Latest sightings
Red Kite
Brief update. A Red Kite flew South over the reserve at 16:55. The first sighting since November 2013. 'back of the camera' shot of Red Kite being mobbed by Black-tailed Godwit The reserve's year list has now reached
17 June 2015
Common Tern hatch young.
Some exciting news of the first breeding record of Common Tern at Martin Mere, as a pair which has been sitting for ~ 3 weeks hatched two young out on Woodend Marsh today. It's difficult to be optimistic for the chances of these chicks with marauding Grey
16 June 2015
Cuckoo
Cuckoo seen this morning from the Janet Kear Hide then flew towards Harrier Hide. click on map to enlarge Two Med Gull on the Mere with Black-headed Gulls. Many of the Black-headed Gull juveniles are now flying.
15 June 2015
Hobby
Overcast with some light rain then warming through the day. A brief fly-by Hobby over the Sewage Works early on, probably attempting to catch one of the House Martin, Swallow or Swift that have been feeding low over there and on the rest of the reserve. O
14 June 2015
Latest Sightings
All the eastern promise and the forecasted rain today came to nothing. Still plenty of action to be had around the reserve with a morning birding total of over 60 species. Click on map to enlarge Two Sanderling (one i
13 June 2015
Hobby
A very pleasant warm, windless sunny summer's day. Classic conditions for Falco subbuteo or in common parlance Hobby. A bird which is annual on the reserve but sometimes difficult to connect with. This afternoon one was showing well but distantly, hawking
10 June 2015
Latest Sighting
A relatively quiet couple of days as high pressure builds allowing the wind to drop and feeling slightly warmer. I say quiet but it is easily possible to see 60-70+ species on the reserve even if fewer passage migrants are obvious. A Common Snipe drumming
9 June 2015
Little Stint
Still on the breezy side but warm in the sun out of the hides! One or two people about hoping to connect with yesterday's Red-necked Phalarope. Rare that phalaropes heading to the breeding grounds hang around for more than a day and this was no exception.
7 June 2015
Red-necked Phalarope
A cracking female Red-necked Phalarope found on Vinson's Marsh by Gordon Taylor (who now has all the world's phalaropes on his 'self-found list!). Present 16:00 pm at least. Red-necked Phalarope on Vinson's Marsh The
6 June 2015
Latest Sightings
A little taste of warmer weather and still some waders moving through. Yesterday 9 Sanderling briefly touched down on the reserve beating the previous highest count of 7 birds from May 1986! A female Gadwall had 8 ducklings in tow in front of the Harrier
5 June 2015
Latest Sightings
Click on Map for larger view Although ever optimistic about the potential arrival of new migrants on the back of the wild weather in the past 24 hours, we can report that nothing obviously has appeared so far... Two C
2 June 2015
Curlew Sandpipers
Two Curlew Sandpiper dropped in on the edge of the weather front this morning and were still present 16:30. An excellent run of late, these 'Curlew Sands' are the 24th species of wader recorded on site this year. One of th
1 June 2015
Latest Sightings
A wet start followed by another breezy day. More new waders in with 3 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover 140+ Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, 2+ Little Ringed Plover and a few Avocet, Oystercatcher and Redshank. Three 'comic' tern flew through around 3pm. T
31 May 2015
Little Gull again
Slightly less windy and warmer in the sun early on. Little Gull (1st summer) on the Mere early afternoon. Assuming it's the same bird, it's been present since early May. Adult Med Gull still present, also on the Mere. A family(?) flock of 6 Raven flew ear
30 May 2015
Latest Sighting
Click map for larger view A wet start followed by cool breezy conditions, still ideal for bringing some new waders onto the reserve. A breeding plumage male Ruff was new in out on Woodend Marsh viewed from the United
29 May 2015