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
Booming Bittern !
One of the purposes of the new reedbed was to provide suitable habitat for reedbed specialists such as the Bittern, and a booming male this morning was exactly the sort of thing which was hoped for. One was actually seen (although briefly) very close to
19 April 2017
Sightings
Highlight of the day was an Osprey which was seen heading north being mobbed by Gulls late afternoon, the first sighting of the year. April is THE month to see Osprey pass through locally. Other sightings today included a new Marsh Harrier, a male seen ov
18 April 2017
Sightings
A few new sightings for the year today, the first Whimbrel was seen from UU Hide along with a good slection of other waders which included 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 5+ Ruff as well as the usual Lapwing, Redshank and Avocet.
16 April 2017
Sightings
The Cetti's Warbler was again seen along the Reedbed Walk this morning near the Sewage works, also 12 Swallow here and a singing Willow Warbler. At least 5 Mediterranean Gulls on the Mere including a new 1st sum/2nd cal year bird. A Little Ringed Plover w
15 April 2017
Sightings
The Med Gull bonanza continues with at least 10 birds in the last 2 days, including the 'polish' ringed male and female which are looking increasingly like they are getting ready to nest which would be a first for the reserve and possibly a first for any
12 April 2017
Sightings
A great time to see Mediterranean Gulls at the Mere, we are getting many birds passing through daily at the moment, with at least 7 birds (2 pairs, a single adult, 2nd cal year, 3rd cal year) present today including an apparent Polish ringed bird (awaitin
9 April 2017
Bird News
Mediterranean Gulls are among the 'star birds' on the reserve at the moment, with at least 5 on the Mere today. There have been at least 13 individually identifiable birds here in the last couple of weeks, and with the Black-headed Gulls at last starting
7 April 2017
Sightings
An appearance of 3 Cattle Egrets this afternoon was one of the highlights of the year so far, unfortunately they didn't hang around for longer than a couple of hours, on view from Ron Barker Hide they spent much of their time partly hidden behind some veg
4 April 2017
Bird News
Highlight of the day (and the year so far?) was undoubtedly a male Hen Harrier which flew across the back of the reserve this afternoon, seen from the United Utilities hide. A single Marsh Harrier, probably the same bird which has been around the reserve
31 March 2017
Sightings
Highhlight of the day was the pair of Garganey that were found on Sunley's Marsh from Ron Barker Hide mid morning. At least 2-3 Mediterranean Gull were seen including a pair on the Mere with a Green Darvic ring, probably from France or Belgium. At least 2
25 March 2017
Bird News
A pair of Mediterranean Gulls seem to have settled in on the Mere and are on view (other than when they are sitting behind one of the islands!) pretty much constantly. 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin, at least 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 30+ Avocets and several
24 March 2017
Sightings
Very few reports today, but an interesting day with the first Little Ringed Plover of the spring which flew on to the Mere early morning in low cloud and rain. Also a single Ringed Plover and Dunlin around the Mere along with Oystercatcher, 40+ Black-tail
22 March 2017
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The highlight of the day and of the year so far (rarity wise) was an adult/sub adult Ring Billed Gull which was found in front of Harrier Hide mid afternoon, seen by several regulars it didn't stick around for too long. Very similar to Common Gull the Rin
19 March 2017
Sightings
Bird of the day was a Bittern seen well in flight from the 2nd viewing screen along the reedbed walk this morning just after 10am, this bird is probably from somewhere on the continent and has been wintering unseen in our now extensive reedbed areas all w
18 March 2017
Bird News
The Green-winged Teal seen this morninig from the Ron Barker hide was almost certainly the one which has spent most if not all of this Winter at Martin Mere, although it has been a number of weeks since it was last reported. The current weather seems to h
17 March 2017