Search for owls and bats as after-hours events return to Martin Mere

Visitors to WWT Martin Mere will get a rare chance to search for owls, bats and rare moths at a series of special after-hours events this summer.

Returning for the first time in three years, guests are offered the chance to visit to the reserve with a warden at dusk to search for the night-time creatures after sunset.  

The evening will start with setting a moth trap, which will be checked before the end of the night to see what has been caught. The last time WWT Martin Mere held the event, an Obscure Wainscot moth was discovered, a first in the history of Martin Mere.  

After setting the trap, participants will walk around the reserve searching for barn owls, as they swoop around the reserve to hunt for food such as voles, mice and rats.  

As the evening turns dark, the night will move on to tracking, recording and identifying bats.  The UK’s wetlands are a popular place for bats, with 17 breeding species that can be spotted darting about on a summer evening.  

Nick Brooks, General Manager at WWT Martin Mere, said: “This year is one you won’t want to miss if you’re a fan of barn owls. It’s the most successful year we’ve had with plenty of activity. We’ve got four nests on-site raising an impressive 18 chicks.” 

The event will take place across six days through July and August, kicking off this Fri 15 Jul. Tickets are £16 and can be booked using the button below.