Thursday 28th April

A very cold day for late April 0 - 8C prolonged wintry showers heavy at times with a strong south westerly wind

Town Centre - Peregrine

New South Promenade - Ringed plover

Heron's Reach - Blackcaps and willow warblers 'everywhere', honesty in flower, hedge garlic (aka Jack by the hedge) in flower, 4 bee orchid rosettes

Lawson's Wetland - 2 Whitethroats, Cetti's warbler

Heron's Reach golf course - Little grebe, Cetti's warbler, willow warblers, blackcaps, 3 skylarks (NW)

Marton Mere LNR - Redstart, 2 grasshopper warblers, 9 Cetti's warblers, 8 reed warblers, 4 sedge warblers, 4 whitethroats, lesser whitethroat, 2 common sandpipers, 2 oystercatchers, 110 swallows, 50 sand martins, 4 house martins, 3 shelducks, buzzard, kestrel, sparrowhawk, 7 stock doves

Solaris Centre - 2 Goldfinches (nest building)

Goldfinch

Family Wildlife Event - Spot Super Life in the Water at Ashfield Road pond on the North Blackpool Pond Trail FY2 0HB Monday 2nd May 11am - 12.30. Join the team to find what is lurking in the pond, get to know the creatures and their lifestyles - Free but a donation to the Friends of North Blackpool Pond Trail would be welcome.

Wildlife recording walk - Meet at the gate on Lawson's Road opposite Lancaster Road Tuesday 3rd May 1pm - 3pm for a wander round the reserve with the Friends of Marton Mere. Come along to learn what species we have and how to identify them - from birds to butterflies, orchids to dragonflies. Free but a donation to the Friends of Marton Mere would be welcome.

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

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

Wednesday 27th April

Cold for the end of April 0 - 8C sunny spells with wintry showers blown in on a cold northerly wind

Chepstow Garden - Speckled Wood butterfly

Mossom Nature Field - Sparrowhawk

New South Promenade - 10 Sandwich terns, 6 sanderlings

Solaris Centre - Red tailed bumble bee

Marton Mere LNR - 2 Shelducks, snipe

Tuesday 26th April

Cool 3 - 10C some sunny spells with a brisk north westerly wind

Solaris Centre - Small tortoiseshell butterfly

North Blackpool Pond Trail - Great crested grebe

New South Promenade - 8 Gannets (N)

Signs of spring - opening oak buds at Mossom Nature Field

Family Wildlife Event - Spot Super Life in the Water at Ashfield Road pond on the North Blackpool Pond Trail FY2 0HB Monday 2nd May 11am - 12.30. Join the team to find what is lurking in the pond, get to know the creatures and their lifestyles - Free but a donation to the Friends of North Blackpool Pond Trail would be welcome.

Wildlife recording walk - Meet at the gate on Lawson's Road opposite Lancaster Road Tuesday 3rd May 1pm - 3pm for a wander round the reserve with the Friends of Marton Mere. Come along to learn what species we have and how to identify them - from birds to butterflies, orchids to dragonflies. Free but a donation to the Friends of Marton Mere would be welcome.

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

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

Monday 25th April

About average for late April 6 - 11C long sunny spells with a cold brisk north west wind

Heron's Reach/Marton Mere LNR - Blackcaps, willow warblers, chiffchaffs 'everywhere'

Lawson's Field - 4 Whitethroats

Marton Mere LNR - Swift, 4 whitethroats, 3 reed warblers, lesser whitethroat, common sandpiper, 4 house martins, 3 shelducks, 3 lapwings, 9 stock doves

North Blackpool Pond Trail Community Orchard - Blackcap. willow warbler, chiffchaff, 2 great tits, swallows (over horse field), bluebells and cow parsley coming into flower

North Blackpool Pond Trail Kincraig Lake - Heron, blackcap, willow warbler

Heron at Kincraig Lake by Jane Stinger

Family Wildlife Event - Spot Super Life in the Water at Ashfield Road pond on the North Blackpool Pond Trail FY2 0HB Monday 2nd May 11am - 12.30. Join the team to find what is lurking in the pond, get to know the creatures and their lifestyles - Free but a donation to the Friends of North Blackpool Pond Trail would be welcome.

Wildlife recording walk - Meet at the gate on Lawson's Road opposite Lancaster Road Tuesday 3rd May 1pm - 3pm for a wander round the reserve with the Friends of Marton Mere. Come along to learn what species we have and how to identify them - from birds to butterflies, orchids to dragonflies. Free but a donation to the Friends of Marton Mere would be welcome.

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

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

Weekend 22nd - 24th April

Cool for the last week of April, 1 - 11C mostly sunny with a cool brisk easterly wind increasing and turning north westerly

Sunday 24th April

Stanley Park - Swift, ring necked parakeet, 20 swallows, 10 house martins, common sandpiper, treecreeper, sparrowhawk, grey wagtail

Marton Mere LNR - 2 Lesser whitethroat, 2 grasshopper warblers, swift, 15 swallows, 10 sand martins, kestrel, 8 stock doves, 5 Cetti's warblers, 4 lapwings, 2 whitethroats, 5 willow warblers, 7 chiffchaffs, 4 shelducks, common sandpiper

Heron's Reach - Kestrel, 3 blackcaps, 2 willow warblers, 2 chiffchaffs

De Vere Hotel entrance road - 2 Mistle thrushes, tawny mining bee

Lawson's Field - Song thrush, 2 whitethroats, 3 swallows, 2 house martins

Lawson's Wetland - Cetti's warbler

Saturday 23rd April

Stanley Park - Common sandpiper, house martin, 7 swallows

Marton Mere LNR - Weasel, Jay, 2 green sandpipers, 2 common sandpipers, lesser whitethroat, 5 shelduck, snipe, 2 buzzards, sparrowhawk, kestrel, house martin

Lawson's Field - Lesser whitethroat, whitethroat

Lawson's Wetland - 3 Swallows

Friday 22nd April

Cherry Tree allotments - Moorhen (with chicks), kestrel, buzzard, 2 newts (probably smooth newts)

Marton Mere LNR - Weasel, short tailed field vole, 8 Cetti's warblers, 2 wheatears, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, 2 grasshopper warblers, sedge warbler, 4 reed warblers, 2 linnets, 3 buzzards, kestrel, frog

Lawson's Wetland - Whinchat, wheatear, whitethroat, Cetti's warbler

Lawson's Field - Whitethroat

Heron's Reach golf couse - Blackcap, whitethroat, swallows (back at nest in shed)

Heron's Reach/Staining Nook - Cetti's warbler

Stanley Park - 2 Common sandpipers, 2 willow warblers, 3 chiffchaffs, 2 mistle thrushes, 2 blackcaps, great spotted woodpecker

Mute Swan at Kincraig Lake by Rachel Kavanagh

Family Wildlife Event - Spot Super Life in the Water at Ashfield Road pond on the North Blackpool Pond Trail FY2 0HB Monday 2nd May 11am - 12.30. Join the team to find what is lurking in the pond, get to know the creatures and their lifestyles - Free but a donation to the Friends of North Blackpool Pond Trail would be welcome.

Wildlife recording walk - Meet at the gate on Lawson's Road opposite Lancaster Road Tuesday 3rd May 1pm - 3pm for a wander round the reserve with the Friends of Marton Mere. Come along to learn what species we have and how to identify them - from birds to butterflies, orchids to dragonflies. Free but a donation to the Friends of Marton Mere would be welcome.

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

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

Thursday 21st April

Warmest day of the year 2 - 18C sunny with occasional light clouds, light variable winds

Solaris Centre - Small tortoiseshell butterfly

Stanley Park - Nuhatch, treecreeper

Marton Mere LNR - Redstart, swift, 13 Cetti's warblers, 3 reed warblers, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, 3 reed warblers, 4 sedge warblers, 2 grasshopper warblers, 2 shelducks, 2 oystercatchers, tawny mining bee (possibly 1st record from the reserve)

Staining Marsh - Cetti's warbler

New South Promenade - Harbour porpoise, 3 grey seals, 2 whimbrels (N)

Cornwall Place/Kipling Drive fields - Comma, large white, small white, peacock, small tortoiseshell butterflies

Comma

Family Wildlife Event - Spot Super Life in the Water at Ashfield Road pond on the North Blackpool Pond Trail FY2 0HB Monday 2nd May 11am - 12.30. Join the team to find what is lurking in the pond, get to know the creatures and their lifestyles - Free but a donation to the Friends of North Blackpool Pond Trail would be welcome.

Wildlife recording walk - Meet at the gate on Lawson's Road opposite Lancaster Road Tuesday 3rd May 1pm - 3pm for a wander round the reserve with the Friends of Marton Mere. Come along to learn what species we have and how to identify them - from birds to butterflies, orchids to dragonflies. Free but a donation to the Friends of Marton Mere would be welcome.

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

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

Wednesday 20th April

A glorious day but cool early on 2 - 15C Sunny with a very light variable wind

Lawson's Wetland - Chiffchaff, whitethroat

Lawson's Field - Whitethroat, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler

Marton Mere LNR - Weasel, 3 reed warblers, sedge warbler, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, buzzard, barn owl, 6 shovelers, small copper butterfly

Reads Avenue - Chiffchaff

Zoo - Swallow

East Park Drive - Mistle thrush

Staining Nook - Cetti's warbler, blackcap, 2 chiffchaffs

Stanley Park - 2 Blackcaps

New South Promenade - Bottlenose dolphin, 2 harbour porpoises, grey seal, 3 Mediterranean gulls, 6 Sandwich terns, whooper swan, goosander, grey plover (S), curlew (S), 2 eiders (S)

Small copper

Family Wildlife Event - Spot Super Life in the Water at Ashfield Road pond on the North Blackpool Pond Trail FY2 0HB Monday 2nd May 11am - 12.30. Join the team to find what is lurking in the pond, get to know the creatures and their lifestyles - Free but a donation to the Friends of North Blackpool Pond Trail would be welcome.

Wildlife recording walk - Meet at the gate on Lawson's Road opposite Lancaster Road Tuesday 3rd May 1pm - 3pm for a wander round the reserve with the Friends of Marton Mere. Come along to learn what species we have and how to identify them - from birds to butterflies, orchids to dragonflies. Free but a donation to the Friends of Marton Mere would be welcome.

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

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

Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th April

About average for mid-April 5 - 11C mostly sunny with a cold strong westerly wind on Monday, lighter and not so chilly north westerly on Tuesday

Tuesday 19th April

Preston New Road - Fox, 2 siskins

Airport - 2 Stock doves

Marton Mere LNR-  3 lesser whitethroats, house martin, 2 whitethroats, 2 reed warblers, sedge warbler, 8 blackcaps, 4 willow warblers, tree sparrow, 4 buzzards, kestrel, many peacock butterflies, many small tortoiseshells

Starr Gate - 3 Common terns

Marton - Speckled wood butterfly

Monday 18th April

Starr Gate - Great skua, arctic skua, 7 Manx shearwaters, 3 gannets, 2 eiders, 3 swallows, 18 common scoters

Marton Mere LNR - Whimbrel (N), redshank, 5 oystercatchers, 2 sedge warblers, reed warbler, 4 blackcaps, 4 willow warblers, 4 tree sparrows, 2 shelducks

Stanley Park - 20 Swallows

Speckled wood

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

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