Latest sightings
Wader-fest
Some obvious migrant waders dropping in today with 16 Ringed Plover on the Mere around midday. A few Dunlin present with these birds and 2 Common Sandpiper. Previously a flock of 13 Dunlin zipped through the reserve, perhaps landing on Sunley's Marsh. Thr
9 May 2015
Little Gull
Wet and wild condition today. A immature Little Gull was present on the Mere early on. A Yellow Wagtail flew south over the Mere mid morning. Eleven Whimbrel from the Ron Barker Hide late afternoon. Just up the road towards Burscough a pair of Grey Partri
6 May 2015
Garganey
As we go into May there is a real sense of excitement as migration is in full flow. Today looked interesting with fronts moving through and occasional rain showers. While cloud cover was present the visibility was some of the best we've had on the reserve
5 May 2015
Cuckoo
The first Cuckoo of the year heard and seen near the Kingfisher Hide early afternoon. This sighting was two weeks earlier than last year although the mean early date in Lancashire is the 16th April. More Whimbrel with a flock of 14. Three Little Ringed Pl
4 May 2015
Latest Sightings
A damp start with south easterlies half promised a Black Tern or two but they didn't materialise. Some new birds were seen including a smart male Yellow Wagtail briefly on the Mere mid afternoon. Still a few Wheatear on the outer edge of the reserve. Med
3 May 2015
Latest Sightings
Raw easterlies and occasional rain made the beginning of May seem more like March. A flock of 14 Whimbrel didn't hang around and headed North off the reserve early afternoon. Breeding plumage Ruff are present along with a fair number of siting Avocet. Bot
2 May 2015
Whimbrel
A Whimbrel was on the Mere for a while this morning, also at least 16+ Dunlin on site today, 6 Little Ringed Plover, several Black-tailed Godwit and 8 Ruff (2 male + 6 fem) At least 1 Med Gull on the Mere. 3 Wheatear out in ploughed fields on the edge of
30 April 2015
Arctic Tern
An Arctic Tern flew South West early on viewed from the Reedbed Walk, probably thinking twice about heading North into the arctic air mass which made it's presence felt today. A first summer Little Gull was on the Mere with Black-headed Gull briefly (seve
28 April 2015
Whinchat
A very frosty start to the day but blues skies until the afternoon. Whinchat on the outer edge of the reserve in newly ploughed fields parallel to the railway line was new for the year. Also there 6 Wheatear. Three reeling Grasshopper Warbler on the reser
27 April 2015
Whimbrel and Yellow Wagtail
First up date for a while. Ive been off for a few days apparently some difficulties accessing the website. No new birds on the reserve until today with the arrival and departure of Whimbrel and 2 Yellow Wagtail this morning, both species briefly from th
26 April 2015
Spotted Crake
Late afternoon a Spotted Crake was flushed from undergrowth next to the pool right of the Ron Barker Hide. Spotted Crake are passage migrants/summer visitors to the UK and have been recorded at Martin Mere regularly in the past few years. They are however
20 April 2015
Greenshank
A cool and overcast start to the day. Greenshank on Woodend Marsh early on was new for the year. Common Sandpiper still present there. Also 54 Avocet, 26 Ruff, 40+ Black-tailed Godwit, 10+ Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, Lapwings and a few Oystercatcher. Rapto
19 April 2015
Little Ringed Plover
Both Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper were on the Mere in the morning. Around 25+ Black Tailed Godwit At least 5+ Sedge Warbler and 1 Reed Warbler along the Reedbed Walk, plus Chiffchaff's and Blackcap's around the reserve. The Tawny Owl was agai
18 April 2015
Warblers
A big influx of warblers today as we add Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warbler to the reserve's year list. Noticeably greater numbers of Willow Warbler and Blackcap around today. More Wheatear again this morning opposite the reserve. At this time of year
16 April 2015
Waders arriving
Warmest day off the year.... but not here as the day started with some murky misty rain. This of course is just the right conditions for bringing some birds down onto the reserve that may have just passed over. As a result it was very much a wader orienta
15 April 2015