BEEN TWICE THIS WEEK AND LOOKED FOR KATES BEAVER BOTH TIMENOTHING BUT A LOAD OF ROTTING APPLES AND GRASSTHINK ITS ONE WAY OF GETTING THE MERE PUBLICITY
Didn't get a good enough view to confirm Turtle Dove. The Beavers are a new addition to the "collection" in the wildfowl gardens. Would've been nice to have a look at them but they weren't showing. I suspect they will be the stars of the show on "Autumn watch" Oh no! I can hear it now "Lets get the latest on Kate's Beaver"
Sounds like a good day Dean. Turtle Dove at Martin Mere, in fact in north west England is a rarity these days although before I was birding theye used to breed around the lowlands of Lancashire in small numbers. Beavers at Martin Mere is this a new thing, never seen them. Have to have look at them next time I go.
HI DEAN-WAS GOING TO GO TO THE MERE TODAY AFTER A GOOD DAY THERE ON MONDAY,BUT FINALLY GAVE IN TO THE RAIN AFTER THE WETEST SUMMER HOLIDAY WEEK I CAN REMEMBER,I WORK ALL YEAR FOR THESE SUMMER WEEKS SO ITS A REAL LET DOWN WHEN ALL PLANS FALL APART,ONLY GOOD DAY OUT WAS THE MERE MONDAY,AND A FEW GOOD HOURS AT THE FLASH TUES/WED.WAS GOING TO GO TO THE GREAT ORME TUES AND INGLEBOROUGH IN YORKSHIRE THURS .BUT GAVE IN TO THE RAIN.THE MERES ALWAYS A GOOD BOLT HOLE,AND WORTH GOING FOR THE CLOSE UPS OF GREEN SAND ,WHICH I PHOTOGRPHED AS YOU KNOW MONDAY
Heavy rain so empty hides, never saw another soul all afternoon. 4 Green Sandpipers right in front of Swan Link hide along with a Common Sandpiper. When you see them together they are unmistakable. The Green's are a stunning bird close up. A few Black Tailed Godwits in all their summer splendour. Loads of young Shellduck. Severel Tufted Duck with young. And great to see Little Grebes feeding young, aggresive little birds, took no nonsense from the Coots. Watched a young Cormorant diving in front of the harrier hide along with a drenched male Pheasant(not diving! but it might as well have done). Good flocks of Lapwing in the distant fields. Couple of Great Crested Grebe, 1 Redshank, The feeding station was full of young Goldfinch,Greenfinch,Chaffinch and Tits, and some wierd looking young Robins with bits of red on their breasts and a Moorhen preening not 5 feet away. Moorhens have amazing legs and feet, bright lime green and this one had red markings that made it look like it was bleeding down it's legs. A Wood Pigeon was sat on a fence seemingly enjoying getting soaked. A Sedge Warbler sang very briefly. A Heron took flight and was mobbed by a couple of Lapwing, must've had young nearby. It was one of those days to enjoy the joy of the common birds rather than searching for rarities Went to look at the Beavers, well we looked at the Beaver enclosure, no sign of any but some nice posters telling everyone they are mainly nocturnal
Oh and i think i saw a Turtle Dove on the way back reception.
THINK ITS ONE WAY OF GETTING THE MERE PUBLICITY
WAS GOING TO GO TO THE GREAT ORME TUES AND INGLEBOROUGH IN YORKSHIRE THURS .BUT GAVE IN TO THE RAIN.THE MERES ALWAYS A GOOD BOLT HOLE,AND WORTH GOING FOR THE CLOSE UPS OF GREEN SAND ,WHICH I PHOTOGRPHED AS YOU KNOW MONDAY