Today with local Wigan RSPB Group Sandgrounders 1 Blue Phase Snow Goose ? with 2 Barnacles 1 Kingfisher 100s of Pink Feet coming and going 3 Snipe plus all the usual wildfowl about
Jimmy
Gary Gorner said
Mon Oct 12 7:04 AM, 2009
11.10.09 martin mere
Thousands of pinkfeet and 1 barnacle with them. Teal , wigeon ,pintail and shovler numbers on the increase but still in there molt plumage. 3 peregrine ,1 kestrel,1 merlin,1 sparrowhawk,1 female marsh harrier and a couple of buzzards. ruff and 67 whooper swans
Gary Gorner said
Mon Oct 5 7:05 AM, 2009
sunday 4th october martin mere 2-4pm A flock of 3 woopers then a flock of 33 flew in big skiens of pink feet flying in from marshside direction. A few snipe and redshank about but not many raptors 2 buzzard and 1 kestrel hundreds of lapwing but couldnt find any goldenplover amongst them. King fisher was showing well in front of the ron baker hide. A quick look at the young badger which looked very stressed trying to chew through the metal fence and it was still trying when we were going home
marshside 10-2pm large groups of pinkfeet with 1 barnacle amongst them, also 1 greenshank and hundreds of black tailed godwits.Flocks of goldfinch,starlings and house sparrows twitterig away. 2 kestrel and several egrets on outer marsh. high tide at tags was very frustrating with dog walkers constantly whipping up the birds.grey plover, bar tailed godwits,knot,sanderling,dunlin and oyster catchers being the order of the day and a large mixed gull roost .
felt like a summers day with clear blue sky which meant the tide wasnt up to much.
Dennis atherton said
Sun Sep 27 8:18 PM, 2009
today the 27th at martin mere were two marsh harriers, over 3000 pink feet now and a new whooper swan to add to the four residents..............
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Sunday 27th of September 2009 08:18:51 PM
Gary Gorner said
Tue Sep 22 5:57 PM, 2009
the car park is free during winter months but a charge is made during the summer also a great place for jack snipe
there is no promenade here Dean just sand dunes and saltmarshthe platform is onthe saltmarsh
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Sep 21 8:14 PM, 2009
Gary Gorner wrote:
go past the pier heading towards liverpool and its the roundabout with the horse and cart on it weld road there is a car park on the beach walk towards ainsdale only 400 yards and you will see the viewing platform the birds are really close at high tide
think last weekend the car park on the beach was closed due to high tide,is there alternative parking,someone told me they had the entrance to the car park blocked and the sea was right up toot promin southport
Dean Macdonald said
Mon Sep 21 7:03 PM, 2009
Thanks for the info Gary. I'm same as John, been going for years but never go down that end.
Is the viewing platform on the promenade or on the beach itself?
Cheers Dean,
sid ashton said
Mon Sep 21 8:53 AM, 2009
It's always a good place to start looking for the Snow Bunts when they arrive.
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Sep 21 7:00 AM, 2009
Gary Gorner wrote:
go past the pier heading towards liverpool and its the roundabout with the horse and cart on it weld road there is a car park on the beach walk towards ainsdale only 400 yards and you will see the viewing platform the birds are really close at high tide
thanks gary only been going to marshside for 32 years and never go that side of the peerwondered were they all get to at high tide,because they wern't at nels sat!!-cheers john
Gary Gorner said
Mon Sep 21 6:56 AM, 2009
go past the pier heading towards liverpool and its the roundabout with the horse and cart on it weld road there is a car park on the beach walk towards ainsdale only 400 yards and you will see the viewing platform the birds are really close at high tide
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Sep 20 9:01 PM, 2009
Dean Macdonald wrote:
Gary, forgive my ignorance but what and were is "tags island"? Never heard it mentioned before.
Cheers Dean.
me too,can't find any reference to it
Dean Macdonald said
Sun Sep 20 8:52 PM, 2009
Gary, forgive my ignorance but what and were is "tags island"? Never heard it mentioned before.
Cheers Dean.
Gary Gorner said
Sun Sep 20 1:38 PM, 2009
19-09-09 quick stop at the mere no red necked phalerope still a bogey bird for me but the rest of the day more than made up for the dissappointing start.We had excellent views of a kingfisher and nice watching all the pink footed geese flying in.A distant juv marsh harrier and a couple of kestrel were the only raptors about on the mere. A greenshank was also seen along with several snipe.The wildfowl numbers are on the increase now and it wont be to long before the whoopers star to arrive back now.
marshside- we had 1 marsh harrier juv and a peregrine on the outer marsh along with several little egrets and a nice merlin infront of sandgrounders hide, along with good close up views of blacktailed godwits. we had a visit to tags island to watch the high tide roost and it was superb with one scoter ,thousands of knot ,dunlin,sanderlings,grey and ringed plovers,bar tailed godwits and a few sandwich tern.Lots of gulls also but couldnt pick out any white wings. Linnets ,mipits and skylarks and a wheatear and two kestrel were also worth a mention and are flocking up nicely maybe some twite will be around soon.
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Sep 19 5:07 PM, 2009
Dean Macdonald wrote:
juv Red Necked Phalarope showing really well from ron barker hide today. ringtail Hen Harrier and a good few thousand Pink Feet coming in.
Hundreds of Pink Feet coming into Marshide.
BLIP ROUND THE RIBBLE WI CHARLIE OWEN phalarope missing todaystill lots of pink feet,and merlin at marshside ,plus 18+little egret. new rspb reserve at hesketh out marsh totally flooded at high tide,but could hear some greenshank in the distance and at least 10 more egret,is it me or are they getting more common than grey herons
Dean Macdonald said
Fri Sep 18 9:01 PM, 2009
juv Red Necked Phalarope showing really well from ron barker hide today. ringtail Hen Harrier and a good few thousand Pink Feet coming in.
Hundreds of Pink Feet coming into Marshide.
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Sep 10 8:36 PM, 2009
martin mere ruff-1 dunlin-2 pink footed geese 250>w kingfisher loads of swallows all the usual stuff
marshside b.t.godwit-1000+(nels) knot-masses on shore dunlin-masses on shore peregrine-2 marsh harrier-1 kestrel-8 little egret-2 common snipe-40+ pintail wigeon
Tim Wilcox said
Wed Sep 2 2:55 PM, 2009
I got the Wilson's Phalarope on Friday 21 - a lifer for me - then headed for Wales. How long did it stay for?
Mike Baron said
Sat Aug 29 8:04 PM, 2009
came out pretty crap to be honest!it was a little far away!!mike may have got better with his new big kowa,digiscoping,but he was off to northumberland on hols this aft so he may send some to ian next week
I remember seeing Warfy disappear shortly before I left. I wouldn't count on my digiscoping skills - it will probably come out looking like a juvenile Ruff or something - which is what many in the Swanlink hide thought was the WP this morning!!!
I forgot the 264 Blackwits on Junction Pool.
sid ashton said
Sat Aug 29 7:51 PM, 2009
It must be the GM birders magnetic personalities' there was hardly anyone there yesterday - but there again it had only been on Bird G....s all week
Paul Heaton wrote:
I would say it was showing very well! When the man that is Warfy found it this morning. The Ron Barker hide was empty when we got there this morning, sorry to have missed you Mike, could have had a GM get together.
Just after we put the news out, the hide was full, Gm Birder Warfy the main culprit?
Nice find buddy, and as mike says loads of ruff etc.
keep birding.
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Aug 29 6:29 PM, 2009
Paul Heaton wrote:
John sorry buddy yes I recall someone taking alot of pictures, I was cursing at the time because my battery had run out on my camera, hope you are going to submit them to Ian for the gallery.
look forward to seeing those, Gm Birder did well today
keep birding
came out pretty crap to be honest!it was a little far away!!mike may have got better with his new big kowa,digiscoping,but he was off to northumberland on hols this aft so he may send some to ian next week
Paul Heaton said
Sat Aug 29 6:25 PM, 2009
John sorry buddy yes I recall someone taking alot of pictures, I was cursing at the time because my battery had run out on my camera, hope you are going to submit them to Ian for the gallery.
look forward to seeing those, Gm Birder did well today
keep birding
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Aug 29 6:14 PM, 2009
Paul Heaton wrote:
I would say it was showing very well! When the man that is Warfy found it this morning. The Ron Barker hide was empty when we got there this morning, sorry to have missed you Mike, could have had a GM get together.
Just after we put the news out, the hide was full, Gm Birder Warfy the main culprit?
Nice find buddy, and as mike says loads of ruff etc.
keep birding.
I was with mike in the hide takin a few pics,think you lot must have been to the right of us as we was in the barker hide when it was found
Paul Heaton said
Sat Aug 29 6:05 PM, 2009
I would say it was showing very well! When the man that is Warfy found it this morning. The Ron Barker hide was empty when we got there this morning, sorry to have missed you Mike, could have had a GM get together.
Just after we put the news out, the hide was full, Gm Birder Warfy the main culprit?
Nice find buddy, and as mike says loads of ruff etc.
keep birding.
Mike Baron said
Sat Aug 29 2:20 PM, 2009
Wilson's Phalarope showing reasonably well from Ron Barker Hide this morning. Approx 20 Ruff between here and the Mere too. 4 Whooper Swans and a couple of Pinks probably summering birds. As the hordes descended to see the WP I headed for Marshside.
3 Wheatears flew over Crossens Out Marsh - little else except Teal and sheps.
14 Kestrels over various parts of reserve
2 Marsh Harriers (female plus juvenile) on marsh just up from sand plant
Large Peregrine perched on dead branch nr sand plant
Little Egret flew over
-- Edited by Mike Baron on Saturday 29th of August 2009 02:20:52 PM
sid ashton said
Fri Aug 28 11:01 PM, 2009
Very windy day but the short visit to Martin Mere made worthwhile with the Wilson's Phalarope - a busy bird. Not a lot else of note on view at the time I was there - 2 Green Sand, a single Ruff, 2 Whooper Swans, a couple of heavy showers and that was about it.
Marshside was not much better with a Ringed Plover, a Barnacle Goose amongst the hundreds of Canadas and Greylags, a Peregrine, several Teal and 2 Sand Martin.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 29th of August 2009 11:29:23 AM
Jonathan Platt said
Mon Aug 24 4:02 PM, 2009
Marshside - Sunday 23rd August
Day started off well on Plex Moss when a female marsh harrier, heavily in moult, flushed from the side of the road at 7.15am. A minute later and 100yds further down the road I spotted another large raptor flying towards me over Getterns Farm. Thinking it was another marsh harrier I was surprised to find it was an osprey when I stopped the car!
Spent the day around Marshside. I did nip up to the new reserve at Hesketh Out Marsh but a clay pigeon shoot was in full swing so there was little about. The shoot won't normally be a problem, but the east wind meant the sound was blowing across the marsh.
I had at least four marsh harriers out on the salt marsh at Marshside, possibly five, twice I had four in the sky together. Two views of peregrines, both times distant (we had excellent views of an adult and a juv tiercel the previous day). At least three merlins knocking about - a female caught a pipit right in front of me, then was chased by two juv marsh harriers; shortly after another female appeared and chased a pipit up into the sky, so I'm presuming this was a different bird; finally I found a tiny male sat on a post not far out on the marsh. I was joined on the sandplant by a birder doing WeBS counts at high tide. Along with the marsh harriers we had great views of merlin and a short-eared owl I found on driftwood - an amazingly lucky find as seconds after I got the other birder on to it, it dived off the branch on to the floor and was never seen again, despite me being there for over two hours! I also had a couple of sparrowhawks over the housing estate east of Sandgrounders, loads of kestrels on the saltmarsh, a buzzard on Bickerstaffe Moss on the way home and a little owl on Clieves Hill in the morning - so seven raptors and two species of owl in all.
Also seen were two wheatear in the sandplant plus one on a post by Pollys pool; a fly-over whimbrel; a kingfisher at Sandgrounders (good bird for Marshside); two coveys of grey partridge on the salt marsh; 50+ golden plover and a black swan on Crossens Marsh; several whisps of snipe (largest 16 birds); 7 wigeon and 2 pintail on Pollys, plus 20+ wigeon on Crossens - presumably newly arrived birds; hundreds of grey plover, bar-tailed godwit, knot, etc. plus 20+ sandwich terns past at high tide. Finally, I found a pinkfoot amongst all the feral greylags and canadas . . . though I think it's probably been here all summer rather than a new arrival!
Gary Gorner said
Sun Aug 23 5:03 PM, 2009
curlew lane had yellow wagtail and wheatear by the dungheap and a kestrel hunting the fields.On the mere was a wilsons phalerope which was fighty thoughout the day between swalink and ron barker .also 3 avocets,30 dunlin ,40 black tailed godwits and approx 15 ruff.sparrow hawk and marsh harrier also made an appearance.Not bad after still coming down from our visit to mull.
Jimmy Meadows said
Wed Aug 12 8:52 PM, 2009
This Morning at Marshside Sighting Including Junction Pool Cracking Views of a Wood Sandpiper 3 Dunlin
Yes Helen there were a couple of Bar-Headed Geese there two weeks ago.
Helen Jones said
Fri Jul 24 8:48 PM, 2009
Quick visit to Marshside today 3-5pm, saw song thrush, swallows, house martins, kestrel, lots of starlings, lapwings, black-headed and herring gulls, redshank, dunlin, golden plover, avocet with one youngster, reed buntings, plenty of canada and greylag geese, robin, mallards, greenfinch, couple of oystercatcher, three sandpipers, dunnock, skylark and four grey heron.
Also saw two geese, looked very much like bar-headed geese (on the water with canada geese just before the main hide). I presume these must be escapees, has anyone else seen them?
sid ashton said
Fri Jul 10 5:23 PM, 2009
Martin Mere's highlights this afternoon:-
Green Sandpiper 3 Avocet lots around the reserve - reported that the last of the eggs hatched yesterday Ringed Plover 4 Whooper Swans 4 - most odd to see these guys in July Tree Sparrow 6 - on feeders near Hale hide
Not a lot around and only Kestrel and Buzzard in the way of raptors but quite a pleasant walk about.
Gary Gorner said
Mon Jun 29 3:05 PM, 2009
martin mere 2 common sandpiper 3 green sandpiper 2 greenshank 1 buzzard 1 tawny owl sedge and reed warbler common whitethrote nice to see 4 young ringed plover chicks,avocet and lapwing chicks also dotted around the place and all the usual stuff.
sid ashton said
Sat Jun 20 4:26 PM, 2009
Gary
Was the report for Martin Mere or Marshside? The birds mentioned can be seen at both I believe.
Sid
Thanks Gary
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 20th of June 2009 05:11:50 PM
Gary Gorner said
Sat Jun 20 4:10 PM, 2009
Martin mere
lots of chicks around today mainly shellduck,mallard and 16 avocet chicks. 4 ringed plover being harrased by the adult avocets and some oystercatchers also going bonkers as they did battle.A black backed gull flew in and put everything up but was chased away by the avocets and left empty handed. 3 blacktailed godwits , 1 single dunlin and several redshank dotted around the reserve. great spotted woodpecker and all the usuals in place but i couldnt help wishing it was October again
-- Edited by Gary Gorner on Saturday 20th of June 2009 04:44:12 PM
Ian Campbell said
Fri May 29 1:44 PM, 2009
Marshside this a.m. 1 Curlew Sandpiper from Nell's Hide 9.15 a.m. plus all the other usual stuff. As Gary posted on Tues, still 1,000's of Dunlin/Knot also on the shore, fantastic weather, brilliant mornings birding Cheers Ian
Gary Gorner said
Tue May 26 7:15 AM, 2009
monday 25.05.09 martin mere A quick visit after spending most of the day at marshside paid dividends as a wood sandpiper was showing distantly from the ron baker hide. Other birds included 21 black tailed godwits,little ringed plover,ringed plover with 3 chicks,oyster catcher,3 whooper swan,avocets with chicks,lapwings,redshanks,swallows but no kingfisher marshside one peregrine causing havoc infront of nells had 4 attempts at the dunlin and blacktailed godwits but missed every time eventually headed of to the thousands of dunlin and knot on the shoreline for a easier kill avocets,redshanks,dunlin,blacktailed godwits all showing there best summer plumage along with two very nice curlew sandpipers reed and sedge warblers singing and showing now and again from the reeds to the right of the hide and a few whitethrotes also. a walk around whats left of the sandplant saw mipits,skylarks,reed bunting,wheatear and a few hundred noisy starlings. little grebe showing at sandgrounders hide and a black backed gull looking very menacing patrolling the reserve. The fields around looked perfect for yellow wags with plenty cattle around but none seen Crossens outer held mainly shellducks and at the top end 2 redshanks,sedge warbler and whitethrote and a couple of grey heron. more sunny days please
Holly Page said
Mon May 18 3:51 PM, 2009
MARTIN MERE Marsh Harrier still present at 1.30 this afternoon, flying low oveer the reeds, viewed from the Harrier Hide.
Also from the other hides: Avocets Oystercatcher Ringed Plover Dunlin Redshank Mute Swan Little Grebe Grey Heron Coot Moorhen Shelduck Shovellor Mallard Tufted Duck Canada Geese Loads of swallows/swifts
Curlew, reed bunting & skylark heard but not seen.
And the usual suspects in the woodland
There were also 3 brown rats under one of the feeding cages
Gary Gorner said
Sun May 17 7:39 PM, 2009
17.05.09 9.30-12.30pm female marsh harrier from the suitably named harrier hide 2 ringed plover,2 blacktailed godwits,4 redshank,4 avocets,shellducks and oystercatchers being the more common species from the swanlink hide. buzzard and a pale looking swift and a couple of avocet and ringed plover chicks were the highlights from the ron baker hide.lots of swallows and swifts wizzing around. 1 peregrine sen in flight from the united util hide.
Marshside only one siting of the garganey today from nels lurking about in the back channel behind the islands ,i dont blame it the wind was bitterly cold.a flock of dunlin and ringed plover flying arround quicker than red arrows. a big flock of black tailed godwits probably 250+ watched a lesser black back gull eat its lunch in one gulp a baby moorehen ahhh. still a few widgeon and teal and shovellors displaying. a couple of sedge warblers half heartedly singing or they could have been crying because of the cold wind i certainly was didnt see the curlew sand or the little stint but they may have been tucked in somewhere.
Martin mere curlew lane had several corn buntings ,6 red legged partridge ,2 oystercatchers,1 wheatear. on site we had a 4 redshank,3 dunlin,2 blacktailed godwits,2 little ringed plover and 6 ringed plover,2 sedge warblers,1 female goldeneye,2 buzzard ,1 kestrel.
-- Edited by Gary Gorner on Tuesday 5th of May 2009 07:17:16 AM
Pete Welch said
Sat May 2 6:29 PM, 2009
Spent a very pleasant few hours around Marshside/Mere Sands this morning, highlights include:
Pex Moss on the way saw 20 or so Whimbrel, some obliging Kestrels and Wheatears everywhere!
Marshside:
Garganey - good views from corner screens Little Stint from Nels with Dunlin and Black tailed Godwit Large flock of Ringed Plovers and Dunlin formation flying off the sand road Greenland race Wheatears [well they were very well coloured!] Avocets displaying Sedge warblers and Whitethroats
Mere Sand was a bit quiet - in fact very quiet - nothing really to report !
Jonathan Platt said
Sat Apr 25 8:27 PM, 2009
Nice to meet you too Gary!
Si and I also got 7 eider duck, 1 gc grebe and half a dozen gannets on/over the sea at high tide from what's left of the sandplant wall. A peregrine also flew over.
Earlier I got two gorgeous male whinchats by the sandplant with at least a dozen wheatear, and a little stint from Nells.
Later we called in at Churchtown cemetry just up the road and got a local rarety - a nuthatch!
Gary Gorner said
Sat Apr 25 7:01 PM, 2009
Marshside was on form today with spring migration well under way 4 swifts,swallows, meadow pipits,skylarks,linnets,1 curlew sandpiper,dunlin,knot,avocets and a flock of approx 100 ringed plover,sedge warbler,reed warbler,2 little grebe and more wheatear than you could swing a cat at. Martin mere from the ron barker hide avocets,lapwings,1 ringed plover,2 oystercatchers,swallows,2 buzzard,greenfinch and tree sparrow.
Nice to meet you Johnathan and si g
Gary Gorner said
Sat Apr 11 5:36 PM, 2009
martin mere 9.30-12.00pm willow warbler and swallow from the car park still a few pink footed geese about. several ringed plover redshanks and the odd ruff dotted about 60+ avocets 2 buzzard 1 sparrowhawk 1 kestrel 1 male kingfisher just the odd whooper swan a few linnets also worth a mention
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Sat Mar 21 4:50 PM, 2009
Friday, 20th March.
60 species in total.
55+ Avocets at MM and 42 counted at Marshside. Chiffchaff singing at MM, also 20+Ruff, 5 BLK T Godwits, Redshanks, 1 Dunlin and 2 R. Plover. 3 Goldeneye, 50+ Oystercatchers, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Kestrels, 1 GT. S Wood and plenty of Tree Sparrows, etc,etc.
At Marshside, 50+ Golden Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 00s of BLK T Godwits, 3 Linnets, 2 Wheatears and 1 Stonechat, etc, etc.
Gary Gorner said
Sat Mar 14 5:32 PM, 2009
mm 9.30am-12.00pm 50 avocet 20 ruff 8 ringed plover 2 dunlin 5 blacktailed godwits 10+redshank 4 buzzard 1 kestrel 1 marsh harrier good numbers of oystercatchers and still plenty wildfowl to be seen
ms 12.00pm-2.00pm tide reached the edge of whats left of the sandplant today assisted by force 4 hooley 1 kestrel 14 avocet mipits and skylarks attempting to take to the air but diving back down pretty smartish 6 little egret hundreds of godwits and redshank about and the knot and dunlin doing their acrobatics and wizzing down the ribble estuary. 4 ruff also worth a mention from nels hide.
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Mar 14 8:25 AM, 2009
good morning at marshside yesterday-but even the 9.7 tide didnt come in far enough,think it needed a bit of wind,little egret-9,avocet-4,plus thousands of knot,dunlin,godwit,out on the shore,lots of pintail ,wigeon,ill have to start watching this out of county birding,i could start enjoying it so much,i give penny a missthen again i can call in at penny on the way home
Pete Welch said
Sun Mar 1 6:17 PM, 2009
Fantastic two hours at Marshside this afternoon - first visit and was impressed! Sightings included:
1 Ruff Hundreds of Black Tailed Godwits Spectacular numbers of Widgeon, teal, lapwing, golden pover Four little egrets [two in front of hide and two out towards the shore] Skylarks [at least four up and singing] 1 Weasel
But the highlight was two [possibly three] Short Eared Owls hunting in beautiful light - the one that flew across the road nearly ended up being someones bonnet mascot!
Also met some good friendly birders.
Tony Dunn said
Tue Feb 24 9:48 PM, 2009
Worth looking out for the hares boxing. Looking from the hide (not the visitor ctr, the other) look across the water towards the golf course, there were at least 5 males, 1 female last week, and a bit of fisticuffs.
Gary Gorner said
Sun Feb 22 6:01 PM, 2009
saturday tags island for the tide which never moved hardly distant birds were to far away even to scope but managed oystercatchers,redshanks,curlews and shellducks .nice to here the skylarks singing again and also a couple of little egrets working the channels. peregrine around the back of the sandplant but missed the merlin by minutes such is life.still plenty of wildfowl about but pink feet seemed thin on the ground .a look from sandgrounders produced three little egrets and a few very distant ruff,2 snipe and a few very obliging redshank and black tailed godwits judt infront of the hide . still waiting for the first avocets to arrive back any time now.
Sandgrounders
1 Blue Phase Snow Goose ? with 2 Barnacles
1 Kingfisher
100s of Pink Feet coming and going
3 Snipe
plus all the usual wildfowl about
Jimmy
Thousands of pinkfeet and 1 barnacle with them. Teal , wigeon ,pintail and shovler numbers on the increase but still in there molt plumage.
3 peregrine ,1 kestrel,1 merlin,1 sparrowhawk,1 female marsh harrier and a couple of buzzards.
ruff and 67 whooper swans
martin mere 2-4pm A flock of 3 woopers then a flock of 33 flew in
big skiens of pink feet flying in from marshside direction.
A few snipe and redshank about but not many raptors 2 buzzard and 1 kestrel
hundreds of lapwing but couldnt find any goldenplover amongst them.
King fisher was showing well in front of the ron baker hide.
A quick look at the young badger which looked very stressed trying to chew through the metal fence and it was still trying when we were going home
marshside 10-2pm large groups of pinkfeet with 1 barnacle amongst them, also 1 greenshank and hundreds of black tailed godwits.Flocks of goldfinch,starlings and house sparrows twitterig away.
2 kestrel and several egrets on outer marsh.
high tide at tags was very frustrating with dog walkers constantly whipping up the birds.grey plover, bar tailed godwits,knot,sanderling,dunlin and oyster catchers being the order of the day and a large mixed gull roost .
felt like a summers day with clear blue sky which meant the tide wasnt up to much.
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Sunday 27th of September 2009 08:18:51 PM
there is no promenade here Dean just sand dunes and saltmarshthe platform is onthe saltmarsh
think last weekend the car park on the beach was closed due to high tide,is there alternative parking,someone told me they had the entrance to the car park blocked and the sea was right up toot prom
Thanks for the info Gary. I'm same as John, been going for years but never go down that end.
Is the viewing platform on the promenade or on the beach itself?
Cheers Dean,
thanks gary only been going to marshside for 32 years and never go that side of the peer
me too,can't find any reference to it
Gary, forgive my ignorance but what and were is "tags island"? Never heard it mentioned before.
Cheers Dean.
quick stop at the mere no red necked phalerope still a bogey bird for me
marshside- we had 1 marsh harrier juv and a peregrine on the outer marsh along with several little egrets and a nice merlin infront of sandgrounders hide, along with good close up views of blacktailed godwits.
we had a visit to tags island to watch the high tide roost and it was superb with one scoter ,thousands of knot ,dunlin,sanderlings,grey and ringed plovers,bar tailed godwits and a few sandwich tern.Lots of gulls also but couldnt pick out any white wings.
Linnets ,mipits and skylarks and a wheatear and two kestrel were also worth a mention and are flocking up nicely maybe some twite will be around soon.
BLIP ROUND THE RIBBLE WI CHARLIE OWEN
phalarope missing today
new rspb reserve at hesketh out marsh totally flooded at high tide,but could hear some greenshank in the distance and at least 10 more egret,is it me or are they getting more common than grey herons
juv Red Necked Phalarope showing really well from ron barker hide today.
ringtail Hen Harrier and a good few thousand Pink Feet coming in.
Hundreds of Pink Feet coming into Marshide.
ruff-1
dunlin-2
pink footed geese 250>w
kingfisher
loads of swallows
all the usual stuff
marshside
b.t.godwit-1000+(nels)
knot-masses on shore
dunlin-masses on shore
peregrine-2
marsh harrier-1
kestrel-8
little egret-2
common snipe-40+
pintail
wigeon
came out pretty crap to be honest!it was a little far away!!mike may have got better with his new big kowa,digiscoping,but he was off to northumberland on hols this aft so he may send some to ian next week
I remember seeing Warfy disappear shortly before I left. I wouldn't count on my digiscoping skills - it will probably come out looking like a juvenile Ruff or something - which is what many in the Swanlink hide thought was the WP this morning!!!
I forgot the 264 Blackwits on Junction Pool.
It must be the GM birders magnetic personalities' there was hardly anyone there yesterday - but there again it had only been on Bird G....s all week
came out pretty crap to be honest!it was a little far away!!mike may have got better with his new big kowa,digiscoping,but he was off to northumberland on hols this aft so he may send some to ian next week
look forward to seeing those, Gm Birder did well today
keep birding
Just after we put the news out, the hide was full, Gm Birder Warfy the main culprit?
Nice find buddy, and as mike says loads of ruff etc.
keep birding.
3 Wheatears flew over Crossens Out Marsh - little else except Teal and sheps.
14 Kestrels over various parts of reserve
2 Marsh Harriers (female plus juvenile) on marsh just up from sand plant
Large Peregrine perched on dead branch nr sand plant
Little Egret flew over
-- Edited by Mike Baron on Saturday 29th of August 2009 02:20:52 PM
Marshside was not much better with a Ringed Plover, a Barnacle Goose amongst the hundreds of Canadas and Greylags, a Peregrine, several Teal and 2 Sand Martin.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 29th of August 2009 11:29:23 AM
Day started off well on Plex Moss when a female marsh harrier, heavily in moult, flushed from the side of the road at 7.15am. A minute later and 100yds further down the road I spotted another large raptor flying towards me over Getterns Farm. Thinking it was another marsh harrier I was surprised to find it was an osprey when I stopped the car!
Spent the day around Marshside. I did nip up to the new reserve at Hesketh Out Marsh but a clay pigeon shoot was in full swing so there was little about. The shoot won't normally be a problem, but the east wind meant the sound was blowing across the marsh.
I had at least four marsh harriers out on the salt marsh at Marshside, possibly five, twice I had four in the sky together. Two views of peregrines, both times distant (we had excellent views of an adult and a juv tiercel the previous day). At least three merlins knocking about - a female caught a pipit right in front of me, then was chased by two juv marsh harriers; shortly after another female appeared and chased a pipit up into the sky, so I'm presuming this was a different bird; finally I found a tiny male sat on a post not far out on the marsh. I was joined on the sandplant by a birder doing WeBS counts at high tide. Along with the marsh harriers we had great views of merlin and a short-eared owl I found on driftwood - an amazingly lucky find as seconds after I got the other birder on to it, it dived off the branch on to the floor and was never seen again, despite me being there for over two hours! I also had a couple of sparrowhawks over the housing estate east of Sandgrounders, loads of kestrels on the saltmarsh, a buzzard on Bickerstaffe Moss on the way home and a little owl on Clieves Hill in the morning - so seven raptors and two species of owl in all.
Also seen were two wheatear in the sandplant plus one on a post by Pollys pool; a fly-over whimbrel; a kingfisher at Sandgrounders (good bird for Marshside); two coveys of grey partridge on the salt marsh; 50+ golden plover and a black swan on Crossens Marsh; several whisps of snipe (largest 16 birds); 7 wigeon and 2 pintail on Pollys, plus 20+ wigeon on Crossens - presumably newly arrived birds; hundreds of grey plover, bar-tailed godwit, knot, etc. plus 20+ sandwich terns past at high tide. Finally, I found a pinkfoot amongst all the feral greylags and canadas . . . though I think it's probably been here all summer rather than a new arrival!
Junction Pool
Cracking Views of a Wood Sandpiper
3 Dunlin
Outer Marsh
1 Marsh Harrier
6 + kestrels
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Peregrine
Sandgrounders
2 Common Sandpipers
The Platform
2 Wheatear
1 Common Sandpiper
Cheers jimmy
Also saw two geese, looked very much like bar-headed geese (on the water with canada geese just before the main hide). I presume these must be escapees, has anyone else seen them?
Green Sandpiper 3
Avocet lots around the reserve - reported that the last of the eggs hatched yesterday
Ringed Plover 4
Whooper Swans 4 - most odd to see these guys in July
Tree Sparrow 6 - on feeders near Hale hide
Not a lot around and only Kestrel and Buzzard in the way of raptors but quite a pleasant walk about.
2 common sandpiper
3 green sandpiper
2 greenshank
1 buzzard
1 tawny owl
sedge and reed warbler
common whitethrote
nice to see 4 young ringed plover chicks,avocet and lapwing chicks also dotted around the place and all the usual stuff.
Was the report for Martin Mere or Marshside? The birds mentioned can be seen at both I believe.
Sid
Thanks Gary
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 20th of June 2009 05:11:50 PM
lots of chicks around today mainly shellduck,mallard and 16 avocet chicks.
4 ringed plover being harrased by the adult avocets and some oystercatchers also going bonkers as they did battle.A black backed gull flew in and put everything up but was chased away by the avocets and left empty handed.
3 blacktailed godwits , 1 single dunlin and several redshank dotted around the reserve.
great spotted woodpecker and all the usuals in place but i couldnt help wishing it was October again
-- Edited by Gary Gorner on Saturday 20th of June 2009 04:44:12 PM
1 Curlew Sandpiper from Nell's Hide 9.15 a.m.
Cheers Ian
martin mere
A quick visit after spending most of the day at marshside paid dividends as a wood sandpiper was showing distantly from the ron baker hide.
Other birds included 21 black tailed godwits,little ringed plover,ringed plover with 3 chicks,oyster catcher,3 whooper swan,avocets with chicks,lapwings,redshanks,swallows but no kingfisher
marshside
one peregrine causing havoc infront of nells had 4 attempts at the dunlin and blacktailed godwits but missed every time eventually headed of to the thousands of dunlin and knot on the shoreline for a easier kill
avocets,redshanks,dunlin,blacktailed godwits all showing there best summer plumage along with two very nice curlew sandpipers
reed and sedge warblers singing and showing now and again from the reeds to the right of the hide and a few whitethrotes also.
a walk around whats left of the sandplant saw mipits,skylarks,reed bunting,wheatear and a few hundred noisy starlings.
little grebe showing at sandgrounders hide and a black backed gull looking very menacing patrolling the reserve.
The fields around looked perfect for yellow wags with plenty cattle around but none seen
Crossens outer held mainly shellducks and at the top end 2 redshanks,sedge warbler and whitethrote and a couple of grey heron.
more sunny days please
Marsh Harrier still present at 1.30 this afternoon, flying low oveer the reeds, viewed from the Harrier Hide.
Also from the other hides:
Avocets
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Redshank
Mute Swan
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Coot
Moorhen
Shelduck
Shovellor
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Canada Geese
Loads of swallows/swifts
Curlew, reed bunting & skylark heard but not seen.
And the usual suspects in the woodland
There were also 3 brown rats under one of the feeding cages
female marsh harrier from the suitably named harrier hide
2 ringed plover,2 blacktailed godwits,4 redshank,4 avocets,shellducks and oystercatchers being the more common species from the swanlink hide.
buzzard and a pale looking swift and a couple of avocet and ringed plover chicks
were the highlights from the ron baker hide.lots of swallows and swifts wizzing around.
1 peregrine sen in flight from the united util hide.
Garganey 1m
Gadwall/Teal/Shovelers/Shelducks/Tufteds.
Little Stint 1
Dunlins 60+
BlkTGodwits/Redshanks/Oystercatchers/Avocets.
Whitethroats 2 singing
Sedge Ws 4 singing
Reed Buntings 2
Swifts/Swallows/House Martins.
Kestrel 1f
etc,etc.
only one siting of the garganey today from nels lurking about in the back channel behind the islands ,i dont blame it the wind was bitterly cold.a flock of dunlin and ringed plover flying arround quicker than red arrows.
a big flock of black tailed godwits probably 250+
watched a lesser black back gull eat its lunch in one gulp a baby moorehen ahhh.
still a few widgeon and teal and shovellors displaying.
a couple of sedge warblers half heartedly singing or they could have been crying because of the cold wind i certainly was
didnt see the curlew sand or the little stint but they may have been tucked in somewhere.
Martin mere
curlew lane had several corn buntings ,6 red legged partridge ,2 oystercatchers,1 wheatear.
on site we had a 4 redshank,3 dunlin,2 blacktailed godwits,2 little ringed plover and 6 ringed plover,2 sedge warblers,1 female goldeneye,2 buzzard ,1 kestrel.
-- Edited by Gary Gorner on Tuesday 5th of May 2009 07:17:16 AM
Pex Moss on the way saw 20 or so Whimbrel, some obliging Kestrels and Wheatears everywhere!
Marshside:
Garganey - good views from corner screens
Little Stint from Nels with Dunlin and Black tailed Godwit
Large flock of Ringed Plovers and Dunlin formation flying off the sand road
Greenland race Wheatears [well they were very well coloured!]
Avocets displaying
Sedge warblers and Whitethroats
Mere Sand was a bit quiet - in fact very quiet - nothing really to report !
Si and I also got 7 eider duck, 1 gc grebe and half a dozen gannets on/over the sea at high tide from what's left of the sandplant wall. A peregrine also flew over.
Earlier I got two gorgeous male whinchats by the sandplant with at least a dozen wheatear, and a little stint from Nells.
Later we called in at Churchtown cemetry just up the road and got a local rarety - a nuthatch!
Martin mere from the ron barker hide avocets,lapwings,1 ringed plover,2 oystercatchers,swallows,2 buzzard,greenfinch and tree sparrow.
Nice to meet you Johnathan
willow warbler and swallow from the car park
still a few pink footed geese about.
several ringed plover
redshanks and the odd ruff dotted about
60+ avocets
2 buzzard
1 sparrowhawk
1 kestrel
1 male kingfisher
just the odd whooper swan
a few linnets also worth a mention
60 species in total.
55+ Avocets at MM and 42 counted at Marshside.
Chiffchaff singing at MM, also 20+Ruff, 5 BLK T Godwits, Redshanks, 1 Dunlin and 2 R. Plover. 3 Goldeneye, 50+ Oystercatchers, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Kestrels, 1 GT. S Wood and plenty of Tree Sparrows, etc,etc.
At Marshside, 50+ Golden Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 00s of BLK T Godwits, 3 Linnets, 2 Wheatears and 1 Stonechat, etc, etc.
50 avocet
20 ruff
8 ringed plover
2 dunlin
5 blacktailed godwits
10+redshank
4 buzzard
1 kestrel
1 marsh harrier
good numbers of oystercatchers and still plenty wildfowl to be seen
ms 12.00pm-2.00pm
tide reached the edge of whats left of the sandplant today assisted by force 4 hooley
1 kestrel
14 avocet
mipits and skylarks attempting to take to the air but diving back down pretty smartish
6 little egret
hundreds of godwits and redshank about and the knot and dunlin doing their acrobatics and wizzing down the ribble estuary.
4 ruff also worth a mention from nels hide.
1 Ruff
Hundreds of Black Tailed Godwits
Spectacular numbers of Widgeon, teal, lapwing, golden pover
Four little egrets [two in front of hide and two out towards the shore]
Skylarks [at least four up and singing]
1 Weasel
But the highlight was two [possibly three] Short Eared Owls hunting in beautiful light - the one that flew across the road nearly ended up being someones bonnet mascot!
Also met some good friendly birders.
Looking from the hide (not the visitor ctr, the other) look across the water towards the golf course, there were at least 5 males, 1 female last week, and a bit of fisticuffs.
tags island for the tide which never moved hardly distant birds were to far away even to scope but managed oystercatchers,redshanks,curlews and shellducks .nice to here the skylarks singing again and also a couple of little egrets working the channels.
peregrine around the back of the sandplant but missed the merlin by minutes such is life.still plenty of wildfowl about but pink feet seemed thin on the ground .a look from sandgrounders produced three little egrets and a few very distant ruff,2 snipe and a few very obliging redshank and black tailed godwits judt infront of the hide .
still waiting for the first avocets to arrive back any time now.