Easter weekend 24th - 28th March

A mixed weekend 4 - 12C some good sunshine giving way to heavy wintery showers. Strong southerly winds veering westerly on Monday

Monday 28th March

Marton Mere LNR - Iceland gull, 2 Great crested grebes

Starr Gate - 11 Gannets (N), 2 red breasted mergansers (N), 2 wigeon (N)

A couple of ospreys might have snuck along the coast without getting reported being seen coasting in south Lancashire in the morning - keep your eyes open and don't forget to look up.

Sunday 27th March

Marton Mere LNR - Black necked grebe, 2 little grebes, 2 sand martins, swallow, pochard, 4 oystercatchers, sparrowhawk, 2 water rails, 7 Cetti's warblers

Heron's Reach - Cowslips in flower, cow parsley in flower

North Shore - 25 Grey plovers (S)

Saturday 26th March

Starr Gate - 35 Whooper swans (N), red breasted merganser (N), shelduck (N), 4 goldcrests (unusual here), grey wagtail, wheatear, 10 turnstones

North Blackpool Pond Trail - Goldcrest, heron, 3 toads, lots of lesser celandine in flower

Gynn Gardens - Collared dove (rare here)

North Shore - 2 Wheatears

Friday 25th March

Stanley Park - Buzzard (SE), 4 sand martins, several goldcrests, chiffchaff, nuthatch, 2 great crested grebes, 36 tufted ducks

Starr Gate - Grey seal, 22 gannets, 20 kittiwakes, red throated diver, great crested grebe, 35 pied wagtails (N), 6 eiders, shelduck (N), long tailed tit (very rare here)

Lawson's Wetland - Cetti's warbler

Marton Mere LNR - Bearded tit, Iceland gull, 30 sand martins, 4 swallows, 35 whooper swans (NW), curlew (E), 10 black tailed godwits (N), 2 chiffchaffs, 73 tufred ducks (includes those from Stanley Park), 4 goldeneyes, 6 Cetti's warblers, 10 gadwall, 30 fieldfares, 2 little grebes, great spotted woodpecker, 2 small tortoiseshell butterflies, 2 peacock butterflies


Female bearded tit at Marton Mere LNR

WILDLIFE EVENT - Tuesday 5th April 1pm - 3pm Wildlife recording walk at Marton Mere meet at Lawson's Road gate opposite Lancaster Road. Come along to learn what species we have and how to identify them - from birds to butterflies, orchids to dragonflies. Dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear, bring your camera and binoculars if you have them. This event is free but a donation to the Friends of Marton Mere would be appreciated.

FAMILY WILDLIFE EVENT - Monday 11th April Animal Adaptations at Kincraig Lake viewing area FY2 0HN. How do animals survive? We'll find out in this amazing activity.
Dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear, bring your camera and binoculars if you have them. This event is free but a donation to the Friends of North Blackpool Pond Trail would be appreciated.


Local wildlife photographer Barry Dean is holding an exhibition of his wildlife photos at the Solaris Centre during February and March

Please email your sightings and wildlife photos to solaris.centre @ blackpool.gov.uk - without the spaces

The North Blackpool Pond Trail have a Facebook group page

There is a Facebook group for all things Marton Mere LNR including news of events and volunteer projects

https://www.facebook.com/martonmerereserve

There is also a page specifically for wildlife news at Marton Mere https://www.facebook.com/groups/343548299164728/ please Like, Share and post your sightings and wildlife photos from the nature reserve

Follow Marton Mere LNR on twitter @MartonMereLNR

Marton Mere LNR has a Flickr group - please join
https://www.flickr.com/groups/2903819@N24/pool/

Volunteer Days at Marton Mere LNR are now every Tuesday and Thursday 10am - 3pm - All welcome. Wear suitable footwear and bring your lunch.
There may also be some volunteering opportunities suitable for school/works/community groups etc. Contact Annie on 07469 038520 or annie.heslop @ blackpool.gov.uk (without the spaces) for full details of projects, dates and times.