Otter notice
⚠️ Otter notice ⚠️
Please note that from Mon 2 Sept to Fri 6 Sept the otters will be off show whilst we complete works on their habitat. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Latest sightings
Sightings
Very few reports recieved today, but the highlight was a Red Kite which flew past the reserve mid afternoon heading towards Burscough Bridge. The 1st sum/2nd cal year Little Gull was still present from Ron Barker Hide, also an adult Mediterranean Gull was
26 May 2017
Bird News
Yesterday's Little Gull was still present today, but mobile, spending time in front of both the Ron Barker (afternoon) and United Utilities (morning) hides. A second summer Mediterranean Gull was on the Mere, as were a single female Ruff and 30 or more Bl
25 May 2017
Sightings
The first Little Gull of the year appeared on the Mere mid afternoon, a 1st summer bird. Also 2 different 1st summer/2nd cal year Mediterranean Gulls on the Mere in the morning and a breif visit by a pair of 2nd summer/3rd cal year Mediterranean Gulls in
24 May 2017
Sightings
At least 3 Ruff (1 male + 2 female) were on site today, females from Ron Barker and the male from UU Hide. A single Dunlin was on the Mere all day and plenty of Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover to be seen. An adult male Peregrine was seen to take a
21 May 2017
Bird News
Few reports over the last couple of days, but a pair of Garganey were seen from the new Reedbed Walk today (a male, possibly one of this pair was seen from the Ron Barker hide yesterday). 2 Mediterranean Gulls were on the Mere this morning, as was a singl
19 May 2017
Sightings
A good day with a few new birds, the best of which for rarity value was the diminutive Temminck's Stint that was refound on Woodend Marsh viewable from UU Hide. Martin Mere is probably the premier site in the Northwest for this species, with many records
17 May 2017
Sightings
A wet and windy day which didn't produce much, but a Yellow Wagtail over the Mere mid afternoon was a new bird for the year. A 2nd cal year Mediterranean Gull was around mid afternoon also Common Gull and Great black-backed Gull on the Mere. Lots of Avoce
15 May 2017
Recent sightings
A round up of the best recent sightings since the last update, a Little Stint on Woodend Marsh on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday was the first record of the year, a Spotted Flycatcher was present on Thursday from Janet Kear Hide. Plenty of Whimbrel passi
13 May 2017
Warblers
Plenty of singing Warblers around the reserve with possibly upto 5 Grasshopper Warblers in the Reedbed Walk area including one bird showing from the UU Hide, also plenty of Sedge and Reed Warblers. At least 3 male Whitethroat and plenty of Blackcap, a few
6 May 2017
Bird News
A Hobby showing well over the new reedbed this morning was today's star bird. A single adult Mediterranean Gull and 2 Whimbrel were on the Mere, as were the two, seemingly now resident Little Ringed Plovers, and a single Common Sandpiper. Just off the res
5 May 2017
Grasshopper Warbler
Very few reports recieved today but the first 2 Grasshopper Warblers of the year were heard and seen in the reedbed walk area today, also lots of Sedge and Reed Warbler in the area. At least 2 male Whitethroat singing and plenty of Chiffchaff, Willow Warb
1 May 2017
Terns
The day started off brightly with the appearance of 3 Black Terns over the Mere at 10.27am, they didn't stay longer than 50 seconds followed quickly a few minutes later by the arrival of 15 Common Terns, the Common Terns remaining till 16.33 when they lef
30 April 2017
Bird News
Improved weather lead to a lot more birds being seen today, although today's round up starts with yesterday's news, when the first Swift of the year was seen over the reserve. A Whinchat has also been present, viewed from the United Utilities hide where u
28 April 2017
Bird News
Bitterly cold winds seem to have slowed things down a little over the last couple of days, with no new arrivals, and noticably fewer singing birds. Even the Black-headed Gull colony seems less active than normal. A pair of Common Terns has been touring th
25 April 2017
Bird News
A few waders passing through today, with a Whimbrel, Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 9 Black-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper joining the uasual Avocets, Oystercatchers, and Redshanks on the Mere. A Little Egret was showing extremely
20 April 2017