RBA also reported: - Golden Oriole on the golf course behind Stanley High School (before the golfers got there) - Glossy Ibis behind the school, flew off (seen at exactly same time as Hesketh individual, apparently) - 2 Garganey, 1 on either side of Marshside Road, viewed from public footpath - 2 Little Gull on Polly's Pool (right name?)
and, amazingly, a Broad-Billed Sandpiper in the large flock of Dunlin, in the high-tide roost near the RSPB car-park, then flew off
Dipped on the whole lot of course. However, we parked 1/2 mile N of the RSPB where we scanned ~1000 Dunlin & 300 Ringed Plover for the Broad-Billed Sandpiper, without success. It's quite possible we missed it as many of the Dunlin were just out of scope range
steven burke said
Sat May 7 12:09 AM, 2016
6th may, 4.30- 9pm
1 glossy ibis, eventually & distant, I was stood at junction pool scoping the area & the ibis was right down the far end near hesketh road. it was preening & there was a chap with a camera pointing it in the direction of the ibis so I thought it seems settled & thought I might as well take a walk down there & get a closer look but unfortunately it was gone when I got there & the chap with the camera, I scanned around but nowhere to be seen 2 scaup, male & female showing well from junction pool. 2 little gull, feeding amongst the hundreds of black headed gulls on the pools near sandgrounders. 1 common sandpiper 40+ avocet 27 dunlin lapwings, oystercatchers, shelducks, black tailed godwits & redshanks spread all around. 4 wigeon tufted duck, shoveler, gadwall. 4 little grebe 2 wheatear 14+ sedge warbler 1 reed warbler 5 whitethroat few swallows 3 house martin several little egrets around. plus all the usuals.
Called in very briefly as I was at Ainsdale today, and actually stopped short of the reserve at Hesketh Road corner. Here I watched a very showy Grasshopper Warbler which reeled so loudly even me, with hearing severely impaired by meningitis in my 20's, could hear it!! Breeding plumaged Black-tailed Godwits and Dunli were out on the wetland but I left before the arrival of a Glossy Ibis seen later! Never mind, I saw one in Wales over Easter!!
Richard Thew said
Fri Apr 8 4:25 PM, 2016
A very excellent day with a superb 59 species found and with some usual suspects absent. Highlights include; 2 Scaup males with 1 female (found at the far southern tip viewpoint- opposite the golf course), Three white fronted geese (thanks to a fellow birder), male white wagtail, 4 Mediterranean gulls, and thanks to the high tide, 16 eider ducks was a major surprise and 3 Jack snipes.Also to note was Golden plover (most now in summer plumage), grey plover, avocet, great and lesser black backed gull, wheatear and pintail. Now on my way back to get something for tea.....
sid ashton said
Wed Apr 6 9:22 PM, 2016
After a family visit to Southport called in at Sandgrounders on the way home - plenty of Black-headed Gulls present, 10's of Black-tailed Godwits, lots in summer plumage, 2 Avocets, as well as Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler and Pintail.
On the marsh, in the wind:- Meadow Pipit, Great white Egret and Skylark singing. All of which brightened me up a little after attending my brother's funeral.
John Williams said
Sat Mar 12 6:55 PM, 2016
10.30-15.00
Old Sand Works
1 Rock Pipit
Several small flocks of Meadow Pipits were along the edge of the marsh, no sign of Skylarks though.
8 Little Egrets were on the saltmarsh, and there are still large numbers of Pink Footed Geese feeding there too.
Sandgrounders
14 Avocets, 100+ Black Tailed Godwits, 2m Pochard, 2 Snipe, 10 Curlew and 6 Little Egrets.
The Black Headed Gulls are noisily setting up their breeding colony again.
Nels
The marsh is 95% flooded, with masses of Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal and Pintail taking advantage of it.
Also there, 4 Little Grebes, 2m+1f Scaup, 16 Avocets, 3 Great Black Backed Gulls, 1 Buzzard (Only raptor seen) and 10 Curlew.
1 huge 2nd winter "Argentatus" was really bullying the other gulls.
The Scaup were at the Hesketh Road end associating with a group of Tufted Ducks. Cettis Warbler heard briefly by the screen on the path down to Nels.
Mike Berry said
Tue Mar 8 9:01 PM, 2016
Great white egret on marsh near Nells.
36 avocets close to hide
steven burke said
Sun Mar 6 9:58 PM, 2016
on route to marshside along the beach from the pier a small flock of gulls came from over the road from the direction of the marine lake & a stonking white winger was with them & flew over my head but was heading away from me towards the pier, I put it out as a adult Iceland gull from the pale mantle but forgot to judge the actual size of the bird to the others with it & it ended up flying away on its own, I did get the yellow bill but only briefly. I wasn't quick enough to get a pic either
outer marsh..
800+ pink-footed geese 7 meadow pipit 5 skylark 1 little egret 8 ringed plover along the beach
nels hide..
31 avocet 1 ruff 5 snipe hundreds of black tailed godwit lapwing teal wigeon shoveler pintail few redshank & shelduck
2 drake scaup from junction pool
sandgrounders hide...
1000+ golden plover 2 avocet 2 little egret lapwing teal wigeon shoveler pintail 1 sparrowhawk plus usuals around.
Chris Sutton said
Mon Feb 29 5:05 PM, 2016
11:45 - 1:15 - highlights Hen Harrier (1) Female Merlin (1) Female Avocet (29) Hen harrier was flying parallel with the car as I drove along the raised coast road from Preston (22 mph !) giving me great close views (it flew on the landward side of the road). It later showed in front of the hide. 2 Avocet has been seen earlier on the morning but were not present when I arrived. I stuck around to see if they would show only to be delighted with 29 birds suddenly dropping in.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Feb 23 10:14 PM, 2016
A very quick visit to Marshside RSPB due to lack of time produced 2 Great White Egrets out on the marshes from the Visitor Centre. The birds were as ever elusive at times when down in the ditches but showed well too, out in the open & in flight. I managed to show several visitors the birds through my scope, the unusual thing was that no-one had seen them yet as I entered the centre and one was out in the open, although quite a distance away!! Pintails were showing nicely in the nearest 'cut' of water to the centre, always a nice bird to see, the most elegant of ducks
John Watson said
Mon Feb 8 7:48 AM, 2016
No sign of the 2 female Scaup from viewing platform, despite really hard search in cold wet weather
Roger Baker 3 said
Wed Jan 27 1:12 AM, 2016
Tues Jan 26th. 16.00 hrs.
With Ian Lyth.
Sheltering from the wind in Lillians hide.
Duck counts would be roughly the same as Shannons. Pink-footed Goose over 1000. Black-tailed Godwit and Lapwing well in the 1000's. 2 Great White Egret flew past at 16.45 as the light was fading.
Also 80+ Twite feeding on tide line between Marshside and Southport around 15.00 hrs.
A good day out with masses of birds and sound.
Roger.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Jan 24 9:15 PM, 2016
Lovely day out here today. Sightings, with rough estimates of the larger numbers:
15 goldfinch 20+ linnet 4 skylark 200+ starling 40+ tufted duck 1,500+ teal 12 gadwall 200+ mallard 60+ shoveler c40 pintail 2,000+ wigeon 24 shelduck 100s (probably 1000s) of pink-footed geese on the seaward side of the road, in the grass all the way from Southport to the path to the mudflats Coot in reasonable numbers, 3 moorhen, 2 greylag geese, 30+ Canada geese, 2 mute swan 750+ golden plover 4,000+ lapwing c3,000 black-tailed godwit Redshank amongst them; I probably noted 15 or so feeding close to the path or flying in to join the main flock, but undoubtedly more 4 curlew Herring gull, black-headed gull 2 great black-backed gull (causing much panic amongst the lapwings and golden plover) 5+ little egret (others flying over later on) 1 grey heron 1 (perhaps 2) kestrel
Apparently a few scaup about, but I didn't see them.
A few hundred (perhaps 1,000) oystercatcher, 50 or so cormorant, several shelduck and a curlew heard were those birds that were close enough to identify on the mudflats at high tide; very distant wader flocks to be seen in flight from here, too, doing their thing, but too distant to identify to species.
james hall said
Sun Jan 17 6:18 PM, 2016
Day out with the LOS...
1 great white egret
2,000 black tailed gotwit
100 golden plover
8 redshank
Big numbers of wigeon, teal and pintail
Little egret
Curlew
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Wed Dec 23 5:44 PM, 2015
Highlights:
Goldeneye 1f. Tufted Duck 1f. Gadwall 1f. Little Egret 1 Peregrine 1 Black-tailed Godwits Redshanks Lapwings Golden Plovers Pintails Wigeons Teal(s) Shovelers Cormorants Pink-footed Geese Curlews etc...Thousands of birds made a great Winter spectacle, even if it was a touch breezy.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 23rd of December 2015 06:15:49 PM
Chris Harper said
Sun Dec 6 9:05 PM, 2015
9.30-11.30 with High Peak rspb. Highlights :
Ross's Goose
Merlin
2 Peregrine Falcon
Sparrowhawk
Goldeneye
2 Reed Bunting
Huge wader flocks out towards the sea throwing their shapes.
steven burke said
Sun Dec 6 7:59 PM, 2015
here all day.
sandgrounders hide..
many thousands of ducks spread all around here which was very nice to see, majority being wigeon & teal amongst them was also... shoveler mallard gadwall no signs of any pintail here lapwing golden plover black tailed godwit redshank curlew 5 ruff 2 great black backed gull thousands of geese also majority pink footed geese also... 2 white-fronted geese Canada geese greylag geese and the ross's goose
nells hide..
again thousands of ducks majority wigeon & teal amongst them big numbers of.. pintail shoveler gadwall mallard hundreds of black tailed godwit & lapwing few redshank 1 snipe 12 tufted duck from junction screen.
crossens outer marsh..
big numbers of pink footed geese 1 marsh harrier 2 peregrine falcon, 1 a juvenile with kill getting some harassment from a merlin 2-3 merlin 2 great white egret 6 little egret 1 stonechat
plus all usuals around
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 6th of December 2015 08:00:02 PM
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 6th of December 2015 08:03:19 PM
Paul Richardson said
Tue Nov 24 10:44 AM, 2015
24th Monday from 09.00 to 10.30 - my first drop in to Marshside for many months.
The landscape and maintenance work at Sandgrounders Hide has apparently resulted in sparse bird life there for a while but it is good to see it "bedding in" and becoming more populated again. The predator fence seems like an excellent idea! There was a very nice Ross's Goose swimming with the Mallard and looking much the same size.
En route to Nel's, and not enjoying the morning traffic passing, I glance over the marsh an just caught the spectacular sight of a female Merlin catching a small bird in midair, and flying off with it for breakfast. And all in full view of the morning commute, if anybody had been looking!
I estimated at least 1500 Black Tailed Godwit from Nel's Hide - they were going up in clouds every time something spooked them. An amazing sight. Otherwise nothing massivley unusual to report but I was en route somewhere else so didn't spend a vast amount of time at Nel's. Good views of Shoveler, Pintail, Teal, Moorhen, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Curlew.
John Williams said
Sun Nov 1 7:01 PM, 2015
10.00-14.00 (Visibility not that good until noon when the mist lifted)
Old Sandworks Compound
This has changed a lot since my last visit, the bank on the NW corner as gone, so to have the elder bushes which often had Red Buntings and Linnets on them.
Dismayed by this, my spirits were soon lifted when a Short Eared Owl flew over from Sandgrounders and started hunting over the saltmarsh only a few yards away.
One of the pools on Outer Marsh viewable from Marine Drive held a single Great White Egret, whilst close-by 2 Little Egrets had quite a nasty aerial fight.
8 Little Egrets in total were dotted around the inner and outer marshes.
A female Merlin had a lucky escape when chased off the saltmarsh by a gull, she flew low over Marine Drive and missed being hit by a car by only a few feet.
The sheep pasture on the out marsh appears to have been recently flooded, and attracted masses of Wigeon and Lapwings, and with them was a single Ruff.
On the inner marsh amongst large numbers of Wigeon and Black Tailed Godwits was a single Curlew.
A Kestrel hunted the bank near Nels Hide. Whilst in front of the hide amongst the Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler were 14 drake Pintails with just 3 females.
Andy Isherwood said
Wed Oct 28 7:24 AM, 2015
Late post for yesterday (27th) walk from main car park north along road with kids and although we had missed the tide, still productive.
singles of Merlin and Peregrine, 3 Marsh Harrier, small numbers of Pintail, 28+Little Egret, large flocks of Skylark, Linnet and Meadow pipit. Best of all though Great White Egret, asleep on cow field at North end with 3 Little egret, a new species for my self found list!
and both kids enjoyed it too ( might even be able to talk them in to going back when the tide is right!)
Craig Higson said
Fri Sep 25 5:29 PM, 2015
A quick visit after spending the morning at Pilling was quite disappointing. A few Lapwings, Snipe and Teal, three Little Egrets and a few Goldfinches plus the usual gulls was just about it.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Sep 13 10:43 PM, 2015
Day spent around here and its environs today; highlights were:
Main reserve pools itself, seen from Sandgrounders hide, the hill around the car park and along the path running parallel to the main road:
Meadow pipit, pied wagtail, linnet (one in song!), greenfinch, goldfinch, skylark, swallow, house martin. 100+ teal (the vast majority of ducks being this species) 2 little grebe 4 greenshank 10+ black-tailed godwit 10+ ruff 3 snipe 20+ lapwing 2 little ringed plover 1 little egret 3 grey heron 1 merlin 1 kestrel 1 great black-backed gull
Took a walk down the path from the car park out onto the mudflats at high tide:
c7,000 knot (putting on quite a display) c1,000 grey plover (associating with the knot; obviously the numbers differentiation between the two is an estimate) c5,000 oystercatcher 200+ dunlin (those that could be discerned away from the large flocks or seen in flight; undoubtedly more hidden) c10 curlew 400+ herring gull 20+great black-backed gull c500 cormorant (quite a sight!) 6 shelduck
Walking along Marine Drive with the reserve on your right, there's a small layby and concrete track on the left hand side (with a Ribble Estuary Nature Reserve sign up); below here is a series of pools that held:
4 linnet c150 starling 100+ lapwing 31 golden plover 4 (at least) ruff 1 little egret 60+ wigeon 1 teal
Stunning day for it, too. :)
Rob Creek said
Mon Aug 31 9:00 PM, 2015
To add to the sightings below... - 2 Pink-footed Geese with the Canada Geese - 1 Canada / Greylag Goose Hybrid - very large, darkish in colour, thick long neck and unusual black and white facial markings.
Rob Creek said
Mon Aug 31 8:15 PM, 2015
Decided to work today and made the most of some birding opportunities in Southport.
Tried for the Wryneck around Garstang Rd area, literally seconds from Marshside, but no reports on any sightings sites, and no sign of any birders or birding activity on that road so went to Marshside.
Sandgrounder's Hide. - Hobby, came flying low over the marsh and perched on a fence post for over half an hour, was still there when I left. The RSPB guys thanked me for spotting it and said they'd never seen one at Marshside before in all their years of birding. It was distant but good scope views, it did a lot of preening and watching Swallows. - lots of Swallows through - 1 House Martin - 1 Dunlin - few Ringed Plover - few Black-tailed Godwits - few Meadow Pipits - 1 Peregrine circling high up beyond the Hobby, saw this when leaving the hide - few Ringed Plovers and Lapwing from Junction Pool Screen - 4 Curlew from viewing screen near Nel's Hide
Nel's Hide has been closed until further notice because the pools have no water and virtually no birds present.
lee bailey said
Fri Aug 28 1:08 PM, 2015
August 28 th. 11:10 am -12pm. On the scrape at hesketh road 20+ c teal and 1 little ringed plover juve and 1 little stint. On the beach along marine drive Dunlin110;Redshank 90;Ringed plover 42;swallow 40+; House martin 30+;Blackheaded gull 1,600+;Herring gull 500+;Little egret 11;Oystercatcher 3,000+ and Cormorant 480.
Mark Dean said
Mon Aug 17 9:03 PM, 2015
I spent a pleasant couple of hours or so today at Marshside,from about 1 pm until 3.30pm I visited Sandgrounders hide, some Mallard and Tufted ducks a flock of about 50 Lapwings flying a few Greylag Geese and a few Great Cormorants and Grey Heron,as well as Barn swallows and House Martins flying around. I then walked on to sit on Pollies Bench and had great views of a Common Snipe and 11 Black- tailed Godwits, and my highlight of the day a Curlew Sandpiper,walking along the edge of the muddy creek,and then into the water feeding,it still had a small amount of reddish colouration around its breast area,great to see.Later on walking back towards Sandgrounders hide I saw a Curlew Sandpiper flying,it was at the dune side,and do not think that it was the same one but it could of been,as well as a small flock of Goldfinch. I was told a Peregrine Falcon and a Merlin was seen earlier in the day. All the best and Good Birding.
-- Edited by Mark Dean on Monday 17th of August 2015 09:45:54 PM
Mike Berry said
Thu May 28 1:41 PM, 2015
Drake Garganey in front of Nell's Hide for over an hour 9 beautiful Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage Good views of Reed Warbler and some Sedge in front of hide
Rob Creek said
Tue May 26 7:45 PM, 2015
Quick visit yesterday with Simon Gough after reports of a Little Gull and us not being far away.
-No Little Gull for us sadly but lots of Black-headed and usual larger suspects -No sign of the Garganey which could be the new Martin Mere bird today -1 Little Egret -4 Black-tailed Godwit -a Dunlin flock of around 40 birds putting on a flight display -plenty of Avocet -Lapwing -Redshank -Shelduck -Gadwall -Shoveler -1 House Martin (again) -few Sand Martin -lots of Common Swift -lots of Swallow -few Linnet about -Goldfinch -Greenfinch -REED WARBLER without doubt the best views I've ever had of these and Simon agreed too. I reckon at least 6 were seen in the close vicinity. 2 were chasing each other about, whilst another 2 were exceptionally close right outside Nel's Hide with a couple more seen just beyond them. Fantastic!
Jon Bowen said
Sun May 10 3:18 PM, 2015
Fantastic morning out on Rimmers doing a survey. 4 Garganey (3 male 1 female) 3 Wheatear 2 Whinchat Pectoral Sandpiper in with 43 Dunlin Peregrine Falcon putting everything up. 3 Little Grebe Plenty of Lapwing chicks 23 Canada Goose goslings Wildfowl - Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Gadwell, shoveler, Mallard Waders - Redshank, Ruff, Warblers, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, 8 Sedge Warblers, Whitethroat House Sparrow down from the 'estate, Couple of Little Egrets Plenty of Swallows and House Martins with single figure Sand Martins Great to see Swifts zooming about the marsh
Drove down from Fairhaven and just did a few car stops rather than the hides as I had a hospital visit planned tonight to see my best mate.
Large feeding group of Geese on the marsh on the coastal side of Marine Drive approaching the hides. -rough estimate of around 5-600 Pink-footed Geese (maybe more) -a fair number of Greylags in there too -Redshanks -Black-tailed Godwits -small group of Dunlin -Shelducks -1 Little Egret -2 Common Buzzard
Richard Thew said
Thu Apr 16 3:39 PM, 2015
Richard Thew wrote:
Went in the expectation that (according to the rspb site for marshside) the avocets were super close to the sandgrousers hide as they have been on previous years. So imagine my shock to walk in there and find no birds but mostly a muddy mess due to some work that had been done on it...
I hope it's okay that I update on the above info here since several others were interested in what was happening at Marshside . The rspb have emailed me saying work was carried out between April 2nd to 7th to create a better barrier by erecting a temporary electric fence to prevent fox predation. Unfortunately, They haven't had chance to finish erecting the permanent fencing which was started in last winter with the messy part done in early January by moving the ditches. This is why the work was done so late on and was just unfortunate that things didn't go quite to plan. They will be waiting now till the summer to finnish replacing the temporary fencing with permanent fencing. They have also told me that visitors are of upmost important to them and that they had overlooked informing and updating visitors on the work being carried out. They had much appreciated me in bringing this to their attention and have adopted a new system to make sure they keep visitors upto date on any further potential work in the near future. You can now read the updates now on their website "rspb reserves, marshside". the avocets are now back on their island in front of the sandgrousers hide but the area is still somewhat bare. (Simular work was done at Leighton moss a few years ago with a similar problem of foxes, the recent years of success with their avocets shows how successful the fence work should be also reflected at marshside).
They tell me they have had regular sightings of Mediterranean gulls, common sandpiper, black tailed godwits, little egret and redshank. If I get chance, I may visit in autumn as I won't get an opportunity for a while now. Wish you all the best and many thanks!! Either way, I will definatly look forward to visiting the next time!
Jon Bowen said
Sat Apr 11 12:08 PM, 2015
Late post from pre work visit yesterday. 2 Wheatear around sand plant 1st Winter Little Gull giving good views on Junction Pool Single Swallow and Sand Martin 2 Mediterranean Gulls in front of SandGrounders Hide Good numbers of waders including Black tailed godwits, Ruff, Avocet, Redshank, golden plover Ducks including Wigeon, Gadwell, Teal and Tufted Ducks Chiffchaff singing everywhere.
Mike Berry said
Thu Apr 9 12:10 AM, 2015
First Willow Warbler of the season singing outside Nell's Hide. Avocets plentiful. Black-Tailed Godwits and Golden Plover both in magnificent breeding plumage. Little Grebe [4] very active.
Simon Gough said
Sat Apr 4 8:18 PM, 2015
A visit today with Steve Burke, walked over from Southport Pier. Before we headed to Marshside we noticed a lot of waders on the shore in the Weld Road direction. We didn't get too close but there were at least 2-3000 birds, 90% Knot but with plenty of Sanderling and Dunlin mixed in. It was like a grey carpet on the beach.
More Ringed Plovers on the north side of the pier, some Shelduck, Linnets, Egrets, Redshank etc. Tide was in, so when we got to Nel's Hide there were 500+ Golden Plover roosting on there with a few hundred Black-tailed Godwit for company. 3 Avocet, assorted winter ducks still lingering, 3 Ruff and 2 Little Grebe right in front of the hide.
At Sandgrounders there were 25 or so Avocet visible in the distance, other than that mainly excitable Black-headed Gulls. It was pretty quiet on the reserve, although there were plenty of different species on show.
To be honest, the best thing about today was the sunshine and the combination of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits singing and displaying along the seafront marsh. We had a constant soundtrack the whole way up and down the front, it was so mellow. We got some nice views of Ringed Plover on the walk back too, with a couple of Dunlin still in winter plumage with them. Just shows that a marquee bird isn't really essential to enjoy a day trip to somewhere, just the 'normal' collection of species will do.
sid ashton said
Fri Apr 3 2:00 PM, 2015
Jonathan Platt wrote:
Richard Thew wrote:
Thanks for the extra info sid I'd thought I'd also mention here that I decided to send them an email anyway to them to make them aware that there could be a problem to visitors expecting the avocets settling down outside the hide and not knowing that any previous work was done (or perhaps work still being carried out). Ta!!
Marshside is a nature reserve and, as such, is managed. I'm sure the work that's been done is essential (think it might be to clear silted channels) and has been done at a time to cause the least disturbance possible. We should, perhaps, remember that reserves are there to serve the birds, we are simply spectators. I think there are record counts of Avocets at Marshside this spring - they must be doing something right
Jonathan I have sent you a PM.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Apr 3 7:19 AM, 2015
Richard Thew wrote:
Thanks for the extra info sid I'd thought I'd also mention here that I decided to send them an email anyway to them to make them aware that there could be a problem to visitors expecting the avocets settling down outside the hide and not knowing that any previous work was done (or perhaps work still being carried out). Ta!!
Marshside is a nature reserve and, as such, is managed. I'm sure the work that's been done is essential (think it might be to clear silted channels) and has been done at a time to cause the least disturbance possible. We should, perhaps, remember that reserves are there to serve the birds, we are simply spectators. I think there are record counts of Avocets at Marshside this spring - they must be doing something right
Richard Thew said
Thu Apr 2 11:59 PM, 2015
Thanks for the extra info sid I'd thought I'd also mention here that I decided to send them an email anyway to them to make them aware that there could be a problem to visitors expecting the avocets settling down outside the hide and not knowing that any previous work was done (or perhaps work still being carried out). Ta!!
Ps. They have worked nice and hard with what they do but, this was only about the miss-leading information and no update on essential conservation work thats on their web page. Many thanks.
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 3rd of April 2015 11:34:13 AM
sid ashton said
Thu Apr 2 9:12 PM, 2015
Richard Thew wrote:
Went in the expectation that (according to the rspb site for marshside) the avocets were super close to the sandgrousers hide as they have been on previous years. So imagine my shock to walk in there and find no birds but mostly a muddy mess due to some work that had been done on it . Main highlights from the other hide was a little grebe very close, a few ruffs developing their breeding plumage, a common redshank pair mating, at least 200 black tailed godwits with 50 avocets a little way out and a close encounter of a skylark. By lunch, I had enough and took of to martin mere for the rest of the day....
Richard I called in at the Sandgrounders hide yesterday on my way into Southport late morning and again on the way home later in the afternoon. I agree completely with your comment about the muddy mess but at least on the afternoon visit there were 6 Avocets very close to the hide. However, just like the Little Egret that was present in the morning they were under attack from the numerous Black-headed Gulls that seem to have establised a colony close by - so I wouldn't bet on the Avocets setting up home near the hide this year.
Richard Thew said
Thu Apr 2 6:24 PM, 2015
Went in the expectation that (according to the rspb site for marshside) the avocets were super close to the sandgrousers hide as they have been on previous years. So imagine my shock to walk in there and find no birds but mostly a muddy mess due to some work that had been done on it . Main highlights from the other hide was a little grebe very close, a few ruffs developing their breeding plumage, a common redshank pair mating, at least 200 black tailed godwits with 50 avocets a little way out and a close encounter of a skylark. By lunch, I had enough and took of to martin mere for the rest of the day....
Jon Bowen said
Sun Mar 29 5:09 PM, 2015
Late post from yesterday.
3 hours covering most of the site produced the following
3 Merlin ( inc one spooking the pigeons Peregrine Falcon on a kill out on the marsh 94 Avocet 5 Mediterranean Gulls ( inc a colour ringed bird and a 1st winter) Water Pipit ( Crossens Outmarsh) Good numbers of wildfowl still with Pintail, Tufted Duck, Gadwell, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler Little Grebe Pink Footed Goose in decent numbers on the marshes 13 Whooper Swans
-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Sunday 29th of March 2015 05:10:54 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 17 7:19 AM, 2015
Originally posted yesterday by Mike Berry:
49 species in under two hours: 12.00-1.45 Highlight was 25 Avocets
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Feb 18 6:01 PM, 2015
Originally posted today by Mike Berry:
From Nell's hide: Mediterranean Gull Skylarks singing 5 Little Egrets
Paul Richardson said
Mon Feb 9 10:34 PM, 2015
Walked round the northern half of the reserve this morning after dipping on any Bewick's or Whooper Swans at Hundred End earlier on (and later!).
On the reserve -
Uncountable numbers of Wigeon - goes without saying really. Also large groups of Lapwing mixed in with Golden Plover Lesser number of Black Tailed Godwit
7 Little Egret 1 Great White Egret 1 Male Sparrowhawk Shelduck Mallard Pink-footed Geese Several Canada Geese over
On the sports field of the school east of the reserve
60 Curlew 9 Black Tailed Godwit numerous starlings all feeding voraciously on the mown turf - must be a good source of worms! A slightly surreal sight really.
Jon Bowen said
Sun Jan 18 8:17 PM, 2015
Old Sandworks looking not the marsh 2 Great White Egrets 10+ Little Egrets 3 Merlin Peregrine Falcon Kestrel Common Buzzard Raven From the hide Ross's Goose (plastis??) Pintail Shoveler Sparrowhawk Plus the usuals
John Williams said
Sun Dec 28 6:17 PM, 2014
11-00-15.00
Old Sand Works area
A flock of 15 Reed Buntings, a mixed flock of 7 Linnets + 9 Goldfinches, also 4 Skylarks and 3 Song Thrushes.
Saltmarsh
2 Great White Egrets, 10 Little Egrets, 2f Sparrowhawks, 1 Buzzard, 12 Curlew and 1m+1f Kestrels.
Also masses of Pink Footed Geese with lesser numbers of Canada Geese.
Crossens Inner/Sandgrounders
The Ross's Goose is moving around with a group of Mallard. I counted a flock of 580 Black Tailed Godwits, but then realised there were
many more mixed in with the mass of Wigeon and Teal.
Nels Hide/ Junction Pool
Again masses of Teal, Wigeon and Black Tailed Godwits, but also here lots of Shoveler and Pintails too.
Also 15 Redshanks and 11 Snipe. At one point a female Sparrowhawk flushed everything, although they all settled again after she had passed.
Hesketh Road Platform
4 Black Tailed Godwits, 2 Curlews plus more Wigeon and Teal.
John Williams said
Sun Nov 16 4:50 PM, 2014
11.00-15.00
1 male Hen Harrier chasing a group of Redshanks over the saltmarsh, although he did'nt catch one.
Also on the saltmarsh, 2 Buzzards, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 10 Little Egrets plus lots of Pink Footed Geese and Skylarks.
Old Sand Works
1 male Stonechat, 1 Mistle Thrush, a group of 4 Reed Buntings, and as on the marsh, lots of Skylarks, I stood still for a while
and they landed just a couple of feet away.
Sandgrounders
1 Great Black Backed Gull, 12 Curlew plus lots of Wigeon etc.
Junction Pool
7 drake Pintail
Nels
10 drake Pintail and 2 Kestrels.
The Hesketh Road platform is worth a visit again, the area completely dried out over the summer, but now a small pool as appeared again
and as attracted Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Pink Footed Geese plus a couple of Curlew.
steven burke said
Sun Oct 26 9:22 PM, 2014
a walk along the beach as the tide came in, waders inc...
oystercatcher knot dunlin redshank grey plover golden plover lapwing curlew majority of the smaller birds on the marsh were skylark with few meadow pipit 60+ linnet 3 greenfinch hundreds of shelduck & lots of wigeon were flying onto the sea. there was also a fishermans net on the beach with a lot of dead dogfish in it, not a very pleasant sight & smell
nels hide..
1200+ black tailed godwit nice & close so great viewing, with only 1 redshank amongst them several lapwing big numbers of teal & wigeon few shoveler & pintail
sandgrousers hide.. 1 teal
crossens outer marsh...
huge numbers of pink footed goose with lots more coming in at dusk. 21 little egret no raptors.
1 stoat
John Williams said
Sat Sep 13 3:20 PM, 2014
10.30-13.00
Sandgrounders area
6 Avocets, 7 Curlew, 20 Little Egrets, 3 Black Tailed Godwits plus the usual waterfowl.
Nels Hide
390 Pink Footed Geese, 20 Black Tailed Godwits and 1(m) Kestrel.
Teal, Mallard and Wigeon are back en-masse, with lesser numbers of Gadwall and Shoveler.
There was a steady trickle of Swallows, all flying SE, throughout.
Goldfinches were very abundant on the old sand works, I tried to count them but gave up as charms erupted from every clump of vegetation.
Only a tiny pool remains in front of the Hesketh Rd viewing area, with a few Moorhens & Jackdaws on the drying mud.
Andrew Mitchell said
Sun Aug 10 8:18 PM, 2014
Quick half hour yesterday at Sandgrounders:
1 Avocet right in front of the hide, but limping badly with an injured foot 3 Snipe giving superb views A large flock of Black Tailed Godwit, a couple of which landed right in front of the hide at one point 1 Dunlin 3 Little Egret 6 Tufted Duck A large charm of Goldfinches A few flocks of Lapwing
- Golden Oriole on the golf course behind Stanley High School (before the golfers got there)
- Glossy Ibis behind the school, flew off (seen at exactly same time as Hesketh individual, apparently)
- 2 Garganey, 1 on either side of Marshside Road, viewed from public footpath
- 2 Little Gull on Polly's Pool (right name?)
and, amazingly, a Broad-Billed Sandpiper in the large flock of Dunlin, in the high-tide roost near the RSPB car-park, then flew off
Dipped on the whole lot of course. However, we parked 1/2 mile N of the RSPB where we scanned ~1000 Dunlin & 300 Ringed Plover for the Broad-Billed Sandpiper, without success. It's quite possible we missed it as many of the Dunlin were just out of scope range
1 glossy ibis, eventually & distant, I was stood at junction pool scoping the area & the ibis was right down the far end near hesketh road. it was preening & there was a chap with a camera pointing it in the direction of the ibis so I thought it seems settled & thought I might as well take a walk down there & get a closer look but unfortunately it was gone when I got there & the chap with the camera, I scanned around but nowhere to be seen
2 scaup, male & female showing well from junction pool.
2 little gull, feeding amongst the hundreds of black headed gulls on the pools near sandgrounders.
1 common sandpiper
40+ avocet
27 dunlin
lapwings, oystercatchers, shelducks, black tailed godwits & redshanks spread all around.
4 wigeon
tufted duck, shoveler, gadwall.
4 little grebe
2 wheatear
14+ sedge warbler
1 reed warbler
5 whitethroat
few swallows
3 house martin
several little egrets around.
plus all the usuals.
Called in very briefly as I was at Ainsdale today, and actually stopped short of the reserve at Hesketh Road corner. Here I watched a very showy Grasshopper Warbler which reeled so loudly even me, with hearing severely impaired by meningitis in my 20's, could hear it!! Breeding plumaged Black-tailed Godwits and Dunli were out on the wetland but I left before the arrival of a Glossy Ibis seen later! Never mind, I saw one in Wales over Easter!!
After a family visit to Southport called in at Sandgrounders on the way home - plenty of Black-headed Gulls present, 10's of Black-tailed Godwits, lots in summer plumage, 2 Avocets, as well as Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler and Pintail.
On the marsh, in the wind:- Meadow Pipit, Great white Egret and Skylark singing. All of which brightened me up a little after attending my brother's funeral.
10.30-15.00
Old Sand Works
1 Rock Pipit
Several small flocks of Meadow Pipits were along the edge of the marsh, no sign of Skylarks though.
8 Little Egrets were on the saltmarsh, and there are still large numbers of Pink Footed Geese feeding there too.
Sandgrounders
14 Avocets, 100+ Black Tailed Godwits, 2m Pochard, 2 Snipe, 10 Curlew and 6 Little Egrets.
The Black Headed Gulls are noisily setting up their breeding colony again.
Nels
The marsh is 95% flooded, with masses of Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal and Pintail taking advantage of it.
Also there, 4 Little Grebes, 2m+1f Scaup, 16 Avocets, 3 Great Black Backed Gulls, 1 Buzzard (Only raptor seen) and 10 Curlew.
1 huge 2nd winter "Argentatus" was really bullying the other gulls.
The Scaup were at the Hesketh Road end associating with a group of Tufted Ducks. Cettis Warbler heard briefly by the screen on the path down to Nels.
outer marsh..
800+ pink-footed geese
7 meadow pipit
5 skylark
1 little egret
8 ringed plover along the beach
nels hide..
31 avocet
1 ruff
5 snipe
hundreds of black tailed godwit
lapwing
teal
wigeon
shoveler
pintail
few redshank & shelduck
2 drake scaup from junction pool
sandgrounders hide...
1000+ golden plover
2 avocet
2 little egret
lapwing
teal
wigeon
shoveler
pintail
1 sparrowhawk
plus usuals around.
Hen Harrier (1) Female
Merlin (1) Female
Avocet (29)
Hen harrier was flying parallel with the car as I drove along the raised coast road from Preston (22 mph !) giving me great close views (it flew on the landward side of the road). It later showed in front of the hide.
2 Avocet has been seen earlier on the morning but were not present when I arrived. I stuck around to see if they would show only to be delighted with 29 birds suddenly dropping in.
A very quick visit to Marshside RSPB due to lack of time produced 2 Great White Egrets out on the marshes from the Visitor Centre. The birds were as ever elusive at times when down in the ditches but showed well too, out in the open & in flight. I managed to show several visitors the birds through my scope, the unusual thing was that no-one had seen them yet as I entered the centre and one was out in the open, although quite a distance away!! Pintails were showing nicely in the nearest 'cut' of water to the centre, always a nice bird to see, the most elegant of ducks
With Ian Lyth.
Sheltering from the wind in Lillians hide.
Duck counts would be roughly the same as Shannons.
Pink-footed Goose over 1000.
Black-tailed Godwit and Lapwing well in the 1000's.
2 Great White Egret flew past at 16.45 as the light was fading.
Also 80+ Twite feeding on tide line between Marshside and Southport around 15.00 hrs.
A good day out with masses of birds and sound.
Roger.
15 goldfinch
20+ linnet
4 skylark
200+ starling
40+ tufted duck
1,500+ teal
12 gadwall
200+ mallard
60+ shoveler
c40 pintail
2,000+ wigeon
24 shelduck
100s (probably 1000s) of pink-footed geese on the seaward side of the road, in the grass all the way from Southport to the path to the mudflats
Coot in reasonable numbers, 3 moorhen, 2 greylag geese, 30+ Canada geese, 2 mute swan
750+ golden plover
4,000+ lapwing
c3,000 black-tailed godwit
Redshank amongst them; I probably noted 15 or so feeding close to the path or flying in to join the main flock, but undoubtedly more
4 curlew
Herring gull, black-headed gull
2 great black-backed gull (causing much panic amongst the lapwings and golden plover)
5+ little egret (others flying over later on)
1 grey heron
1 (perhaps 2) kestrel
Apparently a few scaup about, but I didn't see them.
A few hundred (perhaps 1,000) oystercatcher, 50 or so cormorant, several shelduck and a curlew heard were those birds that were close enough to identify on the mudflats at high tide; very distant wader flocks to be seen in flight from here, too, doing their thing, but too distant to identify to species.
Goldeneye 1f.
Tufted Duck 1f.
Gadwall 1f.
Little Egret 1
Peregrine 1
Black-tailed Godwits
Redshanks
Lapwings
Golden Plovers
Pintails
Wigeons
Teal(s)
Shovelers
Cormorants
Pink-footed Geese
Curlews
etc...Thousands of birds made a great Winter spectacle, even if it was a touch breezy.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 23rd of December 2015 06:15:49 PM
9.30-11.30 with High Peak rspb. Highlights :
Ross's Goose
Merlin
2 Peregrine Falcon
Sparrowhawk
Goldeneye
2 Reed Bunting
Huge wader flocks out towards the sea throwing their shapes.
sandgrounders hide..
many thousands of ducks spread all around here which was very nice to see, majority being wigeon & teal amongst them was also...
shoveler
mallard
gadwall
no signs of any pintail here
lapwing
golden plover
black tailed godwit
redshank
curlew
5 ruff
2 great black backed gull
thousands of geese also majority pink footed geese also...
2 white-fronted geese
Canada geese
greylag geese
and the ross's goose
nells hide..
again thousands of ducks majority wigeon & teal amongst them big numbers of..
pintail
shoveler
gadwall
mallard
hundreds of black tailed godwit & lapwing
few redshank
1 snipe
12 tufted duck from junction screen.
crossens outer marsh..
big numbers of pink footed geese
1 marsh harrier
2 peregrine falcon, 1 a juvenile with kill getting some harassment from a merlin
2-3 merlin
2 great white egret
6 little egret
1 stonechat
plus all usuals around
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 6th of December 2015 08:00:02 PM
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 6th of December 2015 08:03:19 PM
The landscape and maintenance work at Sandgrounders Hide has apparently resulted in sparse bird life there for a while but it is good to see it "bedding in" and becoming more populated again. The predator fence seems like an excellent idea! There was a very nice Ross's Goose swimming with the Mallard and looking much the same size.
En route to Nel's, and not enjoying the morning traffic passing, I glance over the marsh an just caught the spectacular sight of a female Merlin catching a small bird in midair, and flying off with it for breakfast. And all in full view of the morning commute, if anybody had been looking!
I estimated at least 1500 Black Tailed Godwit from Nel's Hide - they were going up in clouds every time something spooked them. An amazing sight.
Otherwise nothing massivley unusual to report but I was en route somewhere else so didn't spend a vast amount of time at Nel's.
Good views of Shoveler, Pintail, Teal, Moorhen, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Curlew.
10.00-14.00 (Visibility not that good until noon when the mist lifted)
Old Sandworks Compound
This has changed a lot since my last visit, the bank on the NW corner as gone, so to have the elder bushes which often had Red Buntings and Linnets on them.
Dismayed by this, my spirits were soon lifted when a Short Eared Owl flew over from Sandgrounders and started hunting over the saltmarsh only a few yards away.
One of the pools on Outer Marsh viewable from Marine Drive held a single Great White Egret, whilst close-by 2 Little Egrets had quite a nasty aerial fight.
8 Little Egrets in total were dotted around the inner and outer marshes.
A female Merlin had a lucky escape when chased off the saltmarsh by a gull, she flew low over Marine Drive and missed being hit by a car by only a few feet.
The sheep pasture on the out marsh appears to have been recently flooded, and attracted masses of Wigeon and Lapwings, and with them was a single Ruff.
On the inner marsh amongst large numbers of Wigeon and Black Tailed Godwits was a single Curlew.
A Kestrel hunted the bank near Nels Hide. Whilst in front of the hide amongst the Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler were 14 drake Pintails with just 3 females.
Late post for yesterday (27th) walk from main car park north along road with kids and although we had missed the tide, still productive.
singles of Merlin and Peregrine, 3 Marsh Harrier, small numbers of Pintail, 28+Little Egret, large flocks of Skylark, Linnet and Meadow pipit. Best of all though Great White Egret, asleep on cow field at North end with 3 Little egret, a new species for my self found list!
and both kids enjoyed it too ( might even be able to talk them in to going back when the tide is right!)
Main reserve pools itself, seen from Sandgrounders hide, the hill around the car park and along the path running parallel to the main road:
Meadow pipit, pied wagtail, linnet (one in song!), greenfinch, goldfinch, skylark, swallow, house martin.
100+ teal (the vast majority of ducks being this species)
2 little grebe
4 greenshank
10+ black-tailed godwit
10+ ruff
3 snipe
20+ lapwing
2 little ringed plover
1 little egret
3 grey heron
1 merlin
1 kestrel
1 great black-backed gull
Took a walk down the path from the car park out onto the mudflats at high tide:
c7,000 knot (putting on quite a display)
c1,000 grey plover (associating with the knot; obviously the numbers differentiation between the two is an estimate)
c5,000 oystercatcher
200+ dunlin (those that could be discerned away from the large flocks or seen in flight; undoubtedly more hidden)
c10 curlew
400+ herring gull
20+great black-backed gull
c500 cormorant (quite a sight!)
6 shelduck
Walking along Marine Drive with the reserve on your right, there's a small layby and concrete track on the left hand side (with a Ribble Estuary Nature Reserve sign up); below here is a series of pools that held:
4 linnet
c150 starling
100+ lapwing
31 golden plover
4 (at least) ruff
1 little egret
60+ wigeon
1 teal
Stunning day for it, too. :)
- 2 Pink-footed Geese with the Canada Geese
- 1 Canada / Greylag Goose Hybrid - very large, darkish in colour, thick long neck and unusual black and white facial markings.
Tried for the Wryneck around Garstang Rd area, literally seconds from Marshside, but no reports on any sightings sites, and no sign of any birders or birding activity on that road so went to Marshside.
Sandgrounder's Hide.
- Hobby, came flying low over the marsh and perched on a fence post for over half an hour, was still there when I left. The RSPB guys thanked me for spotting it and said they'd never seen one at Marshside before in all their years of birding. It was distant but good scope views, it did a lot of preening and watching Swallows.
- lots of Swallows through
- 1 House Martin
- 1 Dunlin
- few Ringed Plover
- few Black-tailed Godwits
- few Meadow Pipits
- 1 Peregrine circling high up beyond the Hobby, saw this when leaving the hide
- few Ringed Plovers and Lapwing from Junction Pool Screen
- 4 Curlew from viewing screen near Nel's Hide
Nel's Hide has been closed until further notice because the pools have no water and virtually no birds present.
I visited Sandgrounders hide, some Mallard and Tufted ducks a flock of about 50 Lapwings flying a few Greylag Geese and a few Great Cormorants and Grey Heron,as well as Barn swallows and House Martins flying around. I then walked on to sit on Pollies Bench and had great views of a Common Snipe and 11 Black- tailed Godwits, and my highlight of the day a Curlew Sandpiper,walking along the edge of the muddy creek,and then into the water feeding,it still had a small amount of reddish colouration around its breast area,great to see.Later on walking back towards Sandgrounders hide I saw a Curlew Sandpiper flying,it was at the dune side,and do not think that it was the same one but it could of been,as well as a small flock of Goldfinch.
I was told a Peregrine Falcon and a Merlin was seen earlier in the day.
All the best and Good Birding.
-- Edited by Mark Dean on Monday 17th of August 2015 09:45:54 PM
9 beautiful Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage
Good views of Reed Warbler and some Sedge in front of hide
-No Little Gull for us sadly but lots of Black-headed and usual larger suspects
-No sign of the Garganey which could be the new Martin Mere bird today
-1 Little Egret
-4 Black-tailed Godwit
-a Dunlin flock of around 40 birds putting on a flight display
-plenty of Avocet
-Lapwing
-Redshank
-Shelduck
-Gadwall
-Shoveler
-1 House Martin (again)
-few Sand Martin
-lots of Common Swift
-lots of Swallow
-few Linnet about
-Goldfinch
-Greenfinch
-REED WARBLER without doubt the best views I've ever had of these and Simon agreed too. I reckon at least 6 were seen in the close vicinity. 2 were chasing each other about, whilst another 2 were exceptionally close right outside Nel's Hide with a couple more seen just beyond them. Fantastic!
4 Garganey (3 male 1 female)
3 Wheatear
2 Whinchat
Pectoral Sandpiper in with 43 Dunlin
Peregrine Falcon putting everything up.
3 Little Grebe
Plenty of Lapwing chicks
23 Canada Goose goslings
Wildfowl - Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Gadwell, shoveler, Mallard
Waders - Redshank, Ruff,
Warblers, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, 8 Sedge Warblers, Whitethroat
House Sparrow down from the 'estate,
Couple of Little Egrets
Plenty of Swallows and House Martins with single figure Sand Martins
Great to see Swifts zooming about the marsh
64 species in total
2 Ruff
8 Avocet
10 Black-tailed Godwit
Large feeding group of Geese on the marsh on the coastal side of Marine Drive approaching the hides.
-rough estimate of around 5-600 Pink-footed Geese (maybe more)
-a fair number of Greylags in there too
-Redshanks
-Black-tailed Godwits
-small group of Dunlin
-Shelducks
-1 Little Egret
-2 Common Buzzard
I hope it's okay that I update on the above info here since several others were interested in what was happening at Marshside . The rspb have emailed me saying work was carried out between April 2nd to 7th to create a better barrier by erecting a temporary electric fence to prevent fox predation. Unfortunately, They haven't had chance to finish erecting the permanent fencing which was started in last winter with the messy part done in early January by moving the ditches. This is why the work was done so late on and was just unfortunate that things didn't go quite to plan. They will be waiting now till the summer to finnish replacing the temporary fencing with permanent fencing. They have also told me that visitors are of upmost important to them and that they had overlooked informing and updating visitors on the work being carried out. They had much appreciated me in bringing this to their attention and have adopted a new system to make sure they keep visitors upto date on any further potential work in the near future. You can now read the updates now on their website "rspb reserves, marshside". the avocets are now back on their island in front of the sandgrousers hide but the area is still somewhat bare. (Simular work was done at Leighton moss a few years ago with a similar problem of foxes, the recent years of success with their avocets shows how successful the fence work should be also reflected at marshside).
They tell me they have had regular sightings of Mediterranean gulls, common sandpiper, black tailed godwits, little egret and redshank. If I get chance, I may visit in autumn as I won't get an opportunity for a while now. Wish you all the best and many thanks!! Either way, I will definatly look forward to visiting the next time!
2 Wheatear around sand plant
1st Winter Little Gull giving good views on Junction Pool
Single Swallow and Sand Martin
2 Mediterranean Gulls in front of SandGrounders Hide
Good numbers of waders including Black tailed godwits, Ruff, Avocet, Redshank, golden plover
Ducks including Wigeon, Gadwell, Teal and Tufted Ducks
Chiffchaff singing everywhere.
Avocets plentiful.
Black-Tailed Godwits and Golden Plover both in magnificent breeding plumage.
Little Grebe [4] very active.
More Ringed Plovers on the north side of the pier, some Shelduck, Linnets, Egrets, Redshank etc. Tide was in, so when we got to Nel's Hide there were 500+ Golden Plover roosting on there with a few hundred Black-tailed Godwit for company. 3 Avocet, assorted winter ducks still lingering, 3 Ruff and 2 Little Grebe right in front of the hide.
At Sandgrounders there were 25 or so Avocet visible in the distance, other than that mainly excitable Black-headed Gulls. It was pretty quiet on the reserve, although there were plenty of different species on show.
To be honest, the best thing about today was the sunshine and the combination of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits singing and displaying along the seafront marsh. We had a constant soundtrack the whole way up and down the front, it was so mellow. We got some nice views of Ringed Plover on the walk back too, with a couple of Dunlin still in winter plumage with them. Just shows that a marquee bird isn't really essential to enjoy a day trip to somewhere, just the 'normal' collection of species will do.
Marshside is a nature reserve and, as such, is managed. I'm sure the work that's been done is essential (think it might be to clear silted channels) and has been done at a time to cause the least disturbance possible. We should, perhaps, remember that reserves are there to serve the birds, we are simply spectators. I think there are record counts of Avocets at Marshside this spring - they must be doing something right
Ps. They have worked nice and hard with what they do but, this was only about the miss-leading information and no update on essential conservation work thats on their web page. Many thanks.
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 3rd of April 2015 11:34:13 AM
3 hours covering most of the site produced the following
3 Merlin ( inc one spooking the pigeons
Peregrine Falcon on a kill out on the marsh
94 Avocet
5 Mediterranean Gulls ( inc a colour ringed bird and a 1st winter)
Water Pipit ( Crossens Outmarsh)
Good numbers of wildfowl still with Pintail, Tufted Duck, Gadwell, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler
Little Grebe
Pink Footed Goose in decent numbers on the marshes
13 Whooper Swans
-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Sunday 29th of March 2015 05:10:54 PM
49 species in under two hours: 12.00-1.45
Highlight was 25 Avocets
From Nell's hide:
Mediterranean Gull
Skylarks singing
5 Little Egrets
On the reserve -
Uncountable numbers of Wigeon - goes without saying really.
Also large groups of Lapwing
mixed in with Golden Plover
Lesser number of Black Tailed Godwit
Shoveler
Pintail
Shelduck
Mallard
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Starling
Pied Wagtail
1 Little Egret
Curlew
Pink-footed Geese
Crossen's Marsh
7 Little Egret
1 Great White Egret
1 Male Sparrowhawk
Shelduck
Mallard
Pink-footed Geese
Several Canada Geese over
On the sports field of the school east of the reserve
60 Curlew
9 Black Tailed Godwit
numerous starlings
all feeding voraciously on the mown turf - must be a good source of worms! A slightly surreal sight really.
2 Great White Egrets
10+ Little Egrets
3 Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Kestrel
Common Buzzard
Raven
From the hide
Ross's Goose (plastis??)
Pintail
Shoveler
Sparrowhawk
Plus the usuals
Old Sand Works area
A flock of 15 Reed Buntings, a mixed flock of 7 Linnets + 9 Goldfinches, also 4 Skylarks and 3 Song Thrushes.
Saltmarsh
2 Great White Egrets, 10 Little Egrets, 2f Sparrowhawks, 1 Buzzard, 12 Curlew and 1m+1f Kestrels.
Also masses of Pink Footed Geese with lesser numbers of Canada Geese.
Crossens Inner/Sandgrounders
The Ross's Goose is moving around with a group of Mallard. I counted a flock of 580 Black Tailed Godwits, but then realised there were
many more mixed in with the mass of Wigeon and Teal.
Nels Hide/ Junction Pool
Again masses of Teal, Wigeon and Black Tailed Godwits, but also here lots of Shoveler and Pintails too.
Also 15 Redshanks and 11 Snipe. At one point a female Sparrowhawk flushed everything, although they all settled again after she had passed.
Hesketh Road Platform
4 Black Tailed Godwits, 2 Curlews plus more Wigeon and Teal.
1 male Hen Harrier chasing a group of Redshanks over the saltmarsh, although he did'nt catch one.
Also on the saltmarsh, 2 Buzzards, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 10 Little Egrets plus lots of Pink Footed Geese and Skylarks.
Old Sand Works
1 male Stonechat, 1 Mistle Thrush, a group of 4 Reed Buntings, and as on the marsh, lots of Skylarks, I stood still for a while
and they landed just a couple of feet away.
Sandgrounders
1 Great Black Backed Gull, 12 Curlew plus lots of Wigeon etc.
Junction Pool
7 drake Pintail
Nels
10 drake Pintail and 2 Kestrels.
The Hesketh Road platform is worth a visit again, the area completely dried out over the summer, but now a small pool as appeared again
and as attracted Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Pink Footed Geese plus a couple of Curlew.
oystercatcher
knot
dunlin
redshank
grey plover
golden plover
lapwing
curlew
majority of the smaller birds on the marsh were skylark with few meadow pipit
60+ linnet
3 greenfinch
hundreds of shelduck & lots of wigeon were flying onto the sea.
there was also a fishermans net on the beach with a lot of dead dogfish in it, not a very pleasant sight & smell
nels hide..
1200+ black tailed godwit nice & close so great viewing, with only 1 redshank amongst them
several lapwing
big numbers of teal & wigeon
few shoveler & pintail
sandgrousers hide.. 1 teal
crossens outer marsh...
huge numbers of pink footed goose with lots more coming in at dusk.
21 little egret
no raptors.
1 stoat
Sandgrounders area
6 Avocets, 7 Curlew, 20 Little Egrets, 3 Black Tailed Godwits plus the usual waterfowl.
Nels Hide
390 Pink Footed Geese, 20 Black Tailed Godwits and 1(m) Kestrel.
Teal, Mallard and Wigeon are back en-masse, with lesser numbers of Gadwall and Shoveler.
There was a steady trickle of Swallows, all flying SE, throughout.
Goldfinches were very abundant on the old sand works, I tried to count them but gave up as charms erupted from every clump of vegetation.
Only a tiny pool remains in front of the Hesketh Rd viewing area, with a few Moorhens & Jackdaws on the drying mud.
1 Avocet right in front of the hide, but limping badly with an injured foot
3 Snipe giving superb views
A large flock of Black Tailed Godwit, a couple of which landed right in front of the hide at one point
1 Dunlin
3 Little Egret
6 Tufted Duck
A large charm of Goldfinches
A few flocks of Lapwing