Latest sightings
Latest Sightings
Today, our reserve team carried out their monthly WeBS count, The Wetland Bird Survey, which monitors non-breeding waterbirds in the UK. These surveys help to produce national trends for internationally important species. Here is what we found:Wigeon 1Ga
19 August 2024
Latest Sightings
Black-tailed Godwit numbers have increased to 388 seen at the back of the Mere today. 4 Ruff and 2 Snipe have also been seen at the back of the Mere from Discovery Hide. 13 Cattle Egrets and a little egret on the Mere. Stock doves were spotted from Ron B
15 August 2024
Latest Sightings
A pair of marsh harriers were seen from the Bird Observatory this weekend, along with 2 black-tailed godwits, 4 cormorants, a male buzzard, a grey heron and 2 male shovelers. 17 cattle egrets have been spotted on the left hand side of the mere, along with
12 August 2024
Latest Sightings
Of the rarities we have had in the past couple of days only the juvenile black-necked grebe is still on site and showing well on the main lake in the reedbed. The best places to see it from are either Harrier Hide or from the inner reedbed walk which lead
8 August 2024
Latest Sightings
It has been a busy weekend at Martin Mere with three rarities on site.The first bird to arrive was a curlew sandpiper first seen on Woodend Marsh on Saturday morning and it has stuck around for a couple of days and is still on site as of Monday afternoon.
5 August 2024
Latest Sightings
The young tawny owl is still showing very well on the path to Ron Barker. Have a good look around as it keeps moving from tree to tree and hiding well in the ivy so be patient. Our reserve team has put a sign out to indicate the rough area of where to loo
1 August 2024
Latest Sightings
A young tawny owl can be seen exploring in the trees along the trail to Ron Barker hide while it grows its adult feathers; there is a new sign up on the path so you can see where to look for it. A common sandpiper has been seen at Discovery hide, where 4
30 July 2024
Latest Sightings
After all the rain we have had it finally feels like summer at Martin Mere! The newly exposed mud at the back of the mere is still proving productive for waders with a large variety of species seen. The species list so far is lapwing, black-tailed godwit, avocet, green sandpiper, common sandpiper, redshank, dunlin, ruff, oystercatcher and ringed plover. The mud on Woodend Marsh and at Ron Barker hide is also proving good for waders as well. Elsewhere on site we now have 7 juvenile marsh harriers across the site. This includes the 4 juveniles that have fledged from the nests in Vinson's reedbed near Ron Barker and 3 that have fledged this week from a nest on the far side of the reserve at Doehyles. They are very active at the moment with the adults doing food passes on a regular basis. The reserves English longhorn cattle have been on the move again with the large herd now in the fields nearest to Ron Barker hide which is a good place to see cattle egret. Our other herd is now near to Woodend Marsh so there is a good chance to see cattle egret here too. A count earlier in the week saw 11 egrets with the large herd and 6 egrets on the mere so our numbers are hovering 16-20 individuals. Look out for the kestrel chicks near Long Meadow barn as well between Gordon Taylor and Tomlinson. A pair has nested behind the barn owl box in the barn and they are nearly ready to fledge so do look out for them in the coming days as well as the adult visiting regularly to bring in food.
26 July 2024
Latest Sightings
It is a mixed bag at Martin Mere with birds coming and going. On the mere there are only 2 avocet left, one being a juvenile with the parent ferociously defending it still. It's almost ready to fledge so they won't be around much longer! The reserve team
22 July 2024
Latest Sightings
After a few days of dry warm weather the water levels at Gordon Taylor Hide and Woodend Marsh are reducing leaving some great muddy areas which is attracting more waders - Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Redshanks and Little Ringed Plovers. Ron B
18 July 2024
Latest Sightings
There has been lots of sightings at Ron Barker including a Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and a Greenshank. The Black Tailed Godwits are showing well at Ron Barker too, with 78 recorded there last week. A Kingfisher has been heard over the reedb
15 July 2024
Latest Sightings
It's been another soggy week out on the reserve, but this hasn't put the birds off! As the breeding season draws to a close, there have been a number of migrating birds passing through on their way to their wintering grounds. In terms of waders, there hav
12 July 2024
Latest Sightings
A barn owl has been seen hunting quite a lot this week, mainly over woodend marsh to bring back to its nest in Harrier Hide. 2 juvenile cuckoos were spotted recently; one at Ron Barker hide and the other on the outer reedbed walk, which is also where a gr
8 July 2024
Latest Sightings
Half of our herd of English Longhorn cattle have been moved onto the mere this week, and some cattle egrets have moved with them! The rest can still be seen at woodend marsh. A common tern was seen opposite Discovery hide, and plenty of swallows and swift
5 July 2024
Latest Sightings
60 black-tailed godwits have been seen from Rees hide this week, along with 2 little-ringed plover, 7 green sandpipers, and 1 common sandpiper. A stoat was spotted at Gordon Taylor hide and a hobby was also seen flying overhead.4 cattle egrets were seen i
1 July 2024