Blackpool wildlife sightings

Thursday, 24 March 2016

Wednesday 23rd March

A cool dull day 4 - 8C mostly cloudy wit ha few sunny spells and a light south westerly wind

New South Promenade - Grey seal, 2 red throated divers, great crested grebe, 2 eiders (N), 2500 common scoters

Marton Mere LNR - Barn owl, 3 shelducks, woodcock, chiffchaff (1st one heard singing), 2 snipe, 5 oystercatchers, 6 Cetti's warblers, great crested grebe, 4 goldeneyes, buzzard, sparrowhawk, 4 linnets

Lawson's Wetland - Cetti's warbler

Salisbury Woodland Garden - Chipmunk? (There used to be a population of these about 20 years ago), 2 nuthatches, goldcrest, sparrowhawk, 2 song thrushes

Town Centre - Grey wagtail

North Shore - 14 Eiders

Chiffchaff with nesting material - taken near Marton Mere LNR April 2015

FAMILY WILDLIFE EVENT - Easter Saturday 26th March 2 - 3.30pm Wildlife on your doorstep. Meet at the North Blackpool Pond Trail Community Orchard Salmesbury Avenue FY2 0PS. 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.

ANOTHER FAMILY EVENT - Easter Sunday 27th March 9am - 12 Early spring birdwatch at Marton Mere meet at Lawson's Road gate opposite Lancaster Road. 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 Merel would be appreciated.

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 Merel 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.

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Tuesday 22nd March

A milder day 6 - 9C mostly sunny but low mist out to sea with a light north westerly wind

New South Promenade - Eider, 1000 common scoters, whiting (taken from just below surface by a gull)

Town Centre - Magpie (rarely seen here)

Marton Mere LNR - American mink, barn owl, great crested grebe, 4 goldeneyes, 46 tufted ducks, 5 great black backed gulls, 2 oystercatchers, 8 stock doves, 60 fieldfares, 2 grey wagtails, 2 water rails, 3 Cetti's warblers

North Shore - Grey seal, 5 red breasted mergansers (N), gannet (S), 4 eiders (S), 2 red throated divers, 100 meadow pipits (N)

Whiting

FAMILY WILDLIFE EVENT - Easter Saturday 26th March 2 - 3.30pm Wildlife on your doorstep. Meet at the North Blackpool Pond Trail Community Orchard Salmesbury Avenue FY2 0PS. 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.

ANOTHER FAMILY EVENT - Easter Sunday 27th March 9am - 12 Early spring birdwatch at Marton Mere meet at Lawson's Road gate opposite Lancaster Road. 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 Merel 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

Tuesday, 22 March 2016

Monday 21st March

An average day for late March 3 - 9C mostly sunny with a moderate north westerly wind

Marton Mere LNR - Bittern, great crested grebe, 2 shelducks, 4 oystercatchers, 2 grey wagtails, 2 water rails, 5 Cetti's warblers

North Blackpool Pond Trail Kincraig Lake - 2 Pochards, 8 teal, goldcrest, great spotted woodpecker

Salisbury Woodland Garden - Nuthatch, treecreeper

Treecreeper at Marton Mere LNR

https://www.facebook.com/martonmerereserve

Monday, 21 March 2016

Weekend 18th - 20th March

Still cool for late March 1 - 9C dull but becoming sunny on Sunday with a chilly light north westerly wind

Sunday 20th March

Marton Mere LNR - Barn owl, 11 snipe, jack snipe, little grebe, 46 wigeon, 18 shoveler, 4 buzzards, sparrowhawk, 5 linnets, 3 water rails, 5 Cetti's warblers

Saturday 19th March

Marton Mere LNR - Bittern, 2 great crested grebes, 4 oystercatchers, 4 Cetti's warblers, 2 water rails, 36 fieldfares, 2 redwings (SE), 2 kestrels, 2 sparrowhawks

Lawson's Wetland - Cetti's warbler

Warbreck Hill - 2 House sparrows (very rare here), coal tit

Starr Gate - 55 Red throated divers, 16 eiders, 4 great crested grebes, 1500 common scoters, 2 teal (N), grey wagtail (N)

Friday 18th March

Stanley Park - 2 Buzzards (over)

Zoo - Goldcrest

Starr Gate - Great crested grebe, 2 eiders, shelduck (N)

Marton Mere LNR - Iceland gull, 2 pink footed geese, 5 oystercatchers, 43 tufted ducks, 4 redshank

Lawson's Wetland - Cetti's warbler

Buzzard over Marton Mere LNR

FAMILY WILDLIFE EVENT - Easter Saturday 26th March 2 - 3.30pm Wildlife on your doorstep. Meet at the North Blackpool Pond Trail Community Orchard Salmesbury Avenue FY2 0PS. 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.

ANOTHER FAMILY EVENT - Easter Sunday 27th March 9am - 12 Early spring birdwatch at Marton Mere meet at Lawson's Rd gate. 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 Merel 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

Friday, 18 March 2016

Thursday 17th March

A bright but cool day 1 - 8C sunny with a light northerly breeze

Marton Mere LNR - Iceland gull, curlew (N), buzzard, 2 Cetti's warblers, skylark

Heron's Reach - Great spotted woodpecker

Heron's Reach golf course - Little grebe

New South Promenade - 3 Shelducks (S), 2 great crested grebes, 1000 common scoters

Lawson's Wetland - Cetti's warbler

North Shore - 10 Red throated divers, 10 eiders, 3 shelducks (S, same as above), grey wagtail (N)

Shelduck

FAMILY WILDLIFE EVENT - Easter Saturday 26th March 2 - 3.30pm Wildlife on your doorstep. Meet at the North Blackpool Pond Trail Community Orchard Salmesbury Avenue FY2 0PS. 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

Thursday, 17 March 2016

Wednesday 16th March

Another mild day 2 - 12C mostly sunny with a cool moderate easterly wind

New South Promenade - 2 Harbour porpoises, 13 eiders, 2 great crested grebes, 750 common scoters, 2 shovelers (N)

Lawson's Wetland - Barn owl, Cetti's warbler, 21 whooper swans (N)

Town Centre - Grey wagtail

North Shore - Grey seal, red throated diver, 20 eiders, 2500 common scoters

Grey wagtail at Marton Mere LNR

https://www.facebook.com/martonmerereserve

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

Tuesday 15th March

A mild day 3 - 12C mostly sunny with a light easterly wind

North Shore - Harbour porpoise, grey seal, 11 eiders

Marton Mere LNR - Iceland gull, pink footed goose, 150 wigeon, 49 shovelers, 9 gadwall, 4 curlews, 25 black tailed godwits, 4 water rails, 4 pochards, 6 goldeneyes, goldcrest, 35 fieldfares, 6 Cetti's warblers, 2 buzzards, sparrowhawk

New South Promenade - 23 Whooper swans (N), eider (S), red throated diver, great crested grebe, 1000 common scoters

North Blackpool Pond Tail Kincraig Lake - 2 Pochards

North Blackpool Pond Trail Dumfries pond - Large amount of frog spawn

Grey seal

https://www.facebook.com/martonmerereserve