropped into Plover Field in the afternoon.
Waders present include 100+ Lapwing, 60+ Avocet, 60+ Black-tailed Godwit, 50+ Ruff, 20 Oystercatcher, 4 Snipe, 2 Redshank.
Raptors; 8+ Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.
The volume level of the Black-headed Gulls on the Mere is heading upwards as more island space begins to appear and fractious territorial jostling becomes the norm.
A Wheatear was seen on Curlew Lane on Wednesday, the first local inland bird and another near Holmswood today and a female Brambling was reported from the Outer Reed Bed public footpath.
