Trip reports

Marshside and Martin Mere 23rd November 2008

Wednesday, 26 November 2008

Flooding at Welney forced a change of venue for the group's November trip and it was decided to visit Marshside and Martin Mere in Lancashire. At Marshside the group had to endure a hailstorm and the weather generally was wet, windy and very cold. The poor weather discouraged most raptors from venturing over the marshes and the only bird of prey seen was a hovering kestrel. The most abundant duck was wigeon and also present were shelduck, teal, pochard and shoveler plus pink-feet and greylag. A welcome sighting was a large group of golden plover.

The dull and overcast conditions, interspersed with heavy showers, persisted at Martin Mere. Whooper swan were seen but no bewick's. Of the ducks pintail was most abundant. and about twenty bean geese were spotted as was a flock of barnacle geese, amongst them a red-breasted goose, which unfortunately was most likely an escaped individual rather than a wild bird. Tree sparrow were in evidence at the feeding station next to the In-focus shop. Water rail and a male goosander were observed late in the day. Again raptors were scarce although a buzzard and a marsh harrier did turn up.