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Martin Mere, Mere Sands and around the area (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter sleipnerofasgard
- Start date
nice pic al..c you soon.....!:t:
sleipnerofasgard
Well-known member
Started the day at Martin Mere for a couple of hours, not a lot of people about or anything unusual on the birding front so a stoat in front of the Harrier hide was a highlight. Later at Mere Sands somewhat similar, the two Terns appear to have vanished and so did the sun, a few Kingfisher fly byes and a Buzzard zipped through but the highlight looked like being an Orchid found near Tower Hide until i got back to the visitors centre only to be told that a Hobby had turned up at Rufford Hide:C where i had just come from, typical:-C Hi-Tailed it back round expecting it to have vanished but no, there it was hunting across the mere like a good un, result
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/
Frank
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/
Frank
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sleipnerofasgard
Well-known member
No Hobby today but the Kingfisher put in a brief stop during his many passes, apart from that the weather kept most people but, for we hardy souls, away, Flock of mixed birds in front of Rufford hide numbering around fifty, including LTT and BT with a few Chiffies in there too, Song Thrush nesting nearby, also present were a couple of Oystercatchers and Herons, Jays, still plenty of nest building going on around and a nice place to sit for seven hours with the wind and rain blowing up a hoolie, life is good, and a couple of GCG doing the mating dance while their earlier offspring is looking pretty independent mooching around:t:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/
Frank
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/
Frank
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Paul Jarvis
Registered Member
great shot mate, must have been some fantastic close views.
My wife's actually the photographer Paul ( though I sometimes manage to wrestle the camera away from her ) and she's also our driver . I just suggest places to visit and make the sandwiches !
Johnny1
Well-known member
We went on Tuesday and could still see the pile of feathers of the 3rd fledgeling, apparently it's 2 siblings had it for lunch after it died! No sign of any live Owls while we were there.
Paul Jarvis
Registered Member
that sounds like a good deal chaufer driven were ever the car goes LOL.
It's a shame that the third fledgling didn't survive . The owl that we saw was in the area of the heap of feathers so, fortunately, it looks like we just missed the feast ! And , Paul ,my wife is a total treasure ! (she also reads these threads so I daren't say anything else ) .
sleipnerofasgard
Well-known member
A recent fledging at Mere Sands has resulted in up to six Kingfishers flying around at the weekend, managed to spot two this morning in the drizzle, Cormorant and Lapwing numbers have taken an upward turn too looks like winter is on the way:-C
Frank
Frank
Johnny1
Well-known member
Always best to stay on the good side of "she who commands" hey.
Johnny1
Well-known member
What do readers think of Martin Mere's plan (it's under construction now) of constructing a new reed bed with the intention of having a "Canoe Safari"? Apparently visitors will be able to hire a canoe and paddle around the reed-bed starting in Spring 2011.
I always thought the idea of these reed-beds was to attract the rarer and shy birds such as Bittern? Surely people thrashing around in canoes will scare off any potential or exsisting breeders?
Now I could have my facts wrong here but as I understand it the new canoe trail will link up to the exsisting reed-beds. I won't mind too much if it's a separate attraction. There is a short article on the plans on the WWT website though I'd like to see more detailed plans on how this will effect the reserve and its birds.
I always thought the idea of these reed-beds was to attract the rarer and shy birds such as Bittern? Surely people thrashing around in canoes will scare off any potential or exsisting breeders?
Now I could have my facts wrong here but as I understand it the new canoe trail will link up to the exsisting reed-beds. I won't mind too much if it's a separate attraction. There is a short article on the plans on the WWT website though I'd like to see more detailed plans on how this will effect the reserve and its birds.
Have to agree with you Johnny...this idea certainly sounds misguided. We went to Parkgate for the high tide earlier in the year and there were a number of canoeists around...the birds buggered off sharpish ! Almost all birds are naturally of a nervous disposition so anyone paddling a canoe about through the reedbeds isn't likely to be rewarded with spectacular views of anything ! It sounds like an idea thought up by Alton Towers !
Jaff
Registered Member
Hmm. It's difficult to understand the article as it's talking about the excavation of a new habitat which begs the question, is it in an area completely seperate to the existing reedbed or will it be adjoining it in some way? However I do strongly suspect these 'canoe safaris' will only be occasional events organised especially and conducted out of normal opening hours in the same way the Barn Owl walks are done, certainly not a free for all, they wouldn't be that naive!
That said though, although I have always known that the people come first at Martin Mere (no people would quite simply mean no reserve) there is definitely a line to be drawn somewhere and canoe safaris, even as a special rare event, I think are probs crossing that line. It's very hard to judge too harshly at the moment without knowing for certain exactly where and what it is they are attempting to create. Wish I'd have seen it now before going yday as I'd have had a word with someone.
That said though, although I have always known that the people come first at Martin Mere (no people would quite simply mean no reserve) there is definitely a line to be drawn somewhere and canoe safaris, even as a special rare event, I think are probs crossing that line. It's very hard to judge too harshly at the moment without knowing for certain exactly where and what it is they are attempting to create. Wish I'd have seen it now before going yday as I'd have had a word with someone.
Paul Jarvis
Registered Member
The canoe safari is following in line with two other sites and works very well with the visitors as an attraction (thumbs up from me), it will be built within the captive area on the east side of the reserve and will no way join the wild areas.
Also look out for wild safaris in a tractor and trailor driven by a martin mere member of staff through other areas of the reserve for the future, slimbridge do this as an attraction also for visitors.
Also look out for wild safaris in a tractor and trailor driven by a martin mere member of staff through other areas of the reserve for the future, slimbridge do this as an attraction also for visitors.
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Johnny1
Well-known member
Thanks for the info Paul, although I'm a fairly regular visitor to Martin Mere it's been hard to find any information on this project even in the latest edition of Waterlife the wwt magazine the only info given is that "it will be launched around Easter next year".
I'm pleased to hear it won't be connected to the existing reed beds which was my main concern and I'm sure it will bring in a lot of extra punters (no pun intended)
Apart from the reedbeds on the existing reedbed walk, which could probably accomodate canoes , I'm unaware of any other reedbeds at Martin Mere that would be operational by Spring 2011 unless there's some that I'm unaware of ?
Paul Jarvis
Registered Member
They are being constructed as we speak. If you go down the reedbed walk you see will alot of digging under way which is where the conoes will be.
