Trip reports

Fieldtrip - Martin Mere 14th November 2009

Whooper Swan - RSPB Images

Saturday, 14 November 2009

The forecast is dreadful"..."doesn't augur well for a good day"...and similar comments were made by those climbing on to the coach ready for the long trip to Lancashire to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserve at Ormskirk called Martin Mere. Graham's uncanny knack of planning trips which met with good weather looked to be under serious threat.
The coach duly departed from Newcastle wending its way to the A69 cross country route. It was bright and as yet rainless as we drove through the stunning Northumberland countryside. Fields, rainwashed last night looked an almost spring green where the grass was sheep shorn or the early winter crops pushed through. They provided a delightful contrast to the autumn reds and golds of the trees in the surrounding woodlands. Where our route took us close to the rivers we could see them swollen and in cases above their banks. We passed waterlogged fields and turbulent streams and then it seemed our luck ran out as the coach was lashed with rain and wind. As we turned on to the M6 the outlook changed as many of the trees here had already shed their leaves and the fitful sunshine was glimpsed through bare branches. A small flock of birds in the distance, some of the few we had seen - Lapwings said my knowledgeable neighbour.
As we drew near the end of the 3½ hour journey we could see flocks of geese travelling in various directions. As we dismounted from the coach we were greeted by a flock of hundreds of Lapwing above the centre. We were expected and greeted by the Centre Manager, Gerry Ford, who welcomed us and gave a brief introduction to the Reserve, just outside the visitor centre adjacent to 14 bird feeders which were being well used by Tree Sparrows and overlooked by disinterested Greater Flamingos. The centre has over 100 species of endangered ducks, swans, geese and flamingos and now boasts beavers and short clawed Asian otters among its denizens. The other part of the reserve is noted for its large flocks of wintering geese and swans. The noticeboard in the centre boasted 26,300 Pink-footed Geese and 800 Whooper Swans and a bewildering number of other species all of which have been seen during the last year. The few spots of rain that had also greeted our arrival petered out and the afternoon grew warmer with winter sunshine. Graham's reputation was intact!
As you walk along the paths towards the lagoons and many hides the noise of the geese and swans becomes very apparent, and once ensconced in a hide there are hundreds to be seen including a wide variety of ducks such as Pintail, Pochard, Wigeon , Goldeneye and all the usual suspects. There were a few waders such as Ruff other than the large flocks of Lapwing. Walking along the paths from one hide to another there are also enclosures with other species, one of which was interestingly labelled 'Gooders'. These apparently are a hybrid of European Eider and Goosander. Several members spent time in the hide overlooking the kingfisher pool hoping to emulate the success of a couple of members who had indeed seen a Kingfisher. Others had excellent views of a Peregrine Falcon thanks to the telescope of another willing visitor. Watching a couple of thousand geese moving from one field to another provides a sound to be remembered as does the 'Swan feed' which several of us watched at 3.00 or 3.30pm. In the far distance rain could be seen falling.
We were due to leave the centre at 4.00pm and as a final flourish to our visit the Starlings were seen swooping in to join the roost of up to 5000 birds. The bird list compiled on the uneventful journey home provided a respectable list of 60 species which included Bullfinch, Fieldfare and Redwing.
Another well organised and enjoyable trip with thanks to Graham.
Janet Porter

Bird List:
Little Grebe
Cormorant
Heron
Mute Swan
Whooper Swan
Pink-footed Geese
Greylag Geese
Canada Geese
Barnacle Geese
Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Pintail
Shoveller
Wigeon
Teal
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Goldeneye
Common Buzzard
Peregrine Falcon
Kestrel
Harrier species
Pheasant
Moorhen
Coot
Lapwing
Ruff
Black Headed Gull
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Feral Pigeon
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Stonechat
Song Thrush
Redwing
Fieldfare
Mistle Thrush
Blackbird
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Blue tit
Long Tailed Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling