Otter notice
⚠️ Otter notice ⚠️
Please note that from Mon 2 Sept to Sun 8 Sept the otters will be off show whilst we complete works on their habitat. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Latest sightings
Latest Sightings
A good selection of birds over the weekend with 6 species of raptor seen. Four different Marsh Harrier (2 imm + 2 juv), imm female Peregrine, 8+ Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk and Hobby. Wood Sandpiper from the Ron Barker Hide on Saturday but el
16 August 2015
Recent Sightings
A lovely fresh juvenile Wood Sandpiper was a new bird in today, favouring Vinson's Marsh viewed from Ron Barker Hide. Plenty of Ruff too, with quite a few juveniles, also at least 6 Dunlin (adults & juvs), 10+ Black-tailed Godwit, several Snipe and 30
14 August 2015
More raptor action
Another very pleasant day. Six species of raptor again with 3 Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Peregrine, 6+ Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Five Raven on the reserve today and 10+ Grey Heron. Three Green Sandpiper out on Doehyles Marsh. At least 250 Lapw
12 August 2015
Latest Sighting
Another fine with plenty of activity. Two Hobby hunting together mid afternoon from the Ron Barker Hide. The usual raptors with Marsh Harrier, 8 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Waders included 200+ Lapwing, 15+ Ruff inc 3+ juvs, 20+ Black-taile
11 August 2015
Six species of raptor
Click on map to enlarge Blustery showers early on followed by breezy sunshine. A quality raptor day with 6 species recorded. One or possibly 2 Hobbies seen today the first mid morning flew south over the reserve follo
10 August 2015
Latest Sightings
Another very pleasant day out and around the reserve. Raptors were making the most of it with Hobby mid morning, 2 Marsh Harrier including a new juvenile, 4 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4+ Common Buzzard and from yesterday Peregrine. A few waders tucked around
8 August 2015
Latest Sightings
A proper summers start to the day, light winds and full sun. Not a huge number of sightings to report although it is relatively easy to see 60+ species on the reserve at the moment. Cuckoo and Kingfisher are the main attractions viewed from the Ron Barker
7 August 2015
Greenshank
A murky wet start to the day clearing mid morning ending the afternoon in sunshine. A Greenshank was new in. Two adult breeding plumage Dunlin joined the waders wihich included 22 Ruff, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, 2 Avo
6 August 2015
Garden Warbler
More signs of migration with a Garden Warbler feeding around the Janet Kear Hide area. Garden Warbler are surprisingly scarce on the reserve and this bird is the first record this year, bringing the year list onto 144. An excellent raptor day again with H
5 August 2015
Waders and Raptors
With the July 'doldrums' behind us we can look forward to the migration season developing ahead. At WWT Martin Mere that will be obvious on the wader front as adult and juvenile birds leave arctic breeding grounds to move south.
3 August 2015
Recent Sightings
We now have 2 Cuckoo's (adult & juv) on view from Ron Barker Hide though both can go missing for lengthy periods, best looked for in the bushes along the left hand side of Vinson's (the left hand of the two pools straight out). Still up to 10 Little R
31 July 2015
Wood Sandpiper
No reports today of the Bittern despite being looked for, hopefully will be seen again soon. The Wood Sandpiper is still on Wood End Marsh viewable from UU Hide, also an adult Dunlin there this evening. Little Ringed Plovers have increased to 11 and at le
27 July 2015
Boom!!
A fantastic day on site despite near continuous rain, the star bird being a showy Bittern found mid to late morning and showed on and off through the day until late afternoon. Bittern showing among the lilly's from Ron Bar
26 July 2015
Wood Sand
A Wood Sandpiper was on view from UU hide this morning and afternoon though elusive and out of view for some time. Also 3 Common Sandpiper on site along with 5 Little Ringed Plover and the usual Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit. At least 1 Peregrine was aroun
25 July 2015
Recent Sightings
Some late breeders or a second brood of Avocet chicks has appeared on Woodend Marsh viewed from UU hide, also up to 3 Common Sandpiper around at the moment but the Godwit numbers have dropped in recent days with just 7 being seen today.
22 July 2015