2020

SD4214 : Avocet at Martin Mere

taken 4 years ago, near to Tarlscough, Lancashire, England

Avocet at Martin Mere
Avocet at Martin Mere
An avocet in the aviary at the Martin Mere Wetlands Centre.

The Avocet is a distinctively-patterned black and white wader with a long up-curved bill which it sweeps through the water to feed on small shrimp and worms. In 1840, avocets became extinct in Britain because of wetland drainage, hunting and the activities of egg and feather collectors. However, during WWII, some coastal areas were flooded as a defence against a possible German invasion. This created good breeding sites which, together with a more enlightened attitude to conservation enabled them to become established again. The avocet is the emblem of the RSPB and symbolises the bird protection movement in the UK more than any other species. Its return in the 1940s and subsequent increase in numbers represents one of the most successful conservation and protection projects.
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre

WWT Martin Mere is a wetland nature reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). Situated on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, it is one of nine reserves managed by the WWT, and it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), an SPA (Special Protection Area) and a Ramsar Site LinkExternal link .

The centre takes its name from the mere on the west side of the reserve which has been provided with eleven observation hides. On the east side of the reserve there are a number of pens providing habitats for birds from Africa, Australasia, North America, South America, Siberia, and Asia.

The lake, Martin Mere, was formed at the end of the last Ice Age, when water filled a depression in the glacial drift. Until the late seventeenth century, this lake was the largest body of fresh water in England (5 miles in diameter, 20 miles circumference – three times the size of Windermere). Christopher Saxton's map from 1579 LinkExternal link shows the original giant lake stretching from Rufford in the east, to Churchtown (then known as North Meols) in the west.

Active management of the mere began in 1692 when the first drainage channel was dug, and further attempts to drain it were made in the 1780s, but effective drainage was only achieved in the mid-19th century with the introduction of steam pumping. Farms and market gardens were established on the rich soils of the reclaimed land.

The first 363 acres of the site, known as Holcroft's Farm, were purchased in 1972 through local fundraising and the site was opened to the public in 1975 by Sir Peter Scott, founder of the WWT. Since then the reserve has been extended and is now one of Britain's most important wetland sites, visited by thousands of migrating wildfowl in the autumn and winter. It is also home to 100 species of tame birds, many on the endangered list and part of breeding programmes.

LinkExternal link WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre website
LinkExternal link RSPB Liverpool group
LinkExternal link Wikipedia


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
This photo is linked from: Articles: · Birds of the British Isles Automatic Clusters: · Avocet is the Emblem of the RSPB [2] ·
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SD4214, 229 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
David Dixon   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Tuesday, 14 July, 2020   (more nearby)
Submitted
Saturday, 18 July, 2020
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SD 428 141 [100m precision]
WGS84: 53:37.2454N 2:51.9199W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SD 428 141
View Direction
WEST (about 270 degrees)
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Image Type (about): close look 
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