Overview

Martin Mere Wetland Centre near Burscough in Lancashire is managed by the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust. Centred around a large freshwater mere the site is divided into two halves. The eastern side comprises of several enclosures housing captive endangered species . The western side of the site which surrounds the mere itself is for wild birds.

Martin Mere is open all year round except Christmas day from 9.30am to 5pm in the winter and 5.30pm in the summer. Entry is free for WWT members and £8.75 for non members. There is a restaurant ,gift shop and the Infocus shop which specialises in optics.

The Mere itself is overlooked by Swanlink, Gladstone, Raines Observatory, and Hale hides.As well as the Infocus shop. The northern end of the site also contains Kingfisher hide overlooking the seperate Kingfisher pool and Ron Barker Hide which looks out over the north western reaches of the reserve ( Vinson's and Sunley's marshes ). At the southern end of the reserve there is the Janet Kear Hide , the Harrier hide and the United Utilities hide.

During the winter Whooper Swans are fed in front of the Swanlink hide and this is the best location to view this spectacle. Janet Kear Hide contains feeding stations for smaller birds and provides good photo opportunities. More serious birders tend to gravitate to Ron Barker hide and the United Utilities hide which provide good opportunities of finding rarer birds at longer range on the far reaches of the reserve. Ron Barker is particularly good for visiting raptors.

There is a notice board in the visiter centre upon which recent sightings are displayed, an information point staffed by volunteers and the staff of the Infocus shop are particularly knowledgeable about recent sightings.

Access

From the north leave the A565 at Mere Brow follow the B5246 towards Holmswood where the road taking you to Martin Mere is clearly sign posted.

From the south travel through Burscough Bridge where again the turn off to Martin Mere is clearly signed.

Birds

Recent sightings are displayed on the Martin Mere website :-

www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/martin-mere/wildlife-sightings

Martin Mere is best known for visiting Wildfowl in particular Pink-footed Geese whose numbers can reach 21,000 in October and Whooper Swans which can number close to 2000 peaking in December. Bewick Swan numbers have declined but there are annual sightings . In the summer months the mere is drained providing habitat for waders and Martin Mere is host to a breeding colony of Tree Sparrows ( best seen along the pathway to the Kingfishers and Ron Barker hides). Raptors include Marsh Harrier, Peregrine , Buzzard and Barn Owl seen best from Ron Barkers. Sparrowhawks sometimes visit the Janet Kear feeding station and Tawny Owl occasionally roost in the trees. An impressive array of rare species have visited the site including since 2008 Wilsons Phalarope, Spoonbill, Red Breasted Goose, Green winged Teal and American Wigeon. On the fields surrounding Martin Mere Corn Buntings can be located ( late March to early May).