Visit yesterday in heavy rain, easing off towards the end.
2 gadwall (pair), 2 great crested grebe (pair), tufted duck,
5 Shelduck, 1 on the reserve and 4 on the field near car park with Canada geese and pheasants.
Great spotted woodpecker flushed when nearly stood on, I assume taking cover from the rain.
3 collared doves,
Reed bunting,
Black headed gulls and a Canada goose nesting on the same platform with a black headed gull not tolerating, repeatedly dive-bombing the nesting goose and making lots of noise as the rain eased.
At least 6 cormorants including large juveniles circling in the air.
Sarfraz Hayat said
Sat Jan 9 11:24 PM, 2021
Bit late in the day to post this but on the 24th of December I managed to do an early morning trip and the highlights were a Mediterranean Gull adult in winter plumage flying over and a Cetti's Warbler calling. Both are reserve firsts for me. A Song Thrush was also in song. Minimum of 10 Blackbirds around. I did not see the Great White Egret which was knocking about. It would have also been a reserve first. Not many places you see the usual dabbling ducks in winter with Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and Goosander in lowland Lancashire? Is this combination unique to Mere Sands Wood? Nearby Martin Mere and even Marshside lack Goosander mostly I think?
Jeff Gorse said
Fri Mar 30 3:46 PM, 2018
Morning walk in cool and largely overcast conditions. Chiffchaffs singing throughout the reserve and great spotted woodpecker drumming. Male goldeneye on Mere End Lake. 2 x little egret in the ploughed fields north of the reserve along with large numbers of shelduck.
Jeff Gorse said
Fri Feb 23 5:09 PM, 2018
Morning walk in bright but cold conditions. Signs of spring though as besides the snowdrops much bird activity - singing dunnocks, nuthatch, blue and great tits, chaffinches and a pair of bullfinch. Also two separate great spotted woodpeckers drumming.
A pair of oystercatcher in fields on the edge of the wood, also 6 fieldfare. A further pair of oystercatcher on the main mere along with 6 pairs of shelduck, 4 x goosander, 8 x cormorant, good numbers of shoveler, tufted duck and mallard and smaller numbers of teal.
2 x buzzard.
Jeff Gorse said
Fri Feb 9 5:43 PM, 2018
Visit in bright but bitter conditions this morning. Highlights :-
4 x little egret on the main mere, also here 4x goosander and 10 x cormorant. Large numbers of shoveler, the huge teal flocks of early winter seem to have thinned out noticeably.
2 x bullfinch on the visitor centre feeders, also much nuthatch activity in the trees around the car park.
Richard Thew said
Wed Dec 27 2:34 PM, 2017
Thought I'd make an effort to see what's about. 44 species including a little egret in a field, 2 goldeneye, 1 wigeon (f), shoveler, 12 goosanders, fieldfare, redwing, mistle & song thrush, treecreeper, great spotted woodpecker (m), grey wagtail, and a few red legged partridge. I nipped to southport after only to see if the twite was still there and they are. Didn't feel bright eyed to pursue the reported ring billed gull etc. It was a good enough day for me though! Ta!
John Williams said
Wed Dec 6 4:28 PM, 2017
09.45-13.30
Main Mere : 2m Goosanders, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Great Crested Grebes+ lots of Teal and Shoveler.
Woodland : 1 Treecreeper, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Kestrel
Mere End Pool : 2 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall + lots of Teal, Shoveler, Mallard and Tufted Ducks.
No sign of any Pochard or Little Grebes throughout, but masses of Teal, with one local birder advising that he had not seen so many here for years.
Jeff Gorse said
Fri Nov 17 7:17 PM, 2017
Late morning / lunchtime walk in cold and at times showery conditions. Sightings included :-
8 x goosander (5 x male) on the main mere along with substantial numbers of teal, smaller quantities of shoveler, tufted duck, mallard, 2x pochard. Also grey heron, 2 x cormorant and 3x Canada goose. Kingfisher flying across front of Redwing Hide.
Pheasant, 1x nuthatch, great tit and coal tit on the feeding station at the visitor centre. 2x nuthatch, 3x robin, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, house sparrow and dunnock on the woodland feeding station.
Great spotted woodpecker calling in the woods.
Jeff Gorse said
Wed Sep 27 6:50 PM, 2017
Afternoon visit just before the rain set in. Teams of volunteers putting in some hard work with Ian in sprucing up the meadow and woods. Sightings included :-
Sparrowhawk whipping through the feeding station putting the robins, blue, great and coal tits to flight.
Three lesser black-backed gulls amongst the black-headed gulls gathering on the mere.
Jeff Gorse said
Sat Jul 29 1:07 PM, 2017
Morning visit in dare-I-say-it almost autumnal conditions today 7-11am. Overnight mothtrapping had produced 17 species plus a toad, evidence of how damp things had been!
Bird highlights :-
Blackcap, chiffchaff, family groups of blue, long-tailed and great tit, coal tit on the feeding station along with robin family. 4x great spotted woodpecker, jays.
Pair of red-legged partridge and another pair with eight well-grown young on the surrounding farmland.
Shelduck, gadwall, teal and tufted duck on the mere, also well-grown young common tern testing out its wings on the raft, a lesser black-backed gull in occupation of the other raft.
bernard hooley said
Thu May 25 1:42 PM, 2017
Our first visit ever to this site .From 1pm to 4 pm .Very impressed Mainly common birds seen , but plenty of them .Birds seen as follows . Mallard 10 Wood Pigeon 6 Coot 5 Common Buzzard 1 Carrion Crow 7 House Martin 3 Magpie 4 Robin 8 Blackbird 7 Garden Warbler 1 Great Crested Grebe 4 Shelduck 10 Canada Goose 6 Blue Tit 3 Treecreeper 5 Chaffinch 3 Nuthatch 1 Long Tailed Tit 3 Common Tern 2 Moorhen 2 Black Headed Gull 2 Swallow 4
Jeff Gorse said
Wed May 24 1:57 PM, 2017
Crack-of-dawn walk round one of my favourite places. Not as much of note as recent weeks however highlights were :-
Tawny owl in the trees at the Rufford Hide. 2 x great crested grebe, 1 x shoveler and the usual mallard, shelduck and Canada goose mix on the water. 3 x common terns now on the floating platforms best viewed from Ainscough's.
Plenty of birdsong of course, great spotted woodpecker, chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap, reed warbler and whitethroat all in good voice.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 24th of May 2017 02:15:30 PM
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Mar 19 8:02 PM, 2017
First visit here today, very windy, but a nice place. Bittern was last seen on Wednesday, apparently, so no joy there, but still lots to see. Highlights:
Goldcrest, wren nest building, several singing chiffchaff, coal tit, treecreeper, siskin, goldfinch, bullfinch, redwing, song thrush, mistle thrush, jay. 1 great spotted woodpecker 2 kingfisher 2 stock dove 3 red-legged partridge Moorhen and coot displaying and mating. c35 teal 11+ gadwall 49+ shoveler c30 tufted duck 6 pochard 4 goldeneye 1 goosander 2 shelduck (four others over) 2 mute swan displaying 5 little grebe, a couple displaying. 6 great crested grebe, two in the early stages of nest building. 1 or 2 grey heron 29 cormorant (including one dead in a tree) 1 sparrowhawk (a fabulous male) 2 buzzard
Richard Thew said
Sat Feb 11 5:36 PM, 2017
Not been here for a good number of years.... until now. Weather was dull and bitterly cold sat in the hides. I'm surprised I managed to reach 48 species today with 2 others heardĀ but not seen (which were treecreeper and redpoll). Top highlight was a bittern from the Rufford hide. I was the only one to see it in the morning and several enjoyed it with me again after my walk-about. The 2nd viewing he was fluffed up in an aggressive posture and kept jumping on the spot and what I can only describe as dancing. This behaviour surprised us all in the hide as it wasn't expected (he stayed within the reeds at all times though). Other highlights were little egret, female goosander close, siskin, fieldfares, 2 shellducks, kestrel (f), kingfisher and red legged partridge. Now for home to have a much needed hot cup of tea!!
John Williams said
Sat Sep 17 10:02 PM, 2016
16.00-17.30
Canada Geese massed on the main pool. Also 5 Lapwings, 3 Little Grebes and 1 Grey Heron. In front of the Rufford Hide 2 Teal appeared cosy in front the sluice, where feathers, (Mainly Canada Geese),
about an inch deep floated on water surface. The ducks appeared to be floating on a duvet, it would of made a great photo.
A Coal Tit and a Nuthatch were on the feeders. Mere End pool held 1 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Pochards.
Steve Judge said
Sat Jun 27 10:57 PM, 2015
Saturday 27th June 2015. Circuit of Mere Sands Wood after visiting Rufford Old Hall and Gardens
Sedge Warbler x 2 (next to Leeds Liverpool Canal behind Rufford Old Hall) Common Tern, Swallows and Goldfinch (above Leeds Liverpool Canal in same spot)
Mere Sands Wood:
Adult Common Terns with at least five chicks (on two rafts) Bullfinch (1 Female) Chiffchaff Kestrel being chased off by two Lapwings Shelduck Oystercatcher Widgeon x 3 Sedge Warbler (heard) Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Moorhen Coot and chicks Canada Geese and chicks Mallards Grey Heron Jackdaws Carrion Crow Robin Coal Tit Dunnock Nuthatch Blue Tit Great Tit Tufted Duck Blackbirds Black Headed Gulls
On way home on M62 near Birchwood - Buzzard overhead
Butterflies: Speckled Wood x lots Small Tortoisehell
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 27th of June 2015 11:01:09 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 27th of June 2015 11:04:24 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 27th of June 2015 11:13:31 PM
Jon Bowen said
Sun Mar 29 5:13 PM, 2015
Great morning yesterday in amongst the showers, with the highlight the ringing demonstration by the SW Lancs Ringers.
Birds around the reserve included 7 Sand Martin 6 Chiffchaff Sparrowhawk Kingfisher Great Spotted Woodpecker Goldcrest Treecreeper Nuthatch Water Rail most of the duck species present along with the commoner woodland birds
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Thu Mar 5 9:13 PM, 2015
Great view of 1 Water Rail next to the centre. Goldeneye 1m 1f. Goosander 2f. Teal Pochard Tufted Duck Gadwall Shelduck Mallard Cormorant Tree Sparrows 5 Bullfinch 1m 1f. Song Thrush 1 on bird table. Coal Tit 1 etc.etc.
Kristian Wade said
Tue Feb 17 5:14 PM, 2015
Great day here today from 11:30am - 3pm
Went round all of the hides (I never knew there were that many)
Also, 2 Whooper swans in a vegetable field just outside the reserve.
Jon Bowen said
Sun Jan 18 8:20 PM, 2015
Another part of today's bird race. Plenty of good woodland birds, highlights being 5 Goosander ( 2m 3f) Great views of Water Rail under the feeder on the way into the visitors centre Pochard Bullfinch Goldfinch Great Spotted Woodpecker
David Duncan said
Tue May 6 4:36 PM, 2014
First visit in well over a year yesterday, Highlights being a treecreeper, good numbers of long tailed tit, 2 great crested grebes, a little grebe and good numbers of jay all over the reserve, particularly at the rufford hide where the jays harassed a roosting tawny owl into a brief flight across the water.
M Gannon said
Sun Feb 23 2:39 PM, 2014
Had a 15 minute check of the reserve. Sightings included:
Kestrel Pochard (1m) Comorant-4 Jay-4 Tufted duck-30 little grebe
Dave Higginson-Tranter said
Sun Feb 23 2:02 PM, 2014
38 species:- Robin; Jackdaw; Wood Pigeon; Pheasant; Bullfinch; Shelduck; Mallard; Teal; Moorhen; Little Grebe; Blue Tit; Reed Bunting; Dunnock; Chaffinch; Collared Dove; Great Tit; Goldfinch; Blackbird; Black Headed Gull; Magpie; Coot; Great Crested Grebe; Gadwall; Long Tailed Tit; Buzzard; Stock Dove; Pink Footed Goose; Canada Goose; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Moorhen; Oystercatcher; Shoveler; Cormorant; Carrion Crow; Nuthatch; Goosander + Great Spotted Woodpecker and Greenfinch on call.
Fungalpunk Dave - www.fungalpunknature.co.uk
John Williams said
Fri Apr 19 2:55 AM, 2013
14.00-16.00
With a strong Southerly wind blowing clouds of fine soil from the mosses across the reserve the walk around the mere was difficult.
A beige cloud ripped through the reserve, and everyone I spoke to had sore eyes, thankfully the Rhododendron thickets gave some shelter, I never thought I'd be glad to see the stuff.
Despite the tumbleweed, masses of Swallows and Sand Martins were swooping across the mere, and with them 3 House Martins.
Also on the main mere were a pair of Great Crested Grebes, 4 Little Grebes, 12 Shoveler, a pair of Herring Gulls and an adult Great Black Back Gull, plus Teal, Feral Geese etc,.
By the Rufford hide 3 Willow Warblers and a Goldcrest were flitting through the low branches.
In front of the Cyril Gibbons hide amorous Common Toads were spawning in profusion, anyone with a camera could of got some stunning shots.
Mark Battersby said
Tue Mar 19 5:23 PM, 2013
Great close-up views to be had of cormorants, herons, GC grebes, Goldeneye and female red-breasted mergansers around the lakes at the moment. GS woodpeckers, nuthatches and treecreepers in the woods. Reed Buntings, Bullfinches, various tits an and a water rail around the feeders at the back of the visitors centre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76345032@N04/
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 19th of March 2013 07:52:12 PM
Dennis atherton said
Sun Feb 10 3:15 AM, 2013
Water rail giving prolonged views again today at the hide behind the visitors center
Kev Topping said
Sun Jan 6 11:56 PM, 2013
Mere sands today was all the usual, water rail showing well again, plus c12 fieldfare behing rufford hide
Martyn Jones said
Fri Dec 7 5:35 AM, 2012
A rather grey day at MSW but at last I got a good view and photos of a Water Rail. Here's today's list:
Water Rail - superb views for photographs from Lancaster Hide Brambling - only a brief glimpse at the visitor centre Reed Bunting - great to see lots of them in the reed beds Jay Nuthatch Great Spotted Woodpecker Chaffinch Bullfinch Greenfinch Tree Sparrow Blue Tit Great Tit Coal Tit Long-tailed Tit Dunnock Robin - loads of them being very aggressive with each other Starling Woodpigeon - a good few thousand in a single flock Blackbird Magpie Carrion Crow Teal - a good few hundred on the frozen water - never seen so many Goosander - five or six males circling the water, landing and taking off again Cormorant Great Crested Grebe Mallard Coot Moorhen Pheasant Kestrel - over nearby field 3 rats 1 rabbit 1 grey squirrel
Paul Richardson said
Thu Nov 29 4:01 AM, 2012
Cracking afternoon at MSW today - full-on views of the Water Rail from Lancaster hide and massive photo-ops.
Wanted to see one properly for such a long time - apart from a brief glimpse at Leighton Moss, nil till today. Well chuffed!
Otherwise not so much on view, but a glorious late Autumn day.
The Peet family said
Wed May 16 4:55 AM, 2012
What birds are you likely to get at the feeder? Also, are the birds close enough (e.g. tree sparrows) for a 150mm - or will I need a 300mm?
Thanks in advance, Adam (aged 13)
Frank Whitney said
Sun Apr 29 12:18 AM, 2012
Have to work on my ironic comment icon or remember question mark
-- Edited by Frank Whitney on Sunday 29th of April 2012 12:19:42 AM
John Williams said
Sat Apr 28 8:55 PM, 2012
08.45-11.00
5 Swallows and a single Sand Martin over main mere.
3prs GC Grebe, 1pr + 1 L.grebe ( both sp. feasting on sticklebacks)
Yep, know what you mean Frank, as I said I'm not a big fan either
Raymond Ashcroft said
Thu Mar 8 1:49 AM, 2012
Like Sid got good views of the Water Rail and one of the Bitterns. Also 30+ Tree Sparrows round the feeders near Lancaster Hide, Nuthatches on the feeding table near Redwing Hide Plus 9 Goosander on main lake.
The cold didn't seem to have detered the birds but had put off the Photographers - most hides empty and only 3 people in Rufford Hide so managed to get immediate views of the Bittern.
Frank Whitney said
Wed Mar 7 8:41 PM, 2012
Not a fan of Mere Sands Wood
Frank
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/
-- Edited by Frank Whitney on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 08:42:49 PM
sid ashton said
Wed Mar 7 5:27 PM, 2012
Never been a big fan of Mere Sands Wood but, like other forum members, had really good views this afternoon of two of the Bitterns and a Water Rail as well as a perched female Sparrowhawk.
Plenty of Reed Buntings, House and Tree Sparrows around the reception area feeding station.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 8th of March 2012 03:57:28 PM
Chris Greene said
Mon Mar 5 5:20 PM, 2012
Return visit today 11:00-14:00... Beautiful sunny day,a bit on the chilly side though. Water rails still showing unbelievably well,regularly coming to seed tray in front of Lancaster hide. Bitterns also showing really well from the Rufford hide,very busy though,full of mostly polite and considerate photographers Good numbers of shelduck,shovellers,gadwall etc. At least two pairs of displaying great crested grebe,plus little grebes. Plenty of reed bunting,bullfinch and tree sparrows at feeding station. Large numbers( 150+) of pied wagtails,feeding on adjacent fields.
Cheers Chris
-- Edited by Chris Greene on Monday 5th of March 2012 06:44:50 PM
Eric Finch said
Wed Feb 29 3:38 AM, 2012
Visited the reserve for the first time in quite a while - enjoyed the walk around and anticipation of possibly seeing a bittern and maybe even photographing one. The excitement of seeing one out in the open, within seconds of entering the hide was soon diminished by the realisation that I could not get anywhere near a position to photograph it, as that section of the hide was already "busy" with some other guys with serious camera kit.
Fair enough, I thought to myself, and opted to wait close to an hour, in the hope space may present itself. For most of this time, one of the photographers seemed intent on keeping his back to the bird, which had continued to move further away from the hide over the period I was there. I wasn't alone in waiting, but maybe less patient than others - how long should you have ot wait?!
Came away chuffed at good views, but no real decent opportunity to rest my lens up and snap a few clean, albeit distant shots.
Chris Greene said
Wed Feb 29 3:04 AM, 2012
Flying visit this afternoon, Best views ever of water rails,regularly coming to the seed tray,directly in front of the hide near the visitor centre... Didn't have time to look for the bitterns,but was informed that there are probably three birds present. Also, plenty of shelduck,G.C.grebes displaying,and usual waterfowl.
Cheers Chris
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Feb 28 8:33 PM, 2012
Eric Finch wrote:
Visited the reserve for the first time in quite a while - enjoyed the walk around and anticipation of possibly seeing a bittern and maybe even photographing one. The excitement of seeing one out in the open, within seconds of entering the hide was soon diminished by the realisation that I could not get anywhere near a position to photograph it, as that section of the hide was already "busy" with some other guys with serious camera kit.
Fair enough, I thought to myself, and opted to wait close to an hour, in the hope space may present itself. For most of this time, one of the photographers seemed intent on keeping his back to the bird, which had continued to move further away from the hide over the period I was there. I wasn't alone in waiting, but maybe less patient than others - how long should you have ot wait?!
Came away chuffed at good views, but no real decent opportunity to rest my lens up and snap a few clean, albeit distant shots.
Its a shame that and has a photographer,i would not have left anyone waiting for an hour,everyone should be a bit more thoughtfull and work out how long is fair,in the situation at mere sands id say they should rotate every 30 mins at least to allow others,but as we all know some will not give up thier place as a better picture is more important to them than being bothered about others,its a selfish thing to do,it is becoming an issue when stuff like these bitterns pop up close to hides. Its shamefull really,better luck if you go again
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 28th of February 2012 08:50:43 PM
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Feb 27 9:04 AM, 2012
Two Bitterns showing ridiculously well from two sides of Rufford hide giving a all a proper show this morning. Also 10 Goosanders, Jay on front of the hide and 2 Herons being severely mobbed by BH Gulls.
Frank Whitney said
Sat Feb 18 10:50 PM, 2012
Bittern showing well for most of the afternoon, Great Crested Grebes displaying,Little Grebe plenty of Goosanders one Snipe ,Jay ,Grey Heron, Wigeon ,Teal, Shoveler , Shelduck , Goldeneye plus all the usual common woodland birds and Short Eared Owls just around the corner
Frank http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 18th of February 2012 11:16:11 PM
Darren carr said
Sat Feb 18 1:15 AM, 2012
Bittern showing from the rufford hide around 1pm today
Jon Bowen said
Fri Feb 17 6:05 PM, 2012
Bittern showing directly in front of the Rufford hide up to 4.45. Was informed by those gents who were there before me that there are definitely two still about although I was happy to see just the one
-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Friday 17th of February 2012 06:06:42 PM
Gordon Cottle said
Wed Feb 15 12:40 AM, 2012
2 bitterns today
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 12 3:53 PM, 2011
Originally posted by Sean Sweeney today:
Can't seem to reply to the older threads previously set up for this lovely nature reserve, so thought I set a new one up. Apologies if I've missed a reason for this Ian, but I'm sure you'll put it right if it needs be. The reserve is such a lovely place and to be fair, if it were in GM it would certainly get its own thread and I certainly plan to go back again soon.
Anyway, I've not been for over 15 years, so was nice to have a morning to stroll around in the brief sunshine that was about yesterday between about 9am and midday to get away from a busy couple of weeks in the office. Only thing about visiting on a Friday is the visitor centre is closed, so no access to the scrape hide or the feeders, but managed to see lots of the feeder birds in surrounding trees and scrub.
It offers a different type of habitat to the surrounding flat agricultural and fairly treeless landscape, with mature stands of both deciduous and conifer trees with open understory, large and small areas of open water, some with reed fringed edges and mossy/peaty patches with islands and suitable hide aways for the shyer species.
Around the visitor centre; Brambling 8 Siskin 40+ Redpoll 20+ Tree Sparrow 20+ Bullfinch 2 Redwing 2
Other Forested areas; GS Woodpecker 2 Treecreeper 1 Nuthatch 6+ Jay 3 Red-legged Partridge (in neighbouring field) Coal Tit 4 Buzzard 3
All in all a lovely place to have a stroll with very few people about and only one other person in any of the 7-8 hides I popped in to. I look forward to another visit in a month or so when the woods are full of the songs from the arriving migrants and the scrape might produce a few waders on passage! .
Gary Gorner said
Sun Feb 22 5:47 PM, 2009
saturday
couldnt resist having another go for the crossbills and wasnt disappointed 4 showing very well 1 male 3 female. look for the falling cones down the meadow trail also a first for me on this site was a little owl kindly pointed out by one of the local birders. 6 red legged partidge in farmers field with 1 mistle thrush. highlight for me was watching a sparrow hawk chasing a green sandpiper which managed to escape and flew off high towards martin mere.Also from the marshall hide 6 goosander,shoveller,teal, little grebe,great crested grebe,4 goldeneye 3 male 1 female doing some head throwing. on the feeders managed 1 siskin ,tree sparrows,green bull and chaffinch + all the usual tits.
Gary Gorner said
Sat Feb 14 6:02 PM, 2009
quick visit this afternoon 2 siskin 20+ tree sparrows,3 great spotted woodpeckers 2 nuthatch,red legged partridge and redwings in the fields but best of all 4 crossbill 1 stonking male but only viewed for about a minute as the birds flew deeper into the pines , didnt go chasing after them so as not to alarm them but well worth the sore neck and a lifer for me ,tickety tick
sid ashton said
Mon Feb 9 1:08 PM, 2009
Last Thursday I reported having seen 3 Crossbills at Meresands Wood on the Martin Mere/Marshside thread - the wardens reported having had 6 earlier in the week. The ones I saw were high in the pines and very hard to spot eh Ms Oxley?
Nevertheless it's worth paying Meresands a visit for a wander round and a stiff neck!!!!. There's usually a fair selection and who knows we may even get another Night Heron.
Dean Macdonald said
Tue Mar 25 5:24 PM, 2008
Tues 25 march.
Pair of Garganey from Lancaster hide(the one behind the visitor centre)
Visit yesterday in heavy rain, easing off towards the end.
2 gadwall (pair), 2 great crested grebe (pair), tufted duck,
5 Shelduck, 1 on the reserve and 4 on the field near car park with Canada geese and pheasants.
Great spotted woodpecker flushed when nearly stood on, I assume taking cover from the rain.
3 collared doves,
Reed bunting,
Black headed gulls and a Canada goose nesting on the same platform with a black headed gull not tolerating, repeatedly dive-bombing the nesting goose and making lots of noise as the rain eased.
At least 6 cormorants including large juveniles circling in the air.
Bit late in the day to post this but on the 24th of December I managed to do an early morning trip and the highlights were a Mediterranean Gull adult in winter plumage flying over and a Cetti's Warbler calling. Both are reserve firsts for me. A Song Thrush was also in song. Minimum of 10 Blackbirds around. I did not see the Great White Egret which was knocking about. It would have also been a reserve first. Not many places you see the usual dabbling ducks in winter with Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and Goosander in lowland Lancashire? Is this combination unique to Mere Sands Wood? Nearby Martin Mere and even Marshside lack Goosander mostly I think?
Morning walk in cool and largely overcast conditions. Chiffchaffs singing throughout the reserve and great spotted woodpecker drumming. Male goldeneye on Mere End Lake. 2 x little egret in the ploughed fields north of the reserve along with large numbers of shelduck.
Morning walk in bright but cold conditions. Signs of spring though as besides the snowdrops much bird activity - singing dunnocks, nuthatch, blue and great tits, chaffinches and a pair of bullfinch. Also two separate great spotted woodpeckers drumming.
A pair of oystercatcher in fields on the edge of the wood, also 6 fieldfare. A further pair of oystercatcher on the main mere along with 6 pairs of shelduck, 4 x goosander, 8 x cormorant, good numbers of shoveler, tufted duck and mallard and smaller numbers of teal.
2 x buzzard.
Visit in bright but bitter conditions this morning. Highlights :-
4 x little egret on the main mere, also here 4x goosander and 10 x cormorant. Large numbers of shoveler, the huge teal flocks of early winter seem to have thinned out noticeably.
2 x bullfinch on the visitor centre feeders, also much nuthatch activity in the trees around the car park.
Main Mere : 2m Goosanders, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Great Crested Grebes+ lots of Teal and Shoveler.
Woodland : 1 Treecreeper, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Kestrel
Mere End Pool : 2 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall + lots of Teal, Shoveler, Mallard and Tufted Ducks.
No sign of any Pochard or Little Grebes throughout, but masses of Teal, with one local birder advising that he had not seen so many here for years.
Late morning / lunchtime walk in cold and at times showery conditions. Sightings included :-
8 x goosander (5 x male) on the main mere along with substantial numbers of teal, smaller quantities of shoveler, tufted duck, mallard, 2x pochard. Also grey heron, 2 x cormorant and 3x Canada goose. Kingfisher flying across front of Redwing Hide.
Pheasant, 1x nuthatch, great tit and coal tit on the feeding station at the visitor centre. 2x nuthatch, 3x robin, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, house sparrow and dunnock on the woodland feeding station.
Great spotted woodpecker calling in the woods.
Afternoon visit just before the rain set in. Teams of volunteers putting in some hard work with Ian in sprucing up the meadow and woods. Sightings included :-
Sparrowhawk whipping through the feeding station putting the robins, blue, great and coal tits to flight.
Three lesser black-backed gulls amongst the black-headed gulls gathering on the mere.
Morning visit in dare-I-say-it almost autumnal conditions today 7-11am. Overnight mothtrapping had produced 17 species plus a toad, evidence of how damp things had been!
Bird highlights :-
Blackcap, chiffchaff, family groups of blue, long-tailed and great tit, coal tit on the feeding station along with robin family. 4x great spotted woodpecker, jays.
Pair of red-legged partridge and another pair with eight well-grown young on the surrounding farmland.
Shelduck, gadwall, teal and tufted duck on the mere, also well-grown young common tern testing out its wings on the raft, a lesser black-backed gull in occupation of the other raft.
Mainly common birds seen , but plenty of them .Birds seen as follows .
Mallard 10
Wood Pigeon 6
Coot 5
Common Buzzard 1
Carrion Crow 7
House Martin 3
Magpie 4
Robin 8
Blackbird 7
Garden Warbler 1
Great Crested Grebe 4
Shelduck 10
Canada Goose 6
Blue Tit 3
Treecreeper 5
Chaffinch 3
Nuthatch 1
Long Tailed Tit 3
Common Tern 2
Moorhen 2
Black Headed Gull 2
Swallow 4
Crack-of-dawn walk round one of my favourite places. Not as much of note as recent weeks however highlights were :-
Tawny owl in the trees at the Rufford Hide. 2 x great crested grebe, 1 x shoveler and the usual mallard, shelduck and Canada goose mix on the water. 3 x common terns now on the floating platforms best viewed from Ainscough's.
Plenty of birdsong of course, great spotted woodpecker, chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap, reed warbler and whitethroat all in good voice.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 24th of May 2017 02:15:30 PM
Goldcrest, wren nest building, several singing chiffchaff, coal tit, treecreeper, siskin, goldfinch, bullfinch, redwing, song thrush, mistle thrush, jay.
1 great spotted woodpecker
2 kingfisher
2 stock dove
3 red-legged partridge
Moorhen and coot displaying and mating.
c35 teal
11+ gadwall
49+ shoveler
c30 tufted duck
6 pochard
4 goldeneye
1 goosander
2 shelduck (four others over)
2 mute swan displaying
5 little grebe, a couple displaying.
6 great crested grebe, two in the early stages of nest building.
1 or 2 grey heron
29 cormorant (including one dead in a tree)
1 sparrowhawk (a fabulous male)
2 buzzard
Canada Geese massed on the main pool. Also 5 Lapwings, 3 Little Grebes and 1 Grey Heron. In front of the Rufford Hide 2 Teal appeared cosy in front the sluice, where feathers, (Mainly Canada Geese),
about an inch deep floated on water surface. The ducks appeared to be floating on a duvet, it would of made a great photo.
A Coal Tit and a Nuthatch were on the feeders. Mere End pool held 1 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Pochards.
Sedge Warbler x 2 (next to Leeds Liverpool Canal behind Rufford Old Hall)
Common Tern, Swallows and Goldfinch (above Leeds Liverpool Canal in same spot)
Mere Sands Wood:
Adult Common Terns with at least five chicks (on two rafts)
Bullfinch (1 Female)
Chiffchaff
Kestrel being chased off by two Lapwings
Shelduck
Oystercatcher
Widgeon x 3
Sedge Warbler (heard)
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Moorhen
Coot and chicks
Canada Geese and chicks
Mallards
Grey Heron
Jackdaws
Carrion Crow
Robin
Coal Tit
Dunnock
Nuthatch
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Tufted Duck
Blackbirds
Black Headed Gulls
On way home on M62 near Birchwood - Buzzard overhead
Butterflies:
Speckled Wood x lots
Small Tortoisehell
Damselflies:
Four-spotted Chaser
Blue-Tailed Damselfly
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 27th of June 2015 11:01:09 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 27th of June 2015 11:04:24 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 27th of June 2015 11:13:31 PM
Birds around the reserve included
7 Sand Martin
6 Chiffchaff
Sparrowhawk
Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Goldcrest
Treecreeper
Nuthatch
Water Rail
most of the duck species present along with the commoner woodland birds
Goldeneye 1m 1f.
Goosander 2f.
Teal
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
Shelduck
Mallard
Cormorant
Tree Sparrows 5
Bullfinch 1m 1f.
Song Thrush 1 on bird table.
Coal Tit 1
etc.etc.
Went round all of the hides (I never knew there were that many)
35 Species seen, the best of which were:
1 Goldcrest
3 Goldfinch
1 Tree Sparrow
1 Song Thrush
3 Buzzards
1 Shelduck
1 Cormorant
2 Little Egrets
23 Teal
15 Tufted Ducks
4 Shoveler
2 Goosander (both female)
8 Gadwall
3 Great-Crested Grebes
2 Grey Herons
Also, 2 Whooper swans in a vegetable field just outside the reserve.
Plenty of good woodland birds, highlights being
5 Goosander ( 2m 3f)
Great views of Water Rail under the feeder on the way into the visitors centre
Pochard
Bullfinch
Goldfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Kestrel
Pochard (1m)
Comorant-4
Jay-4
Tufted duck-30
little grebe
Fungalpunk Dave - www.fungalpunknature.co.uk
With a strong Southerly wind blowing clouds of fine soil from the mosses across the reserve the walk around the mere was difficult.
A beige cloud ripped through the reserve, and everyone I spoke to had sore eyes, thankfully the Rhododendron thickets gave some shelter, I never thought I'd be glad to see the stuff.
Despite the tumbleweed, masses of Swallows and Sand Martins were swooping across the mere, and with them 3 House Martins.
Also on the main mere were a pair of Great Crested Grebes, 4 Little Grebes, 12 Shoveler, a pair of Herring Gulls and an adult Great Black Back Gull, plus Teal, Feral Geese etc,.
By the Rufford hide 3 Willow Warblers and a Goldcrest were flitting through the low branches.
In front of the Cyril Gibbons hide amorous Common Toads were spawning in profusion, anyone with a camera could of got some stunning shots.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76345032@N04/
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 19th of March 2013 07:52:12 PM
Water Rail - superb views for photographs from Lancaster Hide
Brambling - only a brief glimpse at the visitor centre
Reed Bunting - great to see lots of them in the reed beds
Jay
Nuthatch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Greenfinch
Tree Sparrow
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Dunnock
Robin - loads of them being very aggressive with each other
Starling
Woodpigeon - a good few thousand in a single flock
Blackbird
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Teal - a good few hundred on the frozen water - never seen so many
Goosander - five or six males circling the water, landing and taking off again
Cormorant
Great Crested Grebe
Mallard
Coot
Moorhen
Pheasant
Kestrel - over nearby field
3 rats
1 rabbit
1 grey squirrel
Wanted to see one properly for such a long time - apart from a brief glimpse at Leighton Moss, nil till today. Well chuffed!
Otherwise not so much on view, but a glorious late Autumn day.
Also, are the birds close enough (e.g. tree sparrows) for a 150mm - or will I need a 300mm?
Thanks in advance,
Adam (aged 13)
-- Edited by Frank Whitney on Sunday 29th of April 2012 12:19:42 AM
5 Swallows and a single Sand Martin over main mere.
3prs GC Grebe, 1pr + 1 L.grebe ( both sp. feasting on sticklebacks)
1pr Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing, 1pr Teal, 3 broods Mallard.
Lots of Canada Geese & 6 Greylags.
Steady passage of LBB Gulls northward.
Feeding Station
6 Tree Sparrow & Moorhen with 4 tiny young.
Only squirrels were Greys
Also 30+ Tree Sparrows round the feeders near Lancaster Hide,
Nuthatches on the feeding table near Redwing Hide Plus 9 Goosander on main lake.
The cold didn't seem to have detered the birds but had put off the Photographers
Frank
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/
-- Edited by Frank Whitney on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 08:42:49 PM
Plenty of Reed Buntings, House and Tree Sparrows around the reception area feeding station.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 8th of March 2012 03:57:28 PM
Beautiful sunny day,a bit on the chilly side though.
Water rails still showing unbelievably well,regularly coming to seed tray in front of Lancaster hide.
Bitterns also showing really well from the Rufford hide,very busy though,full of mostly polite and considerate photographers
Good numbers of shelduck,shovellers,gadwall etc.
At least two pairs of displaying great crested grebe,plus little grebes.
Plenty of reed bunting,bullfinch and tree sparrows at feeding station.
Large numbers( 150+) of pied wagtails,feeding on adjacent fields.
Cheers Chris
-- Edited by Chris Greene on Monday 5th of March 2012 06:44:50 PM
Fair enough, I thought to myself, and opted to wait close to an hour, in the hope space may present itself. For most of this time, one of the photographers seemed intent on keeping his back to the bird, which had continued to move further away from the hide over the period I was there. I wasn't alone in waiting, but maybe less patient than others - how long should you have ot wait?!
Came away chuffed at good views, but no real decent opportunity to rest my lens up and snap a few clean, albeit distant shots.
Best views ever of water rails
Didn't have time to look for the bitterns,but was informed that there are probably three birds present.
Also, plenty of shelduck,G.C.grebes displaying,and usual waterfowl.
Cheers Chris
Its a shame that and has a photographer,i would not have left anyone waiting for an hour,everyone should be a bit more thoughtfull and work out how long is fair,in the situation at mere sands id say they should rotate every 30 mins at least to allow others,but as we all know some will not give up thier place as a better picture is more important to them than being bothered about others,its a selfish thing to do,it is becoming an issue when stuff like these bitterns pop up close to hides. Its shamefull really,better luck if you go again
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 28th of February 2012 08:50:43 PM
Frank
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 18th of February 2012 11:16:11 PM
-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Friday 17th of February 2012 06:06:42 PM
Can't seem to reply to the older threads previously set up for this lovely nature reserve, so thought I set a new one up. Apologies if I've missed a reason for this Ian, but I'm sure you'll put it right if it needs be. The reserve is such a lovely place and to be fair, if it were in GM it would certainly get its own thread and I certainly plan to go back again soon.
Anyway, I've not been for over 15 years, so was nice to have a morning to stroll around in the brief sunshine that was about yesterday between about 9am and midday to get away from a busy couple of weeks in the office. Only thing about visiting on a Friday is the visitor centre is closed, so no access to the scrape hide or the feeders, but managed to see lots of the feeder birds in surrounding trees and scrub.
It offers a different type of habitat to the surrounding flat agricultural and fairly treeless landscape, with mature stands of both deciduous and conifer trees with open understory, large and small areas of open water, some with reed fringed edges and mossy/peaty patches with islands and suitable hide aways for the shyer species.
Around the visitor centre;
Brambling 8
Siskin 40+
Redpoll 20+
Tree Sparrow 20+
Bullfinch 2
Redwing 2
Other Forested areas;
GS Woodpecker 2
Treecreeper 1
Nuthatch 6+
Jay 3
Red-legged Partridge (in neighbouring field)
Coal Tit 4
Buzzard 3
Water Bodies:
Little Grebe 2
GC Grebe 14+
Wigoen 8
Teal 100+
Tufted Duck 50+
Shoveller 1 (male)
Gadwall 14+
Goosander 1 (female)
Cormarant 20+
Goldeneye 2+
All in all a lovely place to have a stroll with very few people about and only one other person in any of the 7-8 hides I popped in to. I look forward to another visit in a month or so when the woods are full of the songs from the arriving migrants and the scrape might produce a few waders on passage!
couldnt resist having another go for the crossbills and wasnt disappointed 4 showing very well 1 male 3 female. look for the falling cones down the meadow trail also a first for me on this site was a little owl kindly pointed out by one of the local birders. 6 red legged partidge in farmers field with 1 mistle thrush. highlight for me was watching a sparrow hawk chasing a green sandpiper which managed to escape and flew off high towards martin mere.Also from the marshall hide 6 goosander,shoveller,teal, little grebe,great crested grebe,4 goldeneye 3 male 1 female doing some head throwing.
on the feeders managed 1 siskin ,tree sparrows,green bull and chaffinch + all the usual tits.
Nevertheless it's worth paying Meresands a visit for a wander round and a stiff neck!!!!. There's usually a fair selection and who knows we may even get another Night Heron.
Tues 25 march.
Pair of Garganey from Lancaster hide(the one behind the visitor centre)
Usual other stuff, and found a Treecreepers nest.
Cheers Dean.