Montagu's Harrier, Osprey during the day & Common Crane early evening all seen on the reserve yesterday (saturday)

Phil Panton wrote:

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Montagu's Harrier, Osprey during the day & Common Crane early evening all seen on the reserve yesterday (saturday)

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I missed the montagu's by 5 mins arrived at 13 20 in the united utilities hide to be told it had been flying back and too for and hour at the front of united utilities,then flew off south over the water works towards the railway,I heard it was seen again further sw at 3pm.The osprey flew through in the morning and the crane arrived late afternoon-missed that also.Never take me on a twitch you will see nowt.
I missed the montys taking pictures of tame ducks never mind theres always next time





-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 20th of May 2012 09:09:08 AM

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 20th of May 2012 06:38:05 PM

another bumper day off birds,77 species seen throughout the day(a new daily record for me) should off been more. 11-7.30pm.
the walk from burscough bridge station produced...

8 wheatears
1 yellow wagtail
2 yellowhammers
4 corn buntings
1 linnet
1 kestrel
10 red legged partridges
5 hares

at martin mere...

1 little stint
2 curlew sandpipers
1 garganey (male) a second was seen by another observer.
1 red crested pochard,located from harrier hide at 6.10pm.
all above first for the year for me
no signs off the wood sandpiper.

3 dunlins
1 common sandpiper
10 ringed plovers
2 whimbrels
3 curlews
30+ ruff
40+black tailed godwits
100+ avocets
2 little grebes
several buzzards throughout the day,6 in the air at once.
1 sparrowhawk
failed to see a marsh harrier
4 whitethroats
1 sedge warbler
3 reed warblers
1 willow warbler
1 chiffchaff
blackcaps all around
swifts, swallows, house martins & sand martins over.
small numbers off usual wildfowl.
plus all usual birds around the reserve.
2 hares & 1fox near the reed bed walk.



-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 6th of May 2012 10:56:29 PM

Friday, May 4th.

Garganey 1m from United Utilities Hide.
Goldcrest 1 seen singing in collection gardens.
Wigeon 1m.
Pintail 1m 1f.
Little Ringed Plover 1
Ringed Plover 8+
Dunlin 5
Little Stint 1
Curlew Sandpiper 2
Blk.T.Godwit 30+
Curlew 2
Ruff 30+
Avocet 120+
Redshank 6+
Oystercatchers
Lapwings
Kestrel 1
Grey Partridge 1
Red-Legged Partridge 2
Swifts/Swallows/House Martins
Reed/Willow Warblers
Blackcaps
Whitethroats
Chiffchaffs
Meadow Pipit 1

etc.etc.etc.

Having spent a very pleasant morning on chat moss with Andy, Mel, Simon et al headed over to Martin Mere to find there was a Wood Warbler in the wildfowl garden.

Happily a burst of sunshine encouraged it to show itself and give a few bursts of song.
also seen
Reedbed walk

Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
3 Swift
House martin
Sand Martin


whilst on the main reserve there was plenty of the usual suspects

8.30-7pm a long day,but a pleasant one despite the wind. considering it was pretty quiet still managed 74 species for the day.
a walk from burscough bridge station produced...

1 yellow wagtail (first for the year) curlew lane
4 wheatears 3m 1f
6 corn buntings
12 red legged partridges

at martin mere...

1 wood warbler (first for the year) in the wildfowl compounds,showed very well around 4.15pm even managed a few pics
2 marsh harriers
4-6 buzzards
1 kestrel
2 mediterranean gulls, just after 5pm at ron barker hide, thanks to chap for spotting them.
1 common sandpiper
1 dunlin
1 black tailed godwit
6 curlews
6 ringed plovers
7 ruff
2 white wagtails
100+ avocets
plenty off oystercatchers & redshanks
small numbers off usual wildfowl
plenty off blackcaps around
several swifts, swallows, house martins & only 1 sand martin over
plus all usual birds in & around the reserve.

reed warblers & willow warblers heard only.
did not manage to see red crested pochard.
no signs off the crane.




-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 28th of April 2012 10:00:38 PM

Common Crane just seen by Mr Barber from the UU hide - about time too

Common Crane late sunday, & apparently still on the reserve this morning

You're right Sid, it was about time. One of the largest birds in the country has managed to elude me for almost three years. I even managed to miss the two birds close to where I live in Lymm a few days ago. Never mind, at least I can sleep easy now !

Also of note today at Martin Mere were: 2 Whimbrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 1 Ringed Plover and a barbequed chicken & chips !



-- Edited by John Barber on Monday 23rd of April 2012 04:40:35 PM

Afternoon trip produced 30 oystercatcher 2 pink footed goose 2 ringed plover 80 avocet 10 redshank 30 tree sparrow 1 common gull GBB gull feeding on carrion 17 curlew( flew in for 20 mins) 30 shelduck 3 male ruff 20 black tailed godwits( some in breeding plumage) 2 blackcap chasing each other round Benny hill style whilst singing and finally a corn bunting singing somewhere in the distance from hale hide.marsh Harrier and peregrine also on site today but not seen by me alas.

First post in the sighting sections..

Sunday 8th April 12:30-1:30pm, very brief visit to pick up binoculars left there last week, don't ask , and to have a look at the scopes at In Focus.

2 Marsh Harriers, my first ever sighting. Watched one for approx. 5 minutes before being joined by the second for a few minutes before going out of range.

2 Buzzards on fences around the mere
1 Sand Martin over the mere at 1pm

Lots of Avocet and Lapwing.

11-5.30pm 60 species seen.

4 marsh harriers
4 buzzards at least
2 kestrels
no peregrines for me or barn owl considering it was out morning & evening
thousands off pink footed geese in & around reserve,eventually got sight off 4 white fronted geese around 4pm from harrier hide.
the mere still full off whooper swans inc 1 black swan
59 oystercatchers
65+ ruff
2 snipe
3 ringed plover,probably more unless they were moving around a lot.
4 black tailed godwits
2 g b b gulls
1 herring gull
5 l b b gulls
hundreds off black headed gulls
thousands off lapwings
good numbers off pintails, shelducks, wigeons, teals, pochards
1 goldcrest near kingfisher hide
1 treecreeper on my way in near car park
plus all the usual birds in & around reserve.

also on my way here along red cat lane 21 red legged partridges 15+6.
4 corn buntings,singing
and skylarks singing.
4 hares

good day despite the weather.

Further sighting of bittern in flight over top mere reported today on WWT Martin Mere sighting board

Another bittern sighting reported today on the WWT Martin Mere website

On the WWT Martin Mere sightings section today - A bittern seen flying into the reedbeds. Seen from the Harrier Hide.

Managed a quick hour before dusk, went with the aim of seeing the Barn Owl and wasn't disappointed as it gave good views from the UU hide. Also good numbers of Barnacle Geese and White Fronted and a single Bewick at the back of the main Mere.
Great views of the geese and wildfowl flying about as the sunset and a good haul of 30 species - fantastic way to start the weekend

10.30-til dark, 55 species seen.
highlight off the day goes to the 2 bewick swans that i found at the ron barker hide around 4pm (now they say its tricky to id them from the whoopers)but these two were on there own in the middle off the pool,also confirmed by the two chaps that were there & the photo i took was confirmed by the swan experts in raines observatory,went home very chuffed & also a lifer for me
other highlights..
1 ring tailed hen harrier
4 marsh harriers
2 buzzards
2 kestrels
2 ravens
thousands off pink footed geese, no signs off white fronteds,
50+ barnacle geese
1500+ whooper swans
50+ ruff
1 great spotted woodpecker
1 willow tit
plus lots off the usual shellducks, pintails, teals, wigeons, + others
good numbers off lapwings, est 4000
plus all the usual birds in & around the reserve
good day out

Afternoon visit - looking for Whitefronts but had left reserve by time i got there

Lots of Raptors

2 Peregine - hunting Marsh and landing in fields giving good views
Ringtail Hen Harrier
2 Marsh Harrier (female and imm male)
2 Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
3 Buzzard
Merlin chasing a skylark
Barn Owl
10+ Ruff
40 Barnacle Geese
23 Shoveler

Plus the hundreds of Whoopers, Pinkfeet, Pintail, Wigeon etc

10+ Tree Sparrow near ron barker hide

Excellent half day out. Loads of the usual fayre, but at one point had 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Peregrines, 1 Buzzards and a Barn Owl in the bins at once, a very special experience!

20/12/11

A ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine, 41 Ruff, and 2 Buzzards from Ron Barker Hide this morning..

Bright but very windy, the kind of day when you keep the hide windows shut. The United Utilities hide was swaying so much that I was in danger of being sea sick.

Star attraction was the Grey Phalarope giving good views from the Ron Barker hide.

Other highlights included 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Peregrines, and lots of Pintail, Teal and Wigeon.

Also whopper numbers of Whooper Swans.

I met a birder from Stockport who let me have a good look through his telescope at the White Fronts. I thought it might have been you.

Sarfraz Hayat wrote:

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I saw the White Fronts on Sunday which I keep calling Y Fronts by mistake too. Did I meet you there Steven?

-- Edited by Sarfraz Hayat on Tuesday 29th of November 2011 10:50:50 PM

-- Edited by Sarfraz Hayat on Tuesday 29th of November 2011 10:51:08 PM

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hi sarfraz, we did not meet but im sure we crossed paths at sometime during the day.

I saw the White Fronts on Sunday which I keep calling Y Fronts by mistake too. Did I meet you there Steven?

-- Edited by Sarfraz Hayat on Tuesday 29th of November 2011 10:50:50 PM

-- Edited by Sarfraz Hayat on Tuesday 29th of November 2011 10:51:08 PM

good day here today,despite the wind. 57 species seen.
on my way to the mere i did manage to find a wheatear at brandreth barn & get a few pics. at martin mere i shown the pics to andy in the infocus shop,who was pleased to see them as this was the latest ever record for a wheatear in lancashire.
later when i was in the swan link hide a chap shouted SWALLOW, i did manage to pic it up in my bins as did several other birders.
another late migrant
other birds...
good numbers off pink footed geese, whooper swans, also teals, wigeons, pintails & shelducks.
plenty off ruff, only managed 3 black tailed godwits.
at least 22 white fronted geese
77 barnacle geese (feral)
3 marsh harriers
4 buzzards
2 kestels
1 sparrowhawk
2 ravens
1 barn owl on my way out off reserve at 4.55pm
plus all usual birds in & around reserve.

did manage a little wonder around the festival & bump into julie unwin (nice to see you again) but did not manage to get to the bto stall to say hello to steve suttil (sorry steve).

The North West Bird Watching Festival takes place at Martin Mere this coming weekend with talks, guided walks and lots of stands and exhibitors.

The nature reserve will be open from 8am over the weekend and guest speakers include The Urban Birder, David Lindo.

BTO staff and volunteers will be there so if you're in the neighbourhood why not drop in? I should be on the BTO stall on Sunday so, if you're there, please say hello - and don't ask too many awkward questions!

Cheers, Steve

Glorious day spent watching thousands of Pink Foots flying in, with a couple of Barnacles for good measure.
Stonechat from the Ron Barker hide,
Buzzard & female Sparrowhawk riding the thermals together, demonstrating the difference in size.
2 Redlegged Partridges in a ploughed field on Redcat Lane on the way down to MM,
& a Kestrel being mobbed.

9.30-3.30 today

A cracking start to the day had both a Red Kite and a Marsh Harrier up at the same time. Shortly after that a Peregrine was seen sat on the ground preening.
I saw 3 Marsh Harrier in total with two together from the Ron Barker hide.
Lots of Ruff, and all seemed to be varying shades, from very white to the buff yellow. Not many other waders though.
Lots of pintail and Teal and still some Swallows around. 2 Wigeon
Good numbers of Pink Footed Geese that seemed to be coming in all day. Also lots of Greylag and Canada Geese.
5 Whooper Swans
A Kingfisher posed nicely from the Ron Barker hide.
A Kestrel and 3 Common Buzzard were also seen over the Mere.
A great days birding.

all day here today,61 species seen highlights being...
1 red kite still showing well throughout the day
at least 4 marsh harriers.
plenty off buzzards.
sparrowhawks & kestrels.
peregrine falcon having a bathe.
pink footed goose, the board indicates around 4500 around the area.
1 little stint
3 ringed plover
2 dunlin
2 snipe
plenty off ruff
there was reports off curlew sandpiper,but missed them
hundreds off canada & greylag goose at the harrier hide with 1 bar headed goose
swallows & house martins all over
plus all the usual birds in & around the reserve.
and a beautiful sunset to finish a good days birding.

Red Kite still showing well today, along with 3 Marsh Harriers and 2 Little Stints. Pink-foot numbers have grown to around 4000 in the area.

An interesting few hours today, Thursday, 15th September.

Red Kite 1
Marsh Harrier 3
Hobby 1
Peregrine 1
Kestrel 4
Buzzard 5+
Sparrowhawk 1
Pink-feet Geese 400+
Meadow Pipits, Swallows and 3 Chiffchaffs.
Ruff 30+
Wigeon 6+

etc.etc.etc.

9.30-12.30 this morning
The morning got off to a gory start in front of the In Focus shop as I was talking to Andy when a GBB gull attacked and eventually drowned an adult female Mallard which was then eaten by the gull.

From the Ron Barker hide,
28 Ruff
33 Dunlin with birds flying in all the time
8 Blacktailed godwits
Redshank
Plenty of the usual ducks
Swallows still flying in to the small building to the left of the hide and one adult bird seen feeding a juvenile.
5 Marsh harriers seen, 1 Female, 1 probable female and 3 juvs
4 Buzzards
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Peregrine went through a large flock of Lapwings just as I was leaving.

A Stoat had a vicious fight with a rat under one of the bird tables. The Stoat won

-- Edited by Dave Thacker on Thursday 8th of September 2011 04:15:08 PM

Enjoyable if quiet day 0930-1440. Highlights were:
1 juv. Cuckoo (showing down to 30ft from Ron Barker hide)
7 Green Sandpiper (3 from Hale hide)
1 Greenshank
17 Ruff
2 Marsh Harrier (I only saw 1, though)
1 Buzzard
1 Black Tailed Godwit
1 Stoat (Ron Barker hide)

Also finally found the 'special' walk back to the station from the reserve. 40+ Tree Sparrow feeding on the path

-- Edited by Joe Wynn on Tuesday 23rd of August 2011 05:36:53 PM

A pleasant visit today with Mr Bithell
5+Buzzards
2 Ruff
1 Marsh Harrier
4 Black Tailed Godwits
1 Ringed Plover
1 Merlin catching insects
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrels
1 Green Sandpiper

Cheers Jimmy

-- Edited by Jimmy Meadows on Saturday 20th of August 2011 08:48:55 PM

juv cuckoo showing well from the ron barker hide also kingfisher and 2 green sandpiper from the hale hide .

12/8/11

1 Short-eared Owl - perched up at the rear of Sunleys Marsh
1 Peregrine
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Greenshank
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Red-legged Partridge

A family party of 4 Stoats along the Reedbed Walk, a Southern Hawker, 3+ Peacocks and a couple of Gatekeepers..

A rainy visit here today only produced the following birds of interest:

5 Ruff
2 Green Sandpiper
1 Avocet
1 Buzzard

good views of pectoral sandpiper from in focus shop also 6 ruff 2 dunlin 5 black-tailed godwit 1 buzzard

Quick visit for Paters' Day.Highlights:
Many Avocets with young, one nearly taken by a LBB gull.
2 summer plumaged Dunlin.
Green Sandpiper.
50+ Black Tailed Godwits
Many Tree Sparrows
Stock Doves
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Very close nesting Swallows on visitor centre.
Driving out next to field opposite a dead Quail on the road.

Spent most of he day at Martin Mere until 3pm
54 species seen highlights being
Wood Sandpiper from main mere hide seen at 12.30 and 14.30 - 15.00
Greenshank from harrier hide
Yellow Wagtail from reedbed walk flying from sewage works over the reserve
Pochard with single young
Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
6 / 7 Dunlin from Ron Barker

Pectoral Sandpiper showing intermittently around 5 o'clock from the Ron Barker hide

-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Monday 30th of May 2011 07:27:50 PM

good day here today,not lots off birds but still managed 67 species.
along the trail from burscough train station..
only had the 1 yellowhammer, 8 corn buntings, 4 red legged partridge,
2 buzzards, plenty off lapwings, skylarks & tree sparrows
lots off rooks, crows & jackdaws
at martin mere..
1 marsh harrier (f), 2 ravens, 1ruff,
50+ dunlin, 50+ black tailed godwit,
40+ avocet some with young, also redshank & lapwings with young
good views off reed warblers around the janet kear hide
+ all usual ducks & birds around the reserve
2 hares and 2 stoats
and a sparrowhawk whizzing past my head at the train station on my way back

Good day at Martin Mere, with:

Great White Egret 1 adult in breeding plumage ( pink upper legs).
Dunlin 4
Little Ringed Plover 2
Ringed Plover 6
Black-tailed Godwit 100+
Redshank 8
Sanderling 3
Avocets plus young.
Mediterranean Gull 1 1st Summer
Greenshank 1
Yellow Wagtail 1
Peregrine 1
Buzzard 2
Raven 2

etc.etc.etc.

My first visit to this reserve. Have been to Slimbridge and Barnes a number of times before, but I really like the layout of this place. So relaxed - even on a Bank Holiday Monday!

My search to see a Marsh Harrier continues! but there was plenty of other lovely birds to compensate.

- Greenfinch
- c6 Swalllows over the reserve throughout the day
- 10+ Goldfinch
- lots of Chaffinch singing throughout
- small numbers of Greylag Goose
- small numbers of Canada Goose
- lots of Shelduck throughout (50+)
- Herring, Black-headed and Lesser Black Backed Gull
- Common Buzzard circling in the distance from the Harrier Hide with another large raptor below it
- Sparrowhawk, high overhead the reserve
- Kestrel over the reedbeds
- c24 Avocet
- c6 Redshank
- c30 Black-tailed Godwit
- c40 Lapwing
- 3 Ringed Plover - inc a pair seen swapping places to lie down on, on one of the scrapes
- 2 Pied Wagtail close to the Ringed Plovers
- c4 Whooper Swan - still around, it seems
- 6+ Oystercatcher
- Skylark
+ poss Sedge or Reed Warbler outside the Harrier Hide. Only one short burst of singing - not long enough for me to decide which.

-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Monday 25th of April 2011 10:19:18 PM

late post for yesterday saturday 16/4.
no signs off the 2 black winged stilts that were reported the day before 15/4,and there was reports off a cuckoo on the reed bed walk 16/4 but not for me
still had 74 species off birds, not mant birds there but obviously lots off species about. walked from burscough bridge train station on the trail,birds off note...
3 wheatear, 8 red legged partridge, 4 grey partridge, 4 corn bunting but more heard,
1 yellowhammer, 1 raven, 2 buzzard, plenty off rooks,crows, & jackdaws, lapwings,
pheasants, wood pigeons, stock doves, tree sparrows,swallows & sand martins.
at martin mere...
1 greenshank, 1 common sandpiper, 1 reed warbler (others heard on the reed bed walk) sedge also reported, 2 raven, 1 tawny owl, 1 marsh harrier, 1 peregrine, plenty off buzzards, 1 dunlin, 6 ringed plover, 4 curlew,2 black tailed godwits, did not manage to count avocets but plenty off them, 1 whooper swan with broken wing, plus the resident whoopers, still around 20 pink footeds, loads off shelduck, and tufted duck.
pintail,wigeon,pochard,gadwall,teal, only in small numbers, all usual suspects at the feeding station, plenty off blackcaps about, willow warblers also,did not hear any chiffchaff (unusual) pied & white wagtails about and a large flock off about 70+ meadow pipits on my back to the station,plenty off hares running around the fields also. briliant day still other birds i have not mentioned but 74 species is a record for me.

Nice 1300-1630 there, would have been longer had it not been for northern rail ! wemt to in focus feeders, swanlink hide, raines observatory, hale hide, kingfisher hide and ron barker hide.
Main Mere:
c.500 whooper swan- one with an interesting black stripe down the beak, apparrently that's quite rare
1 Bewicks Swan
c.30 Ruff
c.20 Oysteys
c.3 Black Tail Godwits (showing hints of summer plumage)
1 Brambling (male in summer moult outside in focus)
4 Tree sparrow (same place)
c.30 Avocet
c.200 Lapwing
c.300 Pink Feet
someone had also seen a wheatear! I missed it though
plus the usual martin mere mix of shellduck, teal, pintail, wigeon, mallard, pochard, etc.

Popped in to In Focus yesterday on way home for an hour or so, but it was pretty wet.

Still plenty of Brambling knocking about, some with rather black heads looking good too. Plenty of Wildfowl still around too, with usual 800+ Whooper Swans, 1,000s of PF Geese, Wigeon and Teal, with Shoveller, Gadwall, Pintail and the likes out there too.

Wader-wise there were a couple of Dunlin on Sunleys, with 9 Avocet, a Redshank, lots of Lapwing and a snipe, plus the flocks of Ruff. No raptors, but it was raining heavily while I was there in the hide

Sat - 26/2/11

redhead Smew showed distantly from Harrier hide - late pm.

Other birds included

Marsh Harrier - 1 "cream crown"
Merlin - 1 female
Avocet - 29
Black-tailed Godwit - 6
Brambling - 8

Quick wizz round Martin Mere on way home from Hesketh.

No red head Smew; not been around for a couple of days.
Highlights: Apart from the huge volume of swans, geese and
wildfowl.

12Avocets
20+Ruff
3 Ringed Plover
All from Ron Barker

3 Bramblings only at Janet Kerr feeder

C20 Black Tailed Godwits on Mere

Weather: Overcast dull at first but brighten a little later cool and slight wind.

Friday 18/02/2011

Martin Mere WWT 09:30-17-00

Ron Baker Hide 10:00-11:00

Marsh Harrier (Female or immature)
Peregrine
2 Buzzards (one mobbed a standing Heron)
4 Ringed Plover

Harrier Hide 12:00- 13:30 & 15:45 -16:10

Smew (redhead) Showing well on arrival but disappeared soon after, better luck on returning .
Tufted Duck
1 Dabchick (Little Grebe)
1 Phesant (male)

United Utilities Hide 13:45- 15:30

8 Avocet
Ruff
Oystercatcher
Cormorant

Janet Kear Hide 16:00 -16:15

A quick visit to to look at the feeders produced the following
Brambling, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Blue, Great , Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Stock Dove.

Present and veiwed from various location were.

Wigeon, Pintail Duck, Teal, Pochard, Mallard, Shellduck, Greylag Geese, Pink-Footed Geese, Canada Geese, , Moorhen, Coot, Black-Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling, Tree Sparrow
Whooper Swan: yellow ringed K4T, H7C, Z4V, J6K noted on my way out from the Swanlink Hide may be of interest to recorders.

A very good day out via train from Ashton changing at Manchester Victoria and a 30 min walk from Burscough Bridge. You can walk from the station two ways though the fields or along the road I chose the scenic route going and returned via the road.

Heads up David




-- Edited by David Bramhall on Saturday 19th of February 2011 05:02:53 PM

-- Edited by David Bramhall on Saturday 19th of February 2011 06:01:07 PM