Latest sightings
Good for Raptors
A change in weather bring noticeably milder conditions in between some misty rain. The past few days has seen plenty of raptor action with Merlin, 4+ Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 3+ Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk and 2 Kestrel. Barn Owl occasionally showing in the m
2 December 2018
Some Counts
A change to some milder but windy weather and the first rain we've had for a while. A dawn count of Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swan produced just over 6000 geese and 457 Whooper Swan. More speculation than access to data but it looks like many of the o
28 November 2018
Latest Sightings
A big thank you to everybody who came along at the weekend to the North West Bird Watching Festival. The weather was great and there was lots of bird activity over the two days. Great for raptors with at least 5 Marsh Harrier around the reserve and coming
26 November 2018
Bird News
Lots of birds around today - a great primer for the North West Birdwatching festival which takes place at Martin Mere this weekend ( https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere/experience/north-west-bird-watching-festival/ ). 2 Avocets on the Mere
23 November 2018
Winds from the East
As the easterly winds set in and the temperature falls we should see an increase in wildfowl coming out of continental Europe. The other great thing about easterlies at Martin Mere is that the wind won't be blowing through most of the hide windows. Altho
20 November 2018
Bird News
No major changes over the past few days, but Peregrines have been showing particularly well this week, and a nice male Merlin has been seen hunting over the fields and perching up on fence posts. Probably best looked for from the United Utilities hide. O
16 November 2018
Some Wildfowl Counts and other birds
Sunny and clear with a fresh cool wind today. Mostly increasing numbers of wildfowl visiting the reserve bar the Pink-footed Geese which have dropped to 5300. Pochard showing well in front of the Discovery Hide An i
13 November 2018
Short-eared Owl
A brief update. A Short-eared Owl put in an appearance from the Ron Barker Hide this afternoon. Another good raptor day with 6 species seen; Merlin, Peregrine, 5 Marsh Harrier, 4 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk and 3 Kestrel. Two
11 November 2018
Bird News
A Green Sandpiper seen from the Ron Barker hide today was the only "new" bird reported today. However very large numbers of birds, particularly wildfowl are present on the reserve. Many of these are showing exceptionally well down to a couple of metres fr
9 November 2018
Latest Sightings
Calm but cool and overcast today. No specific counts but we can approximate wildfowl numbers as follows: 600+ Whooper Swan roosting with smaller numbers in during the day. Over 3000 Pink-footed Geese roosting. Locally an adult Greenland White-fronted Goos
8 November 2018
Green-winged Teal
A male Green-winged Teal was reported late afternoon from the Ron Barker Hide amongst Teal, hopefully it will stick around and be seen again over the coming days. The female Goldeneye was back on the Mere again today but no sign of the Scaup from yesterda
6 November 2018
Scaup
A juv Scaup was a new bird on the Mere, hanging around with the Tufted and Pochard. No sign of the Goldeneye today. Juvenile Scaup on the Mere (Tony Disley)
5 November 2018
Latest Sightings
A wildfowl packed Mere as usual with big numbers of Teal, Mallard, Wigeon and Shelduck. Smaller numbers of Shoveler, Pintail, Pochard (34), Tufted Duck, Gadwall (10) and a single female Goldeneye. Whooper Swan numbers continue to increase. Smaller number
4 November 2018
Bird News
Bearded Tits, (Bearded Reedlings if you prefer), are still present in the Pat Wisniewski reedbed and have been heard and seen regularly from both the path near the United Utilities hide, and that starting from the Harrier hide. No more than four birds se
2 November 2018
Quick update . .
At least 2 Bearded Tits still present today but showing intermittently. Also 1 Woodcock and 2 Marsh Harriers. A fuller round up of birds news will be here tomorrow !
1 November 2018