Martin Mere WWT

18 Nov - An opportunity to visit the WWT reserve at Martin Mere, Lancs, as their NorthWest bird festival is this weekend. A combination of excellent lectures (including Nick "bug boy" baker talking about his favourite bird, the Ring Ouzel) with the winter bird spectacle. I arrived at 8am just in time for the cacopaphy of sound that was the morning departure of 1000s of Pinkfooted Geese from their overnight roost to feed in the surrounding fields. Spectacular numbers of these birds that are so scarce on the SW. Also good numbers of impressive Whooper Swans building up to the 100s for the afternoon feed, and close views of some waders including Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe and Ruff, together with impressive numbers of wildfowl. A great reserve to see, with superb hides, but I feel not quite the spectacle that is Slimbridge, though different.