1 wood sandpiper 4 ruff inc 3 juveniles 2 dunlins plenty of lapwings around 1-2 marsh harriers 1 buzzard 4 kestrels 1 great spotted woodpecker 4 stock doves several swallows & sand martins around with few house martins lots of tree sparrows around plus usual stuff around.
on the walk to martin mere at 10-10am I had a hobby flying low over the fields along red cat lane heading in the direction of curlew lane.
Steve Judge said
Sat Jun 28 10:09 PM, 2014
Saturday, 28th June 2014. 12:00 - 16:00 hrs.
United Utilities Hide: Male Ruff with diminishing breeding plumage Reed Bunting Avocet x 1 Black Tailed Godwit x 1 Shelducks Lapwing Black Backed Gull
Cuckoo calling in trees to west of reserve
Janet Kear Hide: Tree Sparrow Goldfinch Great Tit and young Blue Tit Greenfinch Chaffinch
Ron Barker Hide: Whooper Swans Avocet x loads Black Tailed Godwits x load Shelducks Heron Black Headed gulls and young x lots all over reserve
Whooper Swans with cygnets and Bewick Swans just in front of visitor centre
Karl Bishop said
Sun May 18 8:27 PM, 2014
Sunday 18th May Of note
Curlew Sandpiper x 2 Ringed Plover x 14 Little Ringed Plover x 2 Cuckoo x 1 Little Gull x 1
Cheers Karl
Jon Bowen said
Sat May 17 7:40 PM, 2014
Couple of hours this afternoon overall fairly quiet although highlights Wood Sandpiper (United Utilities) Sedge Warbler 4 Ringed Plover Avocet with 3 young Redshank with 4 young Tawny Owl called twice from nr Kingfisher hide. Wigeon Plus the usuals
Karl Bishop said
Sun May 11 7:24 PM, 2014
Of note Red legged partridge ~ 2 Redstart - female or first year male ? I think , Janet kear hide , record shot on flickr comments welcome Little Egret Ringed Plover - 2 Cheers Karl
-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Sunday 11th of May 2014 07:35:09 PM
-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Sunday 11th of May 2014 07:35:42 PM
Tim Wilcox said
Wed Apr 23 10:21 PM, 2014
Went there for 11am today. Very quiet people-wise Good but also birdwise BUT sudden excitement as a Redstart was found from the Janet Kear hide. A presumably first summer male as it exhibited little grey having a reddish brown mantle and only a little grey around the throat. A super site rarity and the last place I expected to get my first of the year. 2nd summer French-ringed Mediterranean Gull bossing it about over the Black-Headed Gulls on the mere
steven burke said
Thu Apr 17 9:59 PM, 2014
all day here 69 species seen, with a few just of the reserve.
Patrick I myself had just upgraded my scope to the new mm3, a nice little scope & I just missed out on the yellow wagtail when I popped back into infocus.
1 little gull, summer plumage. grasshopper warbler heard only on the reed bed walk ross's goose in the collection area, now looking like it belongs there. 20+ avocets 30+ ruff 200+ black tailed godwits 18 dunlin 1 ringed plover 2 little ringed plover 4 redshanks 1 curlew few swallows around 2 buzzards 1 tawny owl 5 chiffchaffs 2 willow warblers 3 blackcaps few tufted ducks, wigeon, shoveler, pintail & teal. plus all usuals around.
nice views of a water vole near harrier hide.
just off the reserve 11 wheatears, 13 corn buntings, 8 red legged partridges & few swallows, 2 house martins.
Patrick Earith said
Thu Apr 17 7:38 PM, 2014
A quick turnaround while I part ex'd my scope for a new MM3.
Little Gull at the back of the main mere. Had been there most of the day and was pointed out to me by the guy in the In Focus shop. Thanks!
Popped back in later to pick up my box and was told I'd just missed a Yellow Wagtail with several White Wagtail. Also had 17 Dunlin from Ron Barker and about 40 Black-tailed Godwit
Masses of Shelduck, Black headed Gulls (1 Mediterranean Gull reported) & Lapwings. 2 Common Gulls & 4 Great Black Backed Gulls.
12+ Lesser Black Backed Gulls, including a bird who offered its partner a large cream coloured egg (Mallard perhaps) as a gift, which they both then shared.
The waterfowl (except Shelduck & Canada Geese) have noticeably got fewer, with just 1 Tufted Duck and no Pochard or Gadwall at all on the wild reserve.
A rare sight on one of the seed feeders was a male Blackbird, struggling to hang on as he fed, I can't recall seeing one doing this before.
There's a Siberian Chiffchaff on the Reedbed Walk near the sewage works (this is not within the reserve) although it's a bit elusive. At least a couple of Common Chiffchaff around to confuse matters.
Tom Jones said
Sat Mar 1 12:33 PM, 2014
Hello, as a newby, and this is my first post, I hope I have done things right and in the right place.
Friday 28 Feb, had a good day at the Mere with my friend Jim Caulfield. we missed out on the Bewick's, but more than made up for it by having great views of a male Ruff in nearly full breeding plumage. this was in front of the Raines Hide.
Then on to the Ron Barker hide to see at least 60 Avocets and 3 Ringed Plover. The Ross's Goose was showing well at the Swan Link Hide among the 100's of Whoopers.
Craig Higson said
Tue Feb 25 6:57 PM, 2014
Upwards of 40 Avocet from Ron Barker hide. Lots of Ruff, including 1 white headed one which I seem to remember are called sentinels and hold quite a high position at the lek. I may have made the bit up about the lek. Male Hen Harrier from the UU hide but it was very distant. Otherwise just about everything else your expect at this time of year.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Tuesday 25th of February 2014 06:58:35 PM
Patrick Earith said
Sun Feb 23 9:24 AM, 2014
Quick visit yesterday morning to get my first Avocet of the year. 10 were tucked up at the back of the main mere. Not much else about out of the ordinary, though at least 40 Ruff counted across the site. Quite a few from Ron Barker hide, which I've not seen before.
Nipped down Curlew Lane on way home and saw a pair of Red-legged Partridge and a pair of Corn Bunting. Also, at least 50 Fieldfare. Whoopers and Pink-feet also scattered across the adjoining fields, but, nothing unusual amongst them that I could see.
Paul Richardson said
Tue Feb 18 7:02 PM, 2014
Lovely early morning light today, from 0930 until the half term hordes arrived when I decamped for Hesketh Out Marsh.
Whooper Swan ++++ Greylag geese ++++
Also numerous Lapwing Pintail Wigeon Shelduck 24 Ruff (first time I've been up close to these waders) Teal Mallard 2 Gadwall 1 Ringed Plover
Some Pink-footed geese (but many more later at H-o-M) Oystercatchers Stock Doves Tree Sparrows
plus Wrens in good voice, plenty of Robin, Blackbirds, Woodpigeon, corvids, etc.
Chris Harper said
Sun Feb 16 7:11 PM, 2014
Walk around perimeter towards Burscough 1.30- 3.10: Warbler sp. by sewerage works, probably Chiffchaff Male Hen Harrier 1+ Peregrine Shoveler Gadwall Many Whooper Swans and Pink Footed Geese flying around 1000+ Lapwing Stock Dove 3 Reed Bunting 10 Meadow Pipit
Jim Caulfield said
Fri Feb 7 8:26 PM, 2014
hi Gordon,
Thanks for the info ref Bewick's Swan - hope I haven't misled anyone !
Fortunately we were lucky enough to see the "wild one" where you indicated on Jan 17th when we joined. We'd presumed (dangerous) it had re-located due to bullying.
Gordon Taylor said
Fri Feb 7 7:20 PM, 2014
Hi Jim and welcome to Manchester Birding forum. Glad you had a good day at MMWWT, however the Bewick,s Swans near the café are part of the captive stock. Recently one wild bird has been joining the Whopper's at the 15:00 feed in front of Swan Link Hide but can be very elusive!
Jim Caulfield said
Fri Feb 7 6:26 PM, 2014
Newbie's first posting
Fri 7 Feb 11:15 to 16:00 Visit with buddy Tom Jones, enjoyed very bright sunshine in the afternoon 44 species
4 buzzards flying above adjacent woods, and one on fencepost. Large numbers (100's) of Whooper Swans, Lapwing. Good numbers of Teal, Pintail, Shelduck, Greylag and Pink-footed Geese and Ruff. Feeders at Janet Kear were busy with Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch, and Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow on feeders elsewhere. Bewick's Swan on Swan Lake near café.
Whooper Swan at Swanlink hide, appeared in distress with neck caught behind wing; wader-clad warden tackled the problem, and swan left the scene looking very sorry for itself - hope it recovers well
Sparrowhawk rose over the road from field east of reserve when we were leaving.
Sarfraz Hayat said
Wed Jan 22 12:21 AM, 2014
Hi Steven,
It was very good to meet you and thanks for pointing out the Tawny Owl to me! Apparently it was a good raptor day - I had seen Sparrowhawk, Male Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Buzzard and Tawny Owl and others have added a Marsh Harrier and a Merlin. If only a Kestrel was sighted. I will have to keep a closer eye out for the Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers - would rather have seen them than a male Hen Harrier (I think?)
Last Bewick's I saw was in 2006-7 but then to have one that close and then to see it bullied by those Whoopers? Those Whoopers are really spoilt! Too much of this hand-out culture nowadays.
Shame it closing earlier. I would love to be there in a warm spring or summers day from 6-9pm. Must be quite an experience.
Sarfraz
steven burke said
Sun Jan 19 9:43 PM, 2014
10.30-5pm. 60 species seen.
1 bewicks swan showing very well in front of swan link hide amongst the 1000+ whoopers tawny owl near kingfisher hide 3-4 buzzards, no other raptors seen by myself but another birder had a male hen harrier earlier. 1 stonechat, united utilities hide 2 oystercatchers plenty of ruff scattered around thousands of lapwings & pink footed geese around, thought I may of had a white fronted goose but it was getting dark plenty of birds around the feeders inc reed buntings & tree sparrows several snipe flying around at dusk. plus all usual stuff around.
just outside reserve a nice large flock of mostly corn buntings with few yellowhammers, 200+ fieldfares, 2 red legged partridges. good day out & nice to meet & speak to sarfraz hayat, glad you eventually got the bewicks swan
Gordon Cottle said
Wed Jan 8 5:31 PM, 2014
Yesterday Tuesday 7th January 2014. Bittern flushed from the reed bed
Jon Bowen said
Sun Jan 5 8:59 AM, 2014
Sat Jan 4th 10.00- 13.00 quiet people wise but good numbers of birds, highlight being
Peregrine Falcon
2 Tawny Owls at roost
Marsh Harrier
4 Buzzards
60+ Ruff
Little Egret
8 snipe
13 Tree Sparrow
Little Grebe
Barn Owl hunting along Red Cat Lane as we left
plus good numbers of usual wildfowl
steven burke said
Sun Dec 15 10:07 PM, 2013
10.30-4.30pm 62 species seen
highlights...
1 juvenile peregrine falcon 1 marsh harrier 3-4 buzzards 1 raven 1 snipe 1 black tailed godwit 80+ ruff, maybe over 100 large numbers of whooper swans, pink footed geese, teal, wigeon, pintail & shelducks. 1 black swan flew in late on. 2 tawny owls around 4pm near kingfisher hide. lots of tree sparrows spread around, majority of them at the infocus shop. plus all usuals around
40+ corn buntings, 5 red legged partridges & 1 treecreeper just of the reserve.
Adam Jones said
Mon Nov 18 1:27 AM, 2013
Sunday 17th November 9.30-13.00
A good mornings birding at a damp and murky Martin Mere. Highlights included:
3 Peregrine Falcons all lined up on fence posts 2 Marsh Harriers 1 Tree Sparrow on feeders Whooper Swans Pintails 1 Snipe 6 Ruff Lots of Teal and Lapwings Plus the usuals.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Sat Nov 16 5:00 AM, 2013
Friday pm. Short visit to watch the 3pm feed.
Whooper Swan 600+ Goldeneye 1f Black Swan 1...phew, that was a long flight! Pochard 3 Ruff 50+ Peregrine 1 Cormorants Tree Sparrow 1 Greylag Geese Plus lots of other species, as usual.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Nov 11 3:15 AM, 2013
Yet again the curse of Internet rumours, misinformation and knee-jerk reactions comes to the fore and I have to admit to feeling that WWT had a perfectly reasonable explanation for it all but I sincerely thank them for coming in here and clearing it all up. Hopefully it also comes as a reminder to ensure as much as feasibly possible , that any information posted on this forum is factually correct.
And now it's all cleared up; on with the bird sightings
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Nov 11 1:43 AM, 2013
Thanks for explanation-much appreciated as was the e-mail you sent me today. cheers John
At the Mere Today Large Number of Whooper Swans-800+ I would think Peregrine - 2 adult and 1 Juv Ruff-c40 Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Pochard Plenty of Pink footed Geese Marsh Harrier-2 plus the usual's
Nick Brooks said
Sun Nov 10 10:03 PM, 2013
Dear All,
My attention has been drawn to this site by one of our volunteers and I notice that several of you have already sent e-mails to Martin Mere on the issue of our new closing times. Some of the comments on this forum are erroneous but in this world of rapid communication tools such as forums, facebook and twitter it is not surprising to see chinese whispers getting a little out of hand. I have responded to all five complaints that have been received at Martin Mere over this issue and will always respond to inquiries (the nature of the job means that sometimes it may take a few days). So, in the interests of fairness could I please ask that if any of you ever have any issue with anything that we do at Martin Mere, please contact us formally before posting erroneous information. I don't think it helps anybody when members post forum comments that accuse me or any other staff of "charging anyone who gets locked in £50 for him to come out and open the gates", which as you will read below is untrue.
I will explain below why we have made our decisions and I apologise to those of you who have already read this as part of my individual repsonses to you but I see there are other members of this forum who would probably like to know the full facts of the situation.
We have decided that this winter we will close at 4.30pm for a number of reasons. This has been an operational decision that has been taken with a great deal of thought, research and reference to all the different departments at Martin Mere and consultation with other centres across the UK.
1. In previous years, throughout the winter, the numbers of visitors cars on the car park after 4.30pm has been extremely low, if any at all. This October we actually monitored numbers and, during week days especially, there were sometimes no visitors left after 5.30pm. Due to the clocks going back, 5.30 has become 4.30 and it is getting dark at this time. In short, the figures show that there is not enough demand to keep the site open, in winter, after 4.30pm.
2. Looking at data from the previous winter, there was little, if any, activity in the shop or cafe after 4pm. These operations were running at a loss and so it has been decided that it would be best to close them at 4.30pm.
3. Unfortunately, in recent years, working practices at Martin Mere have not moved with the relevant legislation. We now have to operate with respect to lone working legislation, which means that we are unable to keep the site open with just one member of staff remaining on site. Lone working, after dark, on a site like ours, is bad enough for big men such as myself, but some of our duty managers are women (and in one case a pregnant woman) and it is unacceptable to have them wandering around, in the dark, locking up. This means we now have to keep two members of staff on duty to lock up. When you consider points one and two, the overwhelming majority of days would see us having a staff to visitor ratio of 100% or greater, which any organisation could not justify.
4. I would love to be able to keep the barriers open and let birders make their own way to and fro but it has been reported to me that experience in the past has shown that the car park is abused by other people indulging in anti-social activities.
On the other question of paying £50 if you are locked in; this has not been decided and will not take immediate effect. Again, due to legislation, we cannot allow a single member of staff to return to work to let somebody out of the car park, who has stayed past the closing time. As a result, we are about to employ a keyholding company to attend to such situations. It is an individual's responsibility to abide by opening and closing times and so we would hope that no birdwatchers would ever find themselves in such a position. However, in such an event, it will now cost WWT the best part of £50 for the keyholding company to let somebody out and I am sure that our membership would not want their subscriptions being used to pay for this, as it would be nobody else's fault but that of the individual locked in. For the sake of our membership, we would therefore be looking, in the future, to recoup at least some, if not all, of that cost, which I do not think is unreasonable. We would not and have never charged anybody, if it was just a member of staff that was required to return but this option is no longer available.
Having said the above, I have had a small number of complaints this week and, as a birder myself, there is nothing I'd rather not do than prevent people from observing our wildlife. I visited the hides last night and, although the big groups of geese departed for Norfolk before the clocks went back, a large group of about around 1000 birds came in at 4.50pm. A second, smaller group came in at 5pm. Swans were coming in, in drabs and drabs, from 3.30pm on. Nothing happened after 5pm and by 4.45pm it was pretty much dark anyway. Obviously, as we move through the winter, the times of geese flying in to roost and the deteriorating light will become earlier. Our warden has told me that may times during the winter, the main body of geese comes in between 3.30pm and 4pm, while he is doing his swan talk in the hides.
Taking all the above into account, we have to run the site balancing legislation, security and finances with demand for particular activities, at particular times. As a result, we will continue to close the site at 4.30pm. However, from Monday, we will now allow the car park barriers to remain open until 5pm and this should enable visitors to see the geese coming in on the overwhelming majority of winter evenings. After this time, we would have to pay extra wages for two staff to stay on late. This extra expense is roughly the equivalent of one membership and, for many winter days, that membership would be spent allowing just one visitor (if any) to stay late, when it is dark and there is nothing more to see. I'm sure our members would not want us to spend an entire membership for this purpose.
I hope you can understand and appreciate why these decisions have been made, that they have been made very carefully and also that we have now responded to a small number of comments to find a way mutually acceptable way forward.
Nick Brooks
Phil Hampson said
Sun Nov 10 8:36 PM, 2013
I have had a response from WWT which explains the situation and rational behind the change. As a result of the correspondence they have had from a number of members the car park barriers will not be locked until 17:00. Fair enough and good that they have listened to an extent.
Sadly one reason this change has been forced on them is 'in the past has shown that the car park is abused by other people indulging in anti-social activities', one can only guess what that is! The other being working legislation and I totally agree they have to abode by this, no matter how restrictive it may be.
I'm there next weekend.
Cheers
Phil
Phil Barnett said
Fri Nov 8 7:38 PM, 2013
simon ghilks wrote:
Come on chaps Mike said it "the reserves all about the geese and swans". Surely its more important to know that wildlife is there than actually seeing it. Our subscriptions are crucial for providing a safe habitat and refuge for wildlife to thrive so that our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren etc. will have the opportunity to witness these amazing animals.
Simon
You make a very valid point which I wouldn't disagree with.
However there are a lot of, in my view, equally important conservation organisations - RSPB, BTO, Birdlife International, Lancashire Wildlife Trust to name just a few.
I simply can't afford to be a member of all of them. My decision as to which I support is going to be, at least partly, influenced by things like opening times of reserves and how that affects my ability to visit the reserves.
Cheers,
Phil
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Nov 8 7:19 PM, 2013
Phil Barnett wrote:
After reading the discussion regarding Martin Mere's new "throwing out time" I too, sent an email to WWT HQ.
This was Tuesday - I haven't had a reply. I was wondering if anyone who sent an email to WWT has had one.
I'm a bit surprised that they wouldn't bother replying to a WWT member who's unsure whether renew their membership or not.
Cheers,
Phil
No- no reply and for someone who's been a member since 1977,it seems a bit mean not to reply.
Phil Barnett said
Fri Nov 8 3:57 PM, 2013
After reading the discussion regarding Martin Mere's new "throwing out time" I too, sent an email to WWT HQ.
This was Tuesday - I haven't had a reply. I was wondering if anyone who sent an email to WWT has had one.
I'm a bit surprised that they wouldn't bother replying to a WWT member who's unsure whether renew their membership or not.
Cheers,
Phil
sid ashton said
Thu Nov 7 9:47 PM, 2013
I checked with the reserve and indeed they will be closing at 16.30 for the winter period, 4 November to 30 March as it says on their website. They say that they will not lock cars in the car park, but I can't imagine wanting to be there later than the closing time in any case as the spectacle of the Geese coming into roost is usually over around sunset time.
simon ghilks said
Wed Nov 6 3:12 PM, 2013
Come on chaps Mike said it "the reserves all about the geese and swans". Surely its more important to know that wildlife is there than actually seeing it. Our subscriptions are crucial for providing a safe habitat and refuge for wildlife to thrive so that our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren etc. will have the opportunity to witness these amazing animals.
Pete Astles said
Tue Nov 5 11:51 PM, 2013
Depressing but all too familiar tale of modern Britain
Phil Hampson said
Tue Nov 5 7:18 AM, 2013
Ivan Ellison wrote:
Anyone visiting during the winter , be aware that the place now shuts at 1630hrs. Manager was locking the car park gates at this time. there is talk of him looking at charging anyone who gets locked in £50 for him to come out and open the gates. Think it appalling that they should lock up so early when this is the best time to visit in winter to see the 1,000's of geese coming into roost. Send complaints to WWT head office to see if they will change his decision or introduce a car exit that is not locked/automatic opening .
Ivan Many thanks for posting this, I may have been caught out at weekend!
I will write to them today and see what response I get, if it negative then I'll cancel my membership as its used for this reserve primarily. This means I;d never visit again as the daily entrance fees are extortionate.
STOP PRESS - enquiry sent, if this is permanent then I will very shortly be an ex member, sad after many years but that is the only way I can express my feelings about this change.
Its seems that the primary objective of some reserves is the maximisation of generated income from shops and cafes and the birds are secondary. I'm amazed that another reserve, to be nameless otherwise a protracted debate will ensue, has closed a car parking area which held c.20 cars. The other car park is continually full.
Phil
-- Edited by Phil Hampson on Tuesday 5th of November 2013 07:23:38 AM
-- Edited by Phil Hampson on Tuesday 5th of November 2013 07:39:08 AM
Mike Chorley said
Tue Nov 5 5:16 AM, 2013
In terms of viewing the geese and swans coming in, there are more distant views from a couple of the minor roads to the west and north, with the advantage of having the sun behind you, but it does seem a shame that the general public, who won't know - or won't bother- about finding other viewpoints, will miss out, given that the whole point of this reserve was the geese and swans.
Ivan Ellison said
Tue Nov 5 5:05 AM, 2013
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Ivan Ellison wrote:
Anyone visiting during the winter , be aware that the place now shuts at 1630hrs. Manager was locking the car park gates at this time. there is talk of him looking at charging anyone who gets locked in £50 for him to come out and open the gates. Think it appalling that they should lock up so early when this is the best time to visit in winter to see the 1,000's of geese coming into roost. Send complaints to WWT head office to see if they will change his decision or introduce a car exit that is not locked/automatic opening .
I agree Ivan, its a real shame that as many people have always stopped beyond closing, and you could stay up to 6pm as long as you let yourself out, but for them to lock the car park at 4.30pm,seems to smack of get as many in as possible ,feed the birds then throw you out. I have always thought the 9.30 opening at the morning is a bad joke, but to get you off that car park at 4.30,seems madness as the best sights at the Mere is the Geese and swans coming in at Dusk. Another good place bites the dust for me, if that's the case.
I have already sent my complaint in to WWT HQ, lets see what they say.
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Nov 5 4:51 AM, 2013
Ivan Ellison wrote:
Anyone visiting during the winter , be aware that the place now shuts at 1630hrs. Manager was locking the car park gates at this time. there is talk of him looking at charging anyone who gets locked in £50 for him to come out and open the gates. Think it appalling that they should lock up so early when this is the best time to visit in winter to see the 1,000's of geese coming into roost. Send complaints to WWT head office to see if they will change his decision or introduce a car exit that is not locked/automatic opening .
I agree Ivan, its a real shame that as many people have always stopped beyond closing, and you could stay up to 6pm as long as you let yourself out, but for them to lock the car park at 4.30pm,seems to smack of get as many in as possible ,feed the birds then throw you out. I have always thought the 9.30 opening at the morning is a bad joke, but to get you off that car park at 4.30,seems madness as the best sights at the Mere is the Geese and swans coming in at Dusk. Another good place bites the dust for me, if that's the case.
Ivan Ellison said
Tue Nov 5 4:33 AM, 2013
Anyone visiting during the winter , be aware that the place now shuts at 1630hrs. Manager was locking the car park gates at this time. there is talk of him looking at charging anyone who gets locked in £50 for him to come out and open the gates. Think it appalling that they should lock up so early when this is the best time to visit in winter to see the 1,000's of geese coming into roost. Send complaints to WWT head office to see if they will change his decision or introduce a car exit that is not locked/automatic opening .
Martyn Jones said
Sun Sep 29 2:20 AM, 2013
The Pink-Footed Geese are here now in very large numbers - a very impressive sight (wink-wink)
steven burke said
Mon Sep 16 2:38 AM, 2013
thought I would be a crazy fool & try my luck in the wind & rain, glad I did. 11-4.30pm 52 species seen
ron barker hide
1 little stint 2 curlew sandpipers 4 dunlin 20+ ruff 1 possibly little ringed plover 2 snipe, several more flying around
main mere
1 imm/fem garganey, andy bunting put me onto it, later on at harrier hide what looked like another with a more prominent white through the eye, 4 avocets 3 snipe
2 marsh harriers 5 little grebes no signs off the pink footed geese, but 6 resident ones with the greylags & Canada geese at ron barker hide, but 3 at harrier hide which did later fly off south. plenty of teal, wigeon & gadwall, 1 pintail, hale hide 5 red legged partridges outside of reserve.
MJKeating said
Sun Aug 11 1:14 PM, 2013
Good deal on Rock FM website at the moment...£14.90 for 2 adults and 2 children. http://www.rockfm-offers.co.uk/martinmere
steven burke said
Sat Aug 10 10:29 PM, 2013
10-6pm
1 yellow wagtail & 12 corn buntings seen in fields opposite reed bed walk on the way into reserve.
1 juvenile cuckoo on way to harrier hide sitting on the perimeter fence
harrier hide..
1 green sandpiper 1 little egret 1 oystercatcher 1 pochard 2 tufted duck 4 gadwall 2 little grebes 1 kestrel 2 wigeon 60+ lapwings
ron barker hide..
1 greenshank, flew in around 3pm on vinsons did not stay long & flew off high 15 mins later. 1 ruff 2 black tailed godwits 2 pintails possibly more
other birds around..
at least 6 buzzards 2-3 marsh harriers 1 sparrowhawk 3 oystercatchers 2 great spotted woodpeckers 2 blackcaps 1 chiffchaff 1 whitethroat 2 reed buntings plus usuals around.
1 hare 1 stoat climbing trees at kingfisher hide
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 10th of August 2013 10:30:12 PM
Rob Creek said
Mon Jul 1 7:15 PM, 2013
Sat 29th June 10am-5pm
A late attempt to find the Bluethroat as I heard there was some suspicion it was still present but keeping low. I covered a few miles (iPhone distance app) and aswell as the main reserve I also did the public paths that run round the outside of the duck gardens to Harrier Hide (Cuckoo reported here day before but I didn't get one), then the path opposite that takes you into the fields but no luck.
Birds of note: Kingfisher Hide / Wooded Area 4 Whitethroat Approx 15-20 Tree Sparrow's (some juv) I Reed Warbler Kingfisher reported but I missed it
Ron Barker Hide 3 Redshank 3 Black Tailed Godwits (in orangey red summer plumage) 1 Peregrinne over 15 Avocet 2 pairs of Oystercatcher
Swan-Link Hide ...usuals
Janet Kier Hide A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers on feeder A few Stock Dove
Harrier Hide very quiet...usuals
United Utilities Hide very quiet Of note...a few Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher
Pat Wisniewski Reedbeds 4 Reed Warblers (more heard) 2 Oystercatcher over 2 Buzzards circling near the viewing screens 1 Kestrel A few Reed Buntings
As a general note...the stand out species today has to be Shelduck. They were seen at most of the hides and virtually all had young ranging from very small downy ducklings up to Moorhen size. A Wren carrying nest material into a half built nest inside the Swan-Link Hide. As Chris Brown says...it is expensive though, £11.10 !!!
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 1st of July 2013 08:24:19 PM
C Brown said
Sat Jun 22 10:22 PM, 2013
Firstly, thanks to everyone's help re' access arrangements. I went today and there was no sign of the bluethroat between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. As it transpired I only had a tenner on me (£11 odd - I nearly passed out) so was forced to take the public footpath. This actually worked a treat and brought me very close to the viewing area. The only real birds of note were a cuckoo and a corn bunting. I got very rained on too.
Thanks again, Chris
sid ashton said
Sat Jun 22 9:19 AM, 2013
Chris if you don't know the reserve, and to avoid any confusion by my mention of the Janet Keer hide in my Thursday post; it is just after that, before you reach the Harrier hide where you turn right to head out to the area where the bird is, following the signs that were apparently put up yesterday.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 22nd of June 2013 10:35:39 AM
Frank Whitney said
Sat Jun 22 6:43 AM, 2013
You do not have to wait , if you walk to the Harrier Hide and take the track to the right for a mile you will eventually get to the area and there should be a few people , including a member of staff to put you right and there are signs with Bluethroat written on the path, good luck
1 wood sandpiper
4 ruff inc 3 juveniles
2 dunlins
plenty of lapwings around
1-2 marsh harriers
1 buzzard
4 kestrels
1 great spotted woodpecker
4 stock doves
several swallows & sand martins around with few house martins
lots of tree sparrows around
plus usual stuff around.
on the walk to martin mere at 10-10am I had a hobby flying low over the fields along red cat lane heading in the direction of curlew lane.
United Utilities Hide:
Male Ruff with diminishing breeding plumage
Reed Bunting
Avocet x 1
Black Tailed Godwit x 1
Shelducks
Lapwing
Black Backed Gull
Cuckoo calling in trees to west of reserve
Janet Kear Hide:
Tree Sparrow
Goldfinch
Great Tit and young
Blue Tit
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Ron Barker Hide:
Whooper Swans
Avocet x loads
Black Tailed Godwits x load
Shelducks
Heron
Black Headed gulls and young x lots all over reserve
Whooper Swans with cygnets and Bewick Swans just in front of visitor centre
Of note
Curlew Sandpiper x 2
Ringed Plover x 14
Little Ringed Plover x 2
Cuckoo x 1
Little Gull x 1
Cheers
Karl
Wood Sandpiper (United Utilities)
Sedge Warbler
4 Ringed Plover
Avocet with 3 young
Redshank with 4 young
Tawny Owl called twice from nr Kingfisher hide.
Wigeon
Plus the usuals
Red legged partridge ~ 2
Redstart - female or first year male ? I think , Janet kear hide , record shot on flickr comments welcome
Little Egret
Ringed Plover - 2
Cheers
Karl
-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Sunday 11th of May 2014 07:35:09 PM
-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Sunday 11th of May 2014 07:35:42 PM
Patrick I myself had just upgraded my scope to the new mm3, a nice little scope & I just missed out on the yellow wagtail when I popped back into infocus.
1 little gull, summer plumage.
grasshopper warbler heard only on the reed bed walk
ross's goose in the collection area, now looking like it belongs there.
20+ avocets
30+ ruff
200+ black tailed godwits
18 dunlin
1 ringed plover
2 little ringed plover
4 redshanks
1 curlew
few swallows around
2 buzzards
1 tawny owl
5 chiffchaffs
2 willow warblers
3 blackcaps
few tufted ducks, wigeon, shoveler, pintail & teal.
plus all usuals around.
nice views of a water vole near harrier hide.
just off the reserve 11 wheatears, 13 corn buntings, 8 red legged partridges & few swallows, 2 house martins.
Little Gull at the back of the main mere. Had been there most of the day and was pointed out to me by the guy in the In Focus shop. Thanks!
Popped back in later to pick up my box and was told I'd just missed a Yellow Wagtail with several White Wagtail. Also had 17 Dunlin from Ron Barker and about 40 Black-tailed Godwit
9 Whooper Swans, 60+ Pink footed Geese, 60 Avocets, 15 Ruff (including resplendent male), 1 Pintail, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Shoveler & 1 Buzzard.
Masses of Shelduck, Black headed Gulls (1 Mediterranean Gull reported) & Lapwings. 2 Common Gulls & 4 Great Black Backed Gulls.
12+ Lesser Black Backed Gulls, including a bird who offered its partner a large cream coloured egg (Mallard perhaps) as a gift, which they both then shared.
The waterfowl (except Shelduck & Canada Geese) have noticeably got fewer, with just 1 Tufted Duck and no Pochard or Gadwall at all on the wild reserve.
A rare sight on one of the seed feeders was a male Blackbird, struggling to hang on as he fed, I can't recall seeing one doing this before.
1 Ross's Goose
11 Whooper Swan
5 Ruff (1 breeding plumage male)
2 Ringed Plover
5 Black-tailed Godwit
Ruffs, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Avocets 70+, Redshanks 2, Curlews 3, Black-tailed Godwits.
Cormorants 20+.
Ross's Goose 1.
Peregrine 1.
Hen Harrier 1m.
Buzzard 1.
Raven 1.
Whoopers, Pink-feet Geese.
Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shelduck, Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted, Pochard.
Tree Sparrows.
etc.etc.etc.
There's a Siberian Chiffchaff on the Reedbed Walk near the sewage works (this is not within the reserve) although it's a bit elusive. At least a couple of Common Chiffchaff around to confuse matters.
Friday 28 Feb, had a good day at the Mere with my friend Jim Caulfield. we missed out on the Bewick's, but more than made up for it by having great views of a male Ruff in nearly full breeding plumage. this was in front of the Raines Hide.
Then on to the Ron Barker hide to see at least 60 Avocets and 3 Ringed Plover. The Ross's Goose was showing well at the Swan Link Hide among the 100's of Whoopers.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Tuesday 25th of February 2014 06:58:35 PM
Nipped down Curlew Lane on way home and saw a pair of Red-legged Partridge and a pair of Corn Bunting. Also, at least 50 Fieldfare. Whoopers and Pink-feet also scattered across the adjoining fields, but, nothing unusual amongst them that I could see.
Whooper Swan ++++
Greylag geese ++++
Also numerous
Lapwing
Pintail
Wigeon
Shelduck
24 Ruff (first time I've been up close to these waders)
Teal
Mallard
2 Gadwall
1 Ringed Plover
Some Pink-footed geese (but many more later at H-o-M)
Oystercatchers
Stock Doves
Tree Sparrows
plus Wrens in good voice, plenty of Robin, Blackbirds, Woodpigeon, corvids, etc.
Warbler sp. by sewerage works, probably Chiffchaff
Male Hen Harrier
1+ Peregrine
Shoveler
Gadwall
Many Whooper Swans and Pink Footed Geese flying around
1000+ Lapwing
Stock Dove
3 Reed Bunting
10 Meadow Pipit
Thanks for the info ref Bewick's Swan - hope I haven't misled anyone !
Fortunately we were lucky enough to see the "wild one" where you indicated on Jan 17th when we joined.
We'd presumed (dangerous) it had re-located due to bullying.
Fri 7 Feb 11:15 to 16:00 Visit with buddy Tom Jones, enjoyed very bright sunshine in the afternoon
44 species
4 buzzards flying above adjacent woods, and one on fencepost.
Large numbers (100's) of Whooper Swans, Lapwing.
Good numbers of Teal, Pintail, Shelduck, Greylag and Pink-footed Geese and Ruff.
Feeders at Janet Kear were busy with Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch,
and Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow on feeders elsewhere.
Bewick's Swan on Swan Lake near café.
Whooper Swan at Swanlink hide, appeared in distress with neck caught behind wing; wader-clad warden tackled the problem, and swan left the scene
looking very sorry for itself - hope it recovers well
Sparrowhawk rose over the road from field east of reserve when we were leaving.
It was very good to meet you and thanks for pointing out the Tawny Owl to me! Apparently it was a good raptor day - I had seen Sparrowhawk, Male Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Buzzard and Tawny Owl and others have added a Marsh Harrier and a Merlin. If only a Kestrel was sighted. I will have to keep a closer eye out for the Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers - would rather have seen them than a male Hen Harrier (I think?)
Last Bewick's I saw was in 2006-7 but then to have one that close and then to see it bullied by those Whoopers? Those Whoopers are really spoilt! Too much of this hand-out culture nowadays.
Shame it closing earlier. I would love to be there in a warm spring or summers day from 6-9pm. Must be quite an experience.
Sarfraz
1 bewicks swan showing very well in front of swan link hide amongst the 1000+ whoopers
tawny owl near kingfisher hide
3-4 buzzards, no other raptors seen by myself but another birder had a male hen harrier earlier.
1 stonechat, united utilities hide
2 oystercatchers
plenty of ruff scattered around
thousands of lapwings & pink footed geese around, thought I may of had a white fronted goose but it was getting dark
plenty of birds around the feeders inc reed buntings & tree sparrows
several snipe flying around at dusk.
plus all usual stuff around.
just outside reserve a nice large flock of mostly corn buntings with few yellowhammers, 200+ fieldfares, 2 red legged partridges.
good day out & nice to meet & speak to sarfraz hayat, glad you eventually got the bewicks swan
Yesterday Tuesday 7th January 2014. Bittern flushed from the reed bed
Sat Jan 4th 10.00- 13.00 quiet people wise but good numbers of birds, highlight being
Peregrine Falcon
2 Tawny Owls at roost
Marsh Harrier
4 Buzzards
60+ Ruff
Little Egret
8 snipe
13 Tree Sparrow
Little Grebe
Barn Owl hunting along Red Cat Lane as we left
plus good numbers of usual wildfowl
highlights...
1 juvenile peregrine falcon
1 marsh harrier
3-4 buzzards
1 raven
1 snipe
1 black tailed godwit
80+ ruff, maybe over 100
large numbers of whooper swans, pink footed geese, teal, wigeon, pintail & shelducks.
1 black swan flew in late on.
2 tawny owls around 4pm near kingfisher hide.
lots of tree sparrows spread around, majority of them at the infocus shop.
plus all usuals around
40+ corn buntings, 5 red legged partridges & 1 treecreeper just of the reserve.
A good mornings birding at a damp and murky Martin Mere. Highlights included:
3 Peregrine Falcons all lined up on fence posts
2 Marsh Harriers
1 Tree Sparrow on feeders
Whooper Swans
Pintails
1 Snipe
6 Ruff
Lots of Teal and Lapwings
Plus the usuals.
Whooper Swan 600+
Goldeneye 1f
Black Swan 1...phew, that was a long flight!
Pochard 3
Ruff 50+
Peregrine 1
Cormorants
Tree Sparrow 1
Greylag Geese
Plus lots of other species, as usual.
And now it's all cleared up; on with the bird sightings
cheers John
At the Mere Today
Large Number of Whooper Swans-800+ I would think
Peregrine - 2 adult and 1 Juv
Ruff-c40
Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Pochard
Plenty of Pink footed Geese
Marsh Harrier-2
plus the usual's
My attention has been drawn to this site by one of our volunteers and I notice that several of you have already sent e-mails to Martin Mere on the issue of our new closing times. Some of the comments on this forum are erroneous but in this world of rapid communication tools such as forums, facebook and twitter it is not surprising to see chinese whispers getting a little out of hand. I have responded to all five complaints that have been received at Martin Mere over this issue and will always respond to inquiries (the nature of the job means that sometimes it may take a few days). So, in the interests of fairness could I please ask that if any of you ever have any issue with anything that we do at Martin Mere, please contact us formally before posting erroneous information. I don't think it helps anybody when members post forum comments that accuse me or any other staff of "charging anyone who gets locked in £50 for him to come out and open the gates", which as you will read below is untrue.
I will explain below why we have made our decisions and I apologise to those of you who have already read this as part of my individual repsonses to you but I see there are other members of this forum who would probably like to know the full facts of the situation.
We have decided that this winter we will close at 4.30pm for a number of reasons. This has been an operational decision that has been taken with a great deal of thought, research and reference to all the different departments at Martin Mere and consultation with other centres across the UK.
1. In previous years, throughout the winter, the numbers of visitors cars on the car park after 4.30pm has been extremely low, if any at all. This October we actually monitored numbers and, during week days especially, there were sometimes no visitors left after 5.30pm. Due to the clocks going back, 5.30 has become 4.30 and it is getting dark at this time. In short, the figures show that there is not enough demand to keep the site open, in winter, after 4.30pm.
2. Looking at data from the previous winter, there was little, if any, activity in the shop or cafe after 4pm. These operations were running at a loss and so it has been decided that it would be best to close them at 4.30pm.
3. Unfortunately, in recent years, working practices at Martin Mere have not moved with the relevant legislation. We now have to operate with respect to lone working legislation, which means that we are unable to keep the site open with just one member of staff remaining on site. Lone working, after dark, on a site like ours, is bad enough for big men such as myself, but some of our duty managers are women (and in one case a pregnant woman) and it is unacceptable to have them wandering around, in the dark, locking up. This means we now have to keep two members of staff on duty to lock up. When you consider points one and two, the overwhelming majority of days would see us having a staff to visitor ratio of 100% or greater, which any organisation could not justify.
4. I would love to be able to keep the barriers open and let birders make their own way to and fro but it has been reported to me that experience in the past has shown that the car park is abused by other people indulging in anti-social activities.
On the other question of paying £50 if you are locked in; this has not been decided and will not take immediate effect. Again, due to legislation, we cannot allow a single member of staff to return to work to let somebody out of the car park, who has stayed past the closing time. As a result, we are about to employ a keyholding company to attend to such situations. It is an individual's responsibility to abide by opening and closing times and so we would hope that no birdwatchers would ever find themselves in such a position. However, in such an event, it will now cost WWT the best part of £50 for the keyholding company to let somebody out and I am sure that our membership would not want their subscriptions being used to pay for this, as it would be nobody else's fault but that of the individual locked in. For the sake of our membership, we would therefore be looking, in the future, to recoup at least some, if not all, of that cost, which I do not think is unreasonable. We would not and have never charged anybody, if it was just a member of staff that was required to return but this option is no longer available.
Having said the above, I have had a small number of complaints this week and, as a birder myself, there is nothing I'd rather not do than prevent people from observing our wildlife. I visited the hides last night and, although the big groups of geese departed for Norfolk before the clocks went back, a large group of about around 1000 birds came in at 4.50pm. A second, smaller group came in at 5pm. Swans were coming in, in drabs and drabs, from 3.30pm on. Nothing happened after 5pm and by 4.45pm it was pretty much dark anyway. Obviously, as we move through the winter, the times of geese flying in to roost and the deteriorating light will become earlier. Our warden has told me that may times during the winter, the main body of geese comes in between 3.30pm and 4pm, while he is doing his swan talk in the hides.
Taking all the above into account, we have to run the site balancing legislation, security and finances with demand for particular activities, at particular times. As a result, we will continue to close the site at 4.30pm. However, from Monday, we will now allow the car park barriers to remain open until 5pm and this should enable visitors to see the geese coming in on the overwhelming majority of winter evenings. After this time, we would have to pay extra wages for two staff to stay on late. This extra expense is roughly the equivalent of one membership and, for many winter days, that membership would be spent allowing just one visitor (if any) to stay late, when it is dark and there is nothing more to see. I'm sure our members would not want us to spend an entire membership for this purpose.
I hope you can understand and appreciate why these decisions have been made, that they have been made very carefully and also that we have now responded to a small number of comments to find a way mutually acceptable way forward.
Nick Brooks
Sadly one reason this change has been forced on them is 'in the past has shown that the car park is abused by other people indulging in anti-social activities', one can only guess what that is! The other being working legislation and I totally agree they have to abode by this, no matter how restrictive it may be.
I'm there next weekend.
Cheers
Phil
Simon
You make a very valid point which I wouldn't disagree with.
However there are a lot of, in my view, equally important conservation organisations - RSPB, BTO, Birdlife International, Lancashire Wildlife Trust to name just a few.
I simply can't afford to be a member of all of them. My decision as to which I support is going to be, at least partly, influenced by things like opening times of reserves and how that affects my ability to visit the reserves.
Cheers,
Phil
No- no reply and for someone who's been a member since 1977,it seems a bit mean not to reply.
This was Tuesday - I haven't had a reply. I was wondering if anyone who sent an email to WWT has had one.
I'm a bit surprised that they wouldn't bother replying to a WWT member who's unsure whether renew their membership or not.
Cheers,
Phil
Ivan
Many thanks for posting this, I may have been caught out at weekend!
I will write to them today and see what response I get, if it negative then I'll cancel my membership as its used for this reserve primarily. This means I;d never visit again as the daily entrance fees are extortionate.
STOP PRESS - enquiry sent, if this is permanent then I will very shortly be an ex member, sad after many years but that is the only way I can express my feelings about this change.
Its seems that the primary objective of some reserves is the maximisation of generated income from shops and cafes and the birds are secondary. I'm amazed that another reserve, to be nameless otherwise a protracted debate will ensue, has closed a car parking area which held c.20 cars. The other car park is continually full.
Phil
-- Edited by Phil Hampson on Tuesday 5th of November 2013 07:23:38 AM
-- Edited by Phil Hampson on Tuesday 5th of November 2013 07:39:08 AM
I have already sent my complaint in to WWT HQ, lets see what they say.
I agree Ivan, its a real shame that as many people have always stopped beyond closing, and you could stay up to 6pm as long as you let yourself out, but for them to lock the car park at 4.30pm,seems to smack of get as many in as possible ,feed the birds then throw you out. I have always thought the 9.30 opening at the morning is a bad joke, but to get you off that car park at 4.30,seems madness as the best sights at the Mere is the Geese and swans coming in at Dusk. Another good place bites the dust for me, if that's the case.
ron barker hide
1 little stint
2 curlew sandpipers
4 dunlin
20+ ruff
1 possibly little ringed plover
2 snipe, several more flying around
main mere
1 imm/fem garganey, andy bunting put me onto it, later on at harrier hide what looked like another with a more prominent white through the eye,
4 avocets
3 snipe
2 marsh harriers
5 little grebes
no signs off the pink footed geese, but 6 resident ones with the greylags & Canada geese at ron barker hide, but 3 at harrier hide which did later fly off south.
plenty of teal, wigeon & gadwall,
1 pintail, hale hide
5 red legged partridges outside of reserve.
http://www.rockfm-offers.co.uk/martinmere
1 yellow wagtail & 12 corn buntings seen in fields opposite reed bed walk on the way into reserve.
1 juvenile cuckoo on way to harrier hide sitting on the perimeter fence
harrier hide..
1 green sandpiper
1 little egret
1 oystercatcher
1 pochard
2 tufted duck
4 gadwall
2 little grebes
1 kestrel
2 wigeon
60+ lapwings
ron barker hide..
1 greenshank, flew in around 3pm on vinsons did not stay long & flew off high 15 mins later.
1 ruff
2 black tailed godwits
2 pintails possibly more
other birds around..
at least 6 buzzards
2-3 marsh harriers
1 sparrowhawk
3 oystercatchers
2 great spotted woodpeckers
2 blackcaps
1 chiffchaff
1 whitethroat
2 reed buntings
plus usuals around.
1 hare
1 stoat climbing trees at kingfisher hide
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 10th of August 2013 10:30:12 PM
A late attempt to find the Bluethroat as I heard there was some suspicion it was still present but keeping low. I covered a few miles (iPhone distance app) and aswell as the main reserve I also did the public paths that run round the outside of the duck gardens to Harrier Hide (Cuckoo reported here day before but I didn't get one), then the path opposite that takes you into the fields but no luck.
Birds of note:
Kingfisher Hide / Wooded Area
4 Whitethroat
Approx 15-20 Tree Sparrow's (some juv)
I Reed Warbler
Kingfisher reported but I missed it
Ron Barker Hide
3 Redshank
3 Black Tailed Godwits (in orangey red summer plumage)
1 Peregrinne over
15 Avocet
2 pairs of Oystercatcher
Swan-Link Hide ...usuals
Janet Kier Hide
A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers on feeder
A few Stock Dove
Harrier Hide very quiet...usuals
United Utilities Hide very quiet
Of note...a few Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher
Pat Wisniewski Reedbeds
4 Reed Warblers (more heard)
2 Oystercatcher over
2 Buzzards circling near the viewing screens
1 Kestrel
A few Reed Buntings
As a general note...the stand out species today has to be Shelduck. They were seen at most of the hides and virtually all had young ranging from very small downy ducklings up to Moorhen size.
A Wren carrying nest material into a half built nest inside the Swan-Link Hide.
As Chris Brown says...it is expensive though, £11.10 !!!
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 1st of July 2013 08:24:19 PM
Thanks again, Chris
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 22nd of June 2013 10:35:39 AM