The New Year
A belated happy new year to you all. Longing for a nice crisp winters day when all that is on offer at the moment is more rain. Lucky we have plenty of hides to dodge the showers!
At the start of any new year many birders restart a new 'year list' which generally might included any bird seen in the UK/County/Reserve/Home* (*delete or included as you prefer). The 2015 year list at WWT Martin Mere finished on 155 species, nine higher than 2014 although some way off the 169 in 2012.
Highlights of the year included Ring Ouzel (2nd record), White-winged Black Tern, Temminck's Stint, Red-necked Phalarope, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, a very brief Bearded Tit, Firecrest and an unlikely first Green Woodpecker. Twenty six species of wader in total, 9 species of raptor and 16 species of wildfowl.
This years list is off to a reasonable start with both Barn and Tawny Owls fairly easy to see. At least 2 Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 2+ Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk all present.
Big numbers of wildfowl present including 3000+ Teal who are doing a good job (so far) in hiding the Green-winged Teal. Lots of Wigeon, Shelduck, Pintail and Mallard with smaller numbers of Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard and Tufted Duck. Four Goldeneye present on and off on the Mere. Whooper Swan numbers are around 1000 and a few thousand Pink-footed Geese are roosting on the reserve. The Ross's Goose is still present for anyone with a 'relaxed' attitude to listing... (not included on our list)
Waders are dominated by the huge flocks of Lapwing (3000+) with c70 Ruff, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 Dunlin, 12 Black-tailed Godwit and Common Snipe. Milder condition mean more sightings of Oystercatcher but if this weather continues we may even see a January Avocet..
Other birds noted include 2 Raven, 2+ Stonechat, 2 Treecreeper, 4 Redpoll, 5 Siskin (the last two species in alder near the Crane Enclosure / Firecrest area) and 40+ Tree Sparrow.
A couple of Brown Hare on Plover Field this morning.
A big thank you as well to all of those people who have reported sightings to the in focus shop which makes this sightings page work.
