I didn't really visit again until I could drive seven or eight years later, and since then I have visited more or less every year. As with any reserve some visits are great, some are average and some are...forgettable. This time of year is when I would be expecting a good day, and thankfully, my visit today was on the good side of average even though the weather was distinctly not.
The view from the Ron Barker hide this morning: Grim.
As always, I headed straight for the old Millers Bridge Hide, now called the Ron Barker hide. I guess its a habit that links back to that very first visit and today, incredibly, was an almost exact replica of that day 35 years ago. As I walked in to the top level of the hide, there in front of me, less than 50 metres away was a cream capped Marsh Harrier! Sadly I wasn't quick enough with the camera. It wasn't the only one though, a total of four were seen, and I had three in view at the same time at one point. Sadly all bit distant for the camera though. I really must get some sort of digiscope attachment.
Masses of Pink-footed Geese were moving onto and around the reserve along with plenty of Whooper Swans which are here in bigger numbers than those seen by the Autumn watch crew at WWT Caerlaverock recently. As always Teal were here in their hundreds and I grilled every one checking for a Green-winged, ultimately without success. Another birder informed me that one had been present which just annoyed me as I couldn't find it!
Whooper Swan
After an hour or so I moved round to the other hides overlooking the main mere. I always find this a bit of a strange experience as its difficult to keep in mind that the birds here are wild. The feeding encourages birds to within feet of the hides and its not just the ubiquitous Mallard. Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Pochard. All down to a few feet away. What was obvious today was the lack of the latter species, reflecting the recent news that Pochard populations seem to be crashing. I always remember the Mere being stuffed with this handsome diving duck. There was also good numbers of Ruff around the edges and quite a few Greylag Geese, a few of which were wearing neck collars.
The Mere, at Martin Mere
Thankfully my favourite and second favourite ducks were both present. Pintail, my second favourite, were around in small numbers but sadly too far away for a photo. My favourite duck did come close enough though!
Wigeon - males
Wigeon - male and female
Wigeon female -
The head shape of this species shown clearly here is something I find really useful in identifying distant birds.
I absolutely love Wigeon. It's my favourite duck. I love their plumage - both sexes are beautiful; the female is just so subtle and the combination of colours on the males is stunning - cream, chestnut, grey, black and white shouldn't really work though should it? I love their calls too. The whistle is evocative of coastal marshes and is a quintessential sound of winter on the coast, and the growl of the female always surprises me even though I know it well. I even love their shape. They just seem better proportioned than other ducks, and their head shape is so distinctive you can identify a wigeon miles away without any plumage detail being visible.
I finished the day with a visit to the Harrier Hide, which is always a disappointment for some reason, and today was no exception, and then onto the United Utilities Hide. This last hide provided no new day ticks, but I did get more excellent views of Marsh Harriers and Pink-feet before the rain came back and I decided to call it a day.
Martin Mere is a fantastic reserve. Well worth a visit, especially if you take in the wildfowl collection. For wild birds autumn and winter is best, in my opinion. I have yet to do one of the swans by floodlight events, but imagine that on its own would be worth the entry fee.
