Went to Martin Mere onWednesday,25th Feb.,for half a day. Had to get back home earlier than expected but still had great time.

The best 3 reserves in North-West 1.Leighton Moss(RSPB),2. Martin Mere(WWT reserve) & 3. Morecambe Bay(20 sub-divisions -and its growing!!) by common consent(not everyone agrees, I know).  What I saw and counted -  I`m pretty sure A LOT MORE birds were there :-_

 50+ shelduck,240+ whooper swan, 90+(only?)pink feet,70+ oystercatcher,200+ mallard,14 pochard, 36 pintail, moorhen, coot, cormorant, black-headed gull(at least 200+),robin, great tit, blue tit, 75+ feral pigeons(in 2 flocks),50+ wigeon, goldfinch, 20 tufted, jackdaw, magpie, 1 common buzzard, Canada goose, 1 male marsh harrier(with very frayed wing feathers-moulting?), 12 cattle egret & 1 glossy ibis(which struts in the grass alongside longhorn cattle)!!

Check out fomitopsis betulina-birch tree huge fungus here, as well!