Latest Sightings

This morning, we carried out the monthly Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) to monitor internationally important species. The survey includes all water birds observed, but not all species at Martin Mere.

There were hundreds of Whooper Swans counted on the mere, and you can see them up close every day during our 3pm Wild Bird Feed, alongside Pintail, Wigeon, Ruff, Pochard, Shelducks, and Black-Tailed Godwits.

We typically see the Pink-Footed Geese flying onto Plover field, the back of the mere, in the afternoon. The cold weather has caused the waterbodies at Woodend Marsh (Gordon Taylor hide) and Ron Barker hide to freeze over, so fewer were visible during counts. Approximately 5000 Pink-Footed Geese were seen just last week, and the highest count this winter so far is around 10,000.

Over the weekend, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Long-Tailed Tits, 1 Redwing, 1 Treecreeper and 1 Brambling were observed at Janet Kear hide.

1 Barn Owl, 1 Buzzard, 1 Raven and 2 Marsh Harrier were spotted flying over the mere.

1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Reed Bunting, 3 Water Rail, 2 Bullfinch, Greenfinch and 1 Kingfisher were seen from Ron Barker hide.

There have been 2 Roe Deer bounding around in Woodend Marsh today.

WeBS Count:

Photograph of Black-Tailed Godwits.

• Share this article