Latest sightings
Bewick's Swan again
A brief update for another pleasant winters day. A single Bewick's Swan was present early afternoon on the Mere. Woodcock showed well this morning from the Janet Kear Hide, with at least 2 Brambling present there. Few reports otherwise which included Pere
18 December 2012
Bird News
A good selection of birds in less than ideal weather. Woodcock still 'performing' from the Janet Kear Hide. Plenty of finches and Reed Buntings around there too. Adult European White-fronted Goose out on Woodend Marsh viewed from the United Utilities Hide
17 December 2012
Top Day
Lovely day for those out birding. Great visibility and calm condition mean all the open areas of water are packed with birds. Male Hen Harrier out and about, 3 Peregrine (two adult and the pale young male), 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. Woo
16 December 2012
Woodcock still
Woodcock showing again towards the back of the pond in front of the Janet Kear Hide. The feeders are lively there with Reed Bunting, Brambling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch. Assorted Tits are present as well as Great-spotted Woodpecker. An adult Eu
12 December 2012
Wrap up warm
Classic winter weather which makes visiting Martin Mere a visual treat. Pretty much dawn til dusk sunshine with a hard frost, concentrating big numbers of water fowl on the Mere. An adult European White-fronted Goose was with Greylag on the Mere this morn
11 December 2012
Woodcock again
Woodcock again throughout the day from the Janet Kear Hide. In the afternoon it spent sometime 'sun bathing' next to a tree stump, no photo I'm afraid. Just under 10,000 Pink-footed Geese roosting on the reserve. Marsh Harrier active today, one apparently
10 December 2012
A 'twitchable' Woodcock
Quite a few people coming in today to see the Woodcock which was showing again from the Janet Kear Hide. Not easy to see well under the normal circumstances of birds roding at dusk during the breeding season or being flushed on the (east) coast during mig
9 December 2012
Woodcock and a few new waders.
Woodcock again from the Janet Kear Hide. Some new waders in with 7 Dunlin, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, 12 Common Snipe, 1000+ Lapwing and 97 Ruff. The mega flock of 36,000 Wood Pigeon again around the edge of the reserve. Male Hen Harrier, Merli
8 December 2012
Woodcock
More signs of winter in this late autumn period with the arrival of a Woodcock, seen well from the Janet Kear Hide late afternoon. The Janet Kear Hide is historically the best spot to catch up with this well camouflaged woodland wader. Also Brambling from
5 December 2012
Local Waxwings
If you are visiting the reserve in the next few days it's worth checking for Waxwings as there is 30+ birds feeding on Rowan along Red Cat Lane which is the road leading to Martin Mere from Burscough from the A59. The Mere has been looking very busy over
4 December 2012
Record count of Whooper Swan.
A dusk count of Whooper Swan produced an average of 2480 birds. The highest previous count was 2100 in 2010. Interesting to note that many of the previous high counts have occurred during cold snaps which seem to encourage birds which roost elsewhere to v
2 December 2012
The winters first Bewick's Swan and Waxwings
Two or three Waxwing were seen around 13:20 between the Gladstone and Janet Kear Hides. It's a good year for Waxwing with many thousands now in the UK. More Waxwing were seen near the reserve between Red Cat Lane and Laurel Avenue in Burscough. Of course
1 December 2012
Dawn Count
This morning's dawn count produced the highest Whooper Swan numbers of the autumn so far with 1717 birds (give or take a few..) and 11500 Pink-footed Geese. The male Hen Harrier showed well this morning from the Ron Barker Hide. Also 2 Peregrine, Marsh Ha
28 November 2012
Another Raptor Fest.
Far better conditions today as the winds swung round to the North East. Certainly chiller but crystal clear viewing with sunshine in the afternoon. Another good raptor day with seven species seen. The male Hen Harrier was reported in the afternoon from th
27 November 2012
A Big Thanks.
A big thanks to everyone who attended the North West Bird Watching Festival over the last two days. Didn't manage to get round to reporting yesterday's sighting so I'll include the highlights here now. Male Hen Harrier showed well. Again making it 7 speci
26 November 2012