Latest sightings

Brambling 'flock'

More winter weather in the past two days with the occasional hail shower strafing the reserve. Saturday looks good weather wise, milder and wetter on Sunday. No real obvious change on the wildfowl front, see previous sightings for approximate counts. Per

19 January 2018

Quite Windy

The wind got up today making viewing more of a challenge and the Martin Mere weather station recorded a gust of over 80 miles per hour yesterday evening. Less wintry showers but still cold. Strong winds and high tides over night tonight may push more wild

17 January 2018

Latest Sightings

After a wet early start it was reasonably mild with good visibility, turning colder throughout the day. Plenty of raptor entertainment with at least 6 Marsh Harrier over wintering and probably roosting within the reserve boundary. Merlin and Peregrine see

15 January 2018

Latest Sightings

Over cast with South-easterlies which as mentioned before is a comfortable wind direction for a lot of the hides. It did feel chilly elsewhere. Similar numbers of wildfowl as of late, see previous sightings for a fuller picture of numbers and species pres

13 January 2018

Latest Sightings

A subtly misty start to the day followed by some spring like sunshine, with light winds, before the clouds took over in the afternoon. Moody skies in the afternoon on the Mere Over 1000 Whooper Swan and 3000 Pink

10 January 2018

Taiga Bean Goose

Brief update for Monday. Taiga Bean Goose with Pink-footed Geese on Plover Field late morning. Water Rail out on the ice along the Reed Bed Walk. Kingfisher in front of the Ron Barker Hide. Check out the previous days sightings for a fuller picture of wha

8 January 2018

Bittern

Stunning winters day with a very light North Easterly which is always ideal as the majority of the hide windows face west and south. Frosty start on the Mere Bird of the day was a Bittern that flew onto Vinson's Marsh

7 January 2018

Latest Sightings

Some great winter birding to be had on and just off the reserve at the moment added to the excellent weather forecast for the next week ahead. Winter birding at it's best. No counts as yet in 2018. Certainly over 1000

6 January 2018

WWT Martin Mere review of the year 2017

As promised a review of 2017! During the year 151 species of birds were recorded and this was one of the lowest counts in recent years. It did however included two first's for the reserve and a number of species unrecorded for over 20 years. January start

5 January 2018

Sightings

Happy New Year to all our readers!! A round up of sightings so far in the New Year include the first Woodcock of the year which was flushed along the reed bed walk area by one of the wardens. A Raven was seen on Woodend Marsh. We still have up to 5 Mars

3 January 2018

Last sightings report for 2017

As the sun sets on 2017 we wish you all a happy new year and great birding for 2018. We'll do a review next week, covering some of the many highlights of 2017. The Cattle Egret is still present viewed from the Ron Barker Hide. At least 1400+ Whooper Swan

31 December 2017

Cattle Egret still

The Cattle Egret was still in the field by Ron Baker hide this morning but then flew distantly to the distant fields near the large cream barns on the edge of the reserve, best viewed from upstairs in the UU Hide. At least 1 Little Egret was also seen fro

29 December 2017

Cattle Egret

A Cattle Egret was with cattle in the field to the right of Ron Baker Hide this afternoon, also a few Little Egret around. A juvenile Peregrine was seen a few times along with 1 or 2 Marsh Harrier. Merlin has been seen in recent days. Male Stonechat from

28 December 2017

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas to you all out there. We are coming down to the last few sightings up date before 2018 commences. If we get it together we'll do a highlights of 2017 before the end of the year. Happy Christmas! (A winter s

24 December 2017

The Fog

Fog has been hampering viewing this morning but eventually lifted and at one point the Mere was bathed in glorious sunshine and birds could be seen. Not many reports today but the usual suspects could be seen once the fog cleared, a Peregrine was seen ove

22 December 2017