Kingfishers galore
Kingfishers have been delighting visitors to WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre this week by feeding and displaying in front of the hides.
Reserve Manager, Tom Clare, said: “Everyone loves to see kingfishers and it is great that more and more of these birds are using the site as a feeding site, we have had definite sightings of two females and one male. We have been putting out extra kingfisher perches to ensure our visitors can get really good photographs of them.”
The kingfishers are being seen regularly from the Ron Barker hide on the nature trail and the centre has been getting lots of positive comments from visitors. Jill Rigby, from Bickerstaffe, said: 
“I have always wanted to see a kingfisher and I really wasn’t disappointed, it was absolutely fantastic and I am still talking about it a week later.”
The two kingfishers in the photograph, taken by Paul Scott, are believed to be two females, one adult and one juvenile – you can tell the difference between males and females due to the orange colouration on the lower bill; males have a pure black bill.
Tom continued:”It is a great time to come and see this amazing bird and its bright blue and orange colours, you will need to be patient, but you won’t be disappointed”.
In other news at the centre, the nine GIANT LEGO® Brick Animals are all in their new homes for the summer in the grounds at Martin Mere. You can come along all summer to meet them including Fred the Frog, Kate the Kingfisher and Natalie the Nene and get a nature explorer sticker for completing the LEGO brick animal trail and 7 other activities to become a gold Nature Explorer at our daily award ceremony.
Starting from Saturday 23 July, Martin Mere will be running two LEGO workshops everyday at 11am and 1pm. Our one hour workshops are perfect for young LEGO® fans, completing three exciting challenges: making ducklings, cars and your own frog and fly to take home. Spaces are limited so it is advised to book online at wwt.org.uk/martinmere before you visit. The cost is £8.50 per child and it is advised for ages over 4.
WWT Martin Mere is open every day from 9.30am to 6pm and parking is free of charge. Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6. The Centre is also accessible via the Southport to Manchester and the Liverpool to Preston line by train from Burscough Rail Stations. Visit the web site http://www.wwt.org.uk/martinmere/ to find out what’s on all year round at Martin Mere and the other eight centres.
