Latest sightings
Latest Sightings
The wildfowl over the past week has definitely been the highlight of the bird sightings. Our highest count of Whooper swans was around 350, with a number of birds having freshly arrived from Iceland. Shelduck, wigeon, pintail and pink-footed geese numbers
15 November 2022
Latest Sightings
Although the reserve has been closed and has been quiet with no visitors, the opposite can be said for our avian visitors! As migration continues the biggest change you'll notice on your return visits to Martin Mere is that our Whooper swans have returned
7 November 2022
Latest Sightings - Treecreepers and whoopers
The cows have been moved to the fields in front of Ron Barker, with Bruce the bull staring longingly over the fence. Four cattle egrets perch on the cows’ backs and yellow wagtails flit about them, feeding off the insects which the cows disturb.The juve
2 October 2022
Latest Sightings
Just when we thought things couldn’t get any more exciting, after the arrival of the juv purple heron, we’ve had another visitor from further afield turn up on the reserve. A pectoral sandpiper arrived on Woodend marsh at around mid-day on Saturday an
26 September 2022
Latest Sightings
Another day of plenty of bird life on the reserve, unfortunately the purple heron has not been seen since Wednesday but hopefully it will reappear! The 4 cattle egrets are still showing well on the backs of the cattle around the mere and can be seen catch
23 September 2022
Latest Sightings - Purple Heron!
A big part of the excitement of autumn migration is that you just never know what is going to turn up! Yesterday evening we had a great surprise at dusk when a juvenile purple heron flew over the reedbed to the left of the mere! It circled over the mere a
21 September 2022
Latest Sightings
The pink-footed geese have arrived! 4000 have been counted on the reserve today and they have been streaming in since Tuesday night when the first large skeins began to fly over the reserve. They are being heard and seen overhead all over the reserve at t
16 September 2022
Latest Sightings
Pink-footed geese numbers are on the rise! Flocks are being seen and heard increasingly frequently on the reserve as they arrive back from Iceland to spend the winter in the UK, having completed their autumn migration. A total of 71 had dropped in in-fron
13 September 2022
Latest Sightings
Migration continues here at Martin mere with numbers of waders moving through the reserve still high. There has been a noticeable increase in willow warblers and chiffchaffs on the reserve, particularly on the path towards harrier hide and around Reines h
6 September 2022
Latest Sightings
Autumn Migration is beginning to get under way now, with our first pink-footed geese flocks of the autumn being seen on the reserve over the past week. Today, 21 of them dropped in briefly in-front of Gordon Taylor hide. Some of our wintering ducks are al
2 September 2022
Latest Sightings
The bull will be moved to the field next to Ron Barker hide!Lots of mud visible in front of Ron Barker and Gordon Taylor...Ron BarkerHobbyCommon sandpiperWater rail5 Little-ringed ploversLittle egretKingfishersDiscovery HideCattle egret (on tern raft)Garg
30 August 2022
Latest Sightings
Today the weather has turned and started to get cooler. We are finishing baling the hay from the 2 fields in the middle of the reserve this can be seen from the ron barker hide, UU and Kingfisher. These fields are called Owl marsh and Outer Vincents. B
15 August 2022
Latest Sightings
This week's sighting's include:Ron Barker HideKingfisherBlack-tailed godwitRuffGrey heronLapwingHobbyBuzzardDiscovery / Raines / Hale / Gladstone HidesCattle egretLittle egretCormorantLittle grebeHarrier Hide / Reedbed WalkBarn owlGrey heronLittle egretMu
11 August 2022
Latest Sightings
This week's sightings include:Ron Barker HideBarn owlHobbyBuzzardKestrelWhooper swanBlack-tailed godwitRuffGrey heronDiscovery / Raines / Hale / Gladstone HidesCattle egretLittle grebeCormorantCommon sandpiperTufted ducks with ducklingsKestrelJanet Kear H
9 August 2022
Latest Sightings
This week's latest sightings include:Ron Barker HideBarn owlMarsh HarrierBuzzardKestrelCormorantSwallowBlack-tailed godwitLittle ringed ploverLapwingDiscovery / Gladstone / Raines / Hale HidesCattle egretCormorantKestrelBlack-tailed godwitCommon ternHarri
3 August 2022