Ross's Goose 1...It's about time Ross came to collect his Goose! Long-tailed Duck 1f Merlin 1m Sparrowhawk 1 Little Egret 2 Golden Plover 200+ Lapwing 500+ Black-tailed Godwit 500+ Curlews Wigeons Pintails Teal Gadwall Shovelers Shelducks Pink-footed Geese 1000+ etc.etc.etc. The numbers are a bit guessametrical but there were lots of birds!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 15th of November 2013 09:07:14 PM
steven burke said
Mon Nov 11 6:44 AM, 2013
11.30-5pm
along the beach...
lots of redshanks, oystercatchers, curlews, shelducks more waders but distant due to low tide. 1 knot, 9 snipe, 1 merlin, 2 little egrets meadow pipits, skylarks & linnets flying around.
nels hide...
huge numbers of teal, wigeon, pintails & black tailed godwits pink footed geese scattered around 5 ruff, 1 sparrrowhawk.
sandgrousers hide...
much the same as nels with hundreds of golden plovers with the lapwings ross's goose on the pool.
outer marsh...
hundreds of pink footed geese 1 kestrel, 1 buzzard, 1 peregrine falcon, 8 little egrets goldfinches, linnets, meadow pipits & skylarks around old sand works.
got comfy on the bench looking onto rimmers marsh around 3.35pm to watch the egret roost, ideal position, 46 little egrets passed over me then the 47th & 48th was the great white egrets plus one cracking sunset
Jon Bowen said
Sun Nov 10 1:47 AM, 2013
session over lunch time
2 Merlin 2 Peregrines 2 Sparrowhawks
On the shore Grey Plover Sanderling (90) Oystercatcher Barnacle Goose Black -Tailed Godwits Teal Wigeon and the Ross's Goose (??)
KEV BROWN said
Thu Sep 19 7:44 PM, 2013
Late post for yesterday 19th: Approx 40 Pink-footed Geese flew toward the office on Wennington Road and then changed direction toward Marshside
Today 8am: another 200 approx Pink-footed Geese over Southport on the way in to work
John Doherty said
Fri Sep 13 8:38 PM, 2013
Mid-September raid at Southport -
Beach - Couple of Little Egrets, Dunlin flock (aka quiet)
Nel's - 12 Snipe, 1 Ruff, nos of Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Ringed Plover.
Sandgrounders - 2 Little Grebes, 1 Female Sparrowhawk flew right past the hide and close, odd Dunlin + offering of waterfowl as per Nel's Plus Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches etc etc
Merlin reported.
Quiet, but still gets me used to the wellies for a long and exciting Autumn!
-- Edited by John Doherty on Friday 13th of September 2013 08:39:00 PM
Steve Suttill said
Sun Jul 28 5:28 AM, 2013
couple of visits this afternoon and evening:
good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin (only one juv.) and Snipe with a supporting cast of Lapwing, Redshank and Oystercatcher and a solitary Ruff.
I found a "Wood Sandpiper" but the only other guy in the hide reckoned it was a young Redshank. After a while he started to have doubts but then it called and flew off, leaving him relieved and me feeling a bit silly
John Doherty said
Wed Jul 24 8:59 PM, 2013
Another warm, hot day, bar a short rain shower as I was taking the coast route home.
The undoubted highlight was a lifer, several! - C30 passage Sandwich Terns West of the Southport Pier. Also flocks of Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Oystercatchers and Black/tailed Godwits.
Over towards the main RSPB reserve was three Little Egrets on the marsh plus some Redshanks.
Sandgrounders had the main bulk of birds (Nel's was dried out and dead quiet) - the ditch running adjecant to Marshside Road contained 8 Common Snipe and a Common Sandpiper, and the reserve itself had one of each; 1 Avocet, 200+ Black-tailed Godwits, nice Redshanks in front of the hide, Oystercatchers + usuals and there were odd Shelducks on the marsh.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 24th of July 2013 09:01:05 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 24th of July 2013 09:15:34 PM
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Thu Jun 27 11:04 PM, 2013
Short visit, Wednesday, 26th June.
Avocet 2ads 1juv Redshank 2 Oystercatcher 3 Little Egret 2 Common Sandpiper 1 Black-tailed Godwits Shelducks House Martins Swallows Meadow Pipit 1 Skylarks
etc.
Mark Burgess said
Mon Jun 17 5:27 PM, 2013
9.30 -1.30, Highlights.
Sandgrounders hide, Avocet 2 Black Tailed Godwit 100+ Oystercatcher 20+ Redshank 20+ On path to car park Reed Bunting Sedge Warbler Garden Warbler
Out On the salt marsh, Ringed Plover 2 Redshank Linnet Meadow Pipit Skylark
-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Monday 17th of June 2013 05:28:21 PM
John Doherty said
Wed Jun 12 5:26 PM, 2013
Went with my twin brother Jamie to spend much of the day here:
Saltmarsh coming in from town centre- 1 Little Egret, 1 Oystercatcher, some Redshanks, Linnets, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, lots of Reed Buntings, and Starlings, some Wood Pigeon, Canada Goose etc etc
Reserve - Took in all hides including viewing platform - Shelducks, including parents with eight ducklings; Mallard broods x 2, lots of grown Goslings; 22 Avocets, Black Tailed Godwits and Redshanks plenty, Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks, 100+ Dunlins, further Oystercatchers, 1 Swallow, loads of Swifts, some Housemartins, Reed Warbler right in front of Nel's singing and showed, Sedge Warbler heard.
Obviously quiet this time of the year but enjoyable all the same.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 12th of June 2013 05:29:12 PM
John Williams said
Mon Jun 3 8:09 PM, 2013
09.00-11.30
Old Sand Works
12 Linnets, 4 Meadow Pipits and 240 Starlings (2 large flocks containing approx 50% juveniles). Masses of Starlings on the saltmarsh too.
Sandgrounders Area
Just the usual species, lots of half grown chicks amongst the Black Headed Gulls on their small island. Avocets brooding right in front of the hide.
4 adult Canada Geese were shepherding 12 well grown young along in a creche, and forced them to swim in a ditch, the adults took no messing around from the goslings.
Lots of Canada and Greylag goslings elsewhere, families of Mallard etc too.
The Junction Pool held just few Shelduck and gulls.
Nels Hide
6 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, lots of Avocets and Black Tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Ringed Plover dotted around too.
1 Sedge Warbler close to the hide. ( 1 Spotted Flycatcher reported this morning here, but not seen by me)
Hesketh Road
1 Little Egret plus Canada Geese, gulls etc.
John Williams said
Sun May 26 1:41 AM, 2013
09.30-13.00
Apart from a few Meadow Pipits (One carrying a large crane fly) and a Magpie no other birds around the old sand works.
The scrub/bushes along the roadside north of Sandgrounders held 5 Linnets, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Whitethroats and a Dunnock.
Just the usual birds visable from Sandgrounders, including a flock of 75 Black Tailed Godwits, plus 6 Dunlin.
A Peregrine plunged into a swirling mass of panicking godwits at one stage, it did'nt take any, although I got the impression it could of done so if it really tried, then flew across to Crossens Outer.
The breeding Black Headed Gulls are mostly massed on the small island at Sandgrounders, where several have chicks, apparently there as been a lot of predation by foxes elsewhere.
4+ Skylarks in song flight over the outer marsh. Anxious Redshanks virtually everywhere, flying low across the road at car level, I fear some will get clobbered by traffic.
At the Junction Pool, Reed Warblers are showing well, chasing each other around the reed stems, otherwise just the usual waterfowl and gulls.
Nels Hide
The marsh as largely dried up, although the remaining shallow pools in front of the hide suit the waders.
Dunlin and Ringed Plover dotted around, masses of Black Tailed Godwits, plus the highly territorial Avocets which chase the godwits away with vigour when they stray too close.
Hesketh Road
5 Little Egrets and 1 Grey Heron, one of the Little Egrets looked big enough to be the "Great White", and had a neck like a garden hose, but also nape plumes.
1 drake Wigeon, 2 drake Shovelers and a couple of Gadwall are still around.
Several Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies along the roadside, with single Speckled Wood by Nels Hide.
steven burke said
Sat May 4 11:27 PM, 2013
spent the whole day here with the company of mr john Doherty, 53 species seen.
a walk along the beach towards marshside produced a good mixture of waders...
dunlin knot redshank ringed plover grey plover black tailed godwit shelduck skylarks, meadow pipits & linnets. at least 6 wheatears
nels hide..
no signs of the garganeys. small numbers of.. gadwall wigeon shoveler teal pintail tufted duck 30+ avocets several black tailed godwits, dunlins & redshanks scattered around at least 5 ruff 10 little egrets 6 reed warblers, 4 showing very well at one stage at junction pool screen.
sandgrousers hide..
1 common sandpiper, also seen from junction pool screen 1 Mediterranean gull, it moved around a lot and showed well on at least 4 occasions overhead 4 little egret 1 barnacle goose black tailed godwits, dunlins, redshanks & avocets scattered around 1 sedge warbler several whitethroats around small numbers of swallows, sand martins, house martins & swifts
around sand plant..
at least 8 wheatears 20+ linnets & goldfinches
oddly no birds of prey
1 hare & 1 weasel.
still a good day out & 2 lifers for john, glad you had a good day
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 4th of May 2013 11:28:42 PM
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 4th of May 2013 11:30:17 PM
Jon Bowen said
Sat May 4 9:31 PM, 2013
Little Owl on Gravel Lane this morning
Paul Richardson said
Thu Apr 11 2:50 AM, 2013
I was probably passing and re-passing you, John, at Marshside this morning. Saw similar list to yours minus the Ruff and Little Grebe.
Only thing different was that I made my first visit to the end of the sand-haul road for the noon high tide, and was treated to the sight of several thousand Knot +/-Dunlin wheeling around as the tide advanced, as well as a nice group of approx 25 Grey Plover. Lots of Sanderling earlier on at the front edge of the Knot groups. No raptors about though.
It was a 9.3m tide and it didn't really advance onto the salt marsh, which suited me - one of the wardens was telling me you do have to be careful with the really big tides that come through channels which cover parts of the sand haul track.
Great to see the Wheatear in the sand works - spring dawdling along at last?
Paul
PS I'm afraid I wouldn't know an Argentatus Herring Gull if it nicked my sarnies!!
Rob Creek said
Thu Apr 11 12:12 AM, 2013
A late post from Saturday 6th April. Approx 12.30 till 4pm ish.
Very active reserve. From Visotor Centre: plenty of Avocets, Black Tailed Godwits, A few Redshank, 2 Buzzards, 2 Little Egrets, alot of Black Headed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls, a few Duck species...none in any high numbers now incl Wigeon, Pintail, Teal and Tufted.
Nel's Hide: much the same as Visitor Centre minus Buzzards and Egrets. A mixed flock of approx 40 Golden Plover and 20 Lapwing. No sign of any Ruff or Greenland White Fronted Goose but whilst en route between hides, a single goose amongst the other species from viewing screen was a Greylag, due to its large size, thick neck and pink feet.
From the road that splits the 2 hides: Meadow Pipit, Skylark above, 1m 1f Stonechat, and a flock of small wader roughly ~200 doing their aerial acrobatics, probably Knot.
Not to be defeated by the Spoonbill (nobody saw it from the hides) I heard a road of its likely location mentioned and set off to find it. Sure enough after approx a mile following the reserve edge and driving through the estate, I ended up on the far side of the reserve, 4 other birders present and there was the Spoonbill in a ditch so I kept getting head and shoulders, then a bit of preening, but a Spoonbill none the less so well worth the effort. Also a few hundred Pink Footed Geese in the same area.
Mammals: a few Brown Hares knocking about the reserve.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 11th of April 2013 12:15:06 AM
John Williams said
Wed Apr 10 10:21 PM, 2013
09.30-12.30
Old Sand Works
1 Wheatear, 6 Linnets plus lots of Meadow Pipits.
The adjacent saltmarsh held lots of displaying Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Redshank, but no sign of hirundines or any raptors.
Sangrounders
Amongst the mass of noisy Black Headed Gulls were 49 Avocets, plus the usual Black Tailed Godwits, Teal etc.
Junction Pool
A pair of Little Grebes.
Nels Hide + Hesketh Road viewpoint
10 Avocets, 5 Snipe, 2 Ruff, 12 Dunlin and 6 Little Egrets.
8 Pintail plus lots of Teal and Shoveler stiil around, although only a few Wigeon remain.
10 Herring Gulls, 2 Great Black Backs and a huge 3rd winter "Argentatus" Herring Gull.
2 Cormorants were also here, with another on Sandgrounders, I can't recall seeing any here before, as far as I know the pools are too shallow for fish and dry up completely in summer?.
Jon Bowen said
Sun Apr 7 2:28 AM, 2013
8.00 - 12.30 today
Highlights
1 Greenland White Fronted Goose 2 Dark Bellied Brent Geese all three originally seen on the outer marsh from Sandgrounders area before relocating onto the reserve Female Hen Harrier 2 Wheatear 3 Chiffchaff plenty of wildfowl including Pintail, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck 600 Pink Footed Geese including 1 with neck collar Single ringed Black Tail Godwit amongst the many seen other waders including snipe, redshank, Ruff, Lapwing 7 sitings of Little Egret Peregrine 40 Whooper Swans on the estuary
Spoonbill again present this a.m. along with lots of Avocets. Cheers Ian
Doc Brewster said
Thu Mar 28 5:24 AM, 2013
With news that the Spoonbill had started to be seen occasionally I decided to give it another go. So off I popped this afternoon, Marshside only being 45 miles away from my house. A quick scan of the marsh from the Dawlish Drive side revealed the Spoonbill actively feeding but pretty distant. Two flights later & it was feeding just a few metres away in the nearest creek. This allowed me to get the digiscoped shots that I had come for & to get my best ever shots of Spoonbill in th UK. This immature bird showed exceptionally well for a long period & then flew off to a distant creek again. It is obviously doing a circuit of the creeks and if it is on these marshes it is pretty easy to spot from the side of the marsh that I was on. The only down side was that I had to shed my gloves to digiscope & I ended up with excruciating pain in my hands due to the cold, they didn't go numb they just hurt to the point of agony!!! I now sympathise totally with poor Ranulph Fiennes on his recent expedition as his suffering must have been another notch up & I don't know how he stood the pain!!
Rob Creek said
Sat Mar 23 11:21 AM, 2013
Thursday 21st March on Tacho break.
Visitor Centre Hide. Vast numbers of Wigeon everywhere you looked (probably in the hundreds), Avocets in close view (~25-30), Black Tailed Godwits (~20), flock of Skylark doing a tour of the marsh (~25), small flock of Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, few pairs of Gadwall, 2 Curlew flying round the reserve, a few Pintail and Teal, countless Black Headed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls present.
Nel's Hide. High number of Wigeon, some Pintail and Teal, probably ~100+ Golden Plover with a large flock of Lapwing. Avocet ~20-25, high number of Black Headed Gulls, 2 Geese at distance, dark hue plumage especially on rump giving a high contrast with the tail resembled Bean but bill was quite large and broad so probably Greylag Geese. Gull of note bathing, large and was quite pale grey compared to Lesser Black Backed, it lifted up off the water a couple of times but legs were in shadow so can only put it down to Herring Gull.
Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and a large flock of Starlings made up the numbers
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 23rd of March 2013 11:25:55 AM
Doc Brewster said
Thu Mar 21 4:00 AM, 2013
Popped over to Marshside today for the day. A real changeable day weatherwise with some sun, a bit of drizzle and coldish winds, typical Marshside really. Spent lots of time on the far side footpath but despite lengthy searching by me & several other birders the Spoonbill wasn't on show at all - almost ceratinly not on the reserve today, at least between 8am and 4pm as the whole area was watched constantly during this time & even a skulky ditch dweller would have showed briefly once in 8 hours!! There were at least 20 Avocets, some showing down to a couple of metres from the visitor centre. Over 500 Golden Plovers wheeled over the marsh and many showed full summer plumage, stunning. At 8am 5 Whooper Swans flew east over the reserve and there were still q.a few Pink-footed Geese on the outer marsh. Black-tailed Godwits numbered over 50 and Little Egrest were in double figures. A search around the sand plant & a scan of all the grassy areas of the reserve only produced Pied Wagtails & Meadow Pipits with a few Skylarks, none of the hoped for Wheatears or White Wagtails. Finally a Chiffchaff was in full song, probably wondering why he had left warmer climes behind!!
John Doherty said
Tue Mar 19 8:10 AM, 2013
Late post for Saturday -
This was the lowest I'd ever seen the tide in many visits - there were plenty of birds out there but I could only get so far, Walking from the station on the beach produced odd Oystercatcher, Redshanks and Teals.
The reserve had - 1 Little Egret, 1 Spoonbill (distant and brief scope-aided views, it's a ditch dweller!) 10 Avocets ( from Nel's); some Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Pintails, Shelducks, Shovelers, Tufted Ducks, Pochards (for once here!), Black Tailed Godwits, Teals, 5 Little Grebes (2 x pairs from Nel's, 1 at the platform) 100+ Golden Plover.
I went over to the sandworks and stayed for 3 hours, including a venture out to along the saltmarsh. Whne I got there I stood on the raised rubble walls and could see a low raptor following the beach line before dropping down - looked to be the Merlin as it was on a dead tree on the marsh later. A Kestrel hovered over the sandworks, and 3 Reed Buntings put in an appearance, but there was nothing like the single Wheatear (reported around in the week) or Stonechat (2 reported midweek) and certainly not the Hen Harrier and Short Eared Owl (seen that day) there was the constant buzz of Meadow Pipit and Skylarks. Also,
More Redshanks, Black Tailed Godwit, Curlews, Shelducks, 2 Little Egret, 700+ Pink Footed Goose (mostly over and on the marsh)
All in all a pleasant day
-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 19th of March 2013 08:12:39 AM
steven burke said
Sat Feb 23 10:48 PM, 2013
10-6pm 55 species seen.
Along the beach towards marshside, good numbers of...
Knot Dunlin Bar tailed godwit Oystercatcher Redshank Grey plover Ringed plover (several) Lots of curlew & shelduck. Only birds off prey.. 1 merlin 1 kestrel Meadow pipit, skylark & linnet. Hundreds pink footed goose coming in to roost on crossens out marsh late on.
Very quiet at sandgrousers, all usual wildfowl inc.. 4 little egret 2 little grebe
Nels hide...
200+ golden plover 300+ black tailed godwit 8 oystercatcher 9 snipe 7 redshank 2 dunlin 1 little grebe Plus usual pintail, teal, shoveler, tufted duck, wigeon, pochard & gadwall. Stayed in Nels to watch the egrets go to roost, 26 little egrets passed, no signs of great white egret but a nice surprise was a spoonbill Cold but good day out
2 avocets reported on 19th, none today.
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 23rd of February 2013 10:51:48 PM
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 23rd of February 2013 11:04:50 PM
John Williams said
Tue Feb 19 6:39 AM, 2013
11-00-16.00
I must have seen you there Pat, I was viewing the Long Tail from about 15.30-16.00. I put in a couple of hours scanning around lunchtime, but the duck was hidden in the reeds.
Amazing how illusive this female Long Tailed Duck is, the last time I came across one was a male that spent several weeks at Inner Marsh about a decade ago, and he spent
much of time in open water.
No sign of returning Avocets yet, but a pair of Oystercatchers seem to be settling down on the small island at Sandgrounders, Black Headed Gulls are property viewing here too.
There's little to add to Ian's report, the sheer numbers of Wigeon is amazing though. Lots of Shoveler and Pintail too, and most seem paired.
The high water level at Nels is great for ducks, but may make wader viewing difficult now they're starting to move.
The only Pink Footed Geese I could find were a couple of small groups on Crossens Out Marsh, lots of Greylags mixed in with the Canadas though.
A single Yellowhammer and a pair of Grey Partridges were on the old sand works.
A female Merlin and a Buzzard were sat on fence posts at Crossens. 5 Little Egrets here too, and I'm pretty sure a large lankier one way out on the estuary was the Great White.
Another female Merlin was sat on a dead tree stump on the salt marsh opposite Nels, a female Kestrel around here too.
A small group of Skylarks were showing really well just below Marine Drive opposite Nels, if only I'd have brought my camera some cracking photos could of been had.
A group of 15 Curlew were showing really well from the bench at the Hesketh Road end. More Curlew, with Redshank and lots of Black Tailed Godwits around Sandgrounders.
Pat Griffin said
Tue Feb 19 2:59 AM, 2013
3.30-4.50pm Female Long-tailed duck seen from RSPB viewing platform on Hesketh Road.
Ian Boote said
Tue Feb 19 2:34 AM, 2013
Over 1000 each of widgeon and teal as well as shoveler, pintail, shelduck tufted duck, little grebe, little egret, snipe, oystercatcher, curlew, blacktailed godwit, redshank, dunlin snipe common sandpiper, skylark, meadow pipit, pied wagtail flock and other i have missed.
Dennis atherton said
Sat Feb 9 7:17 PM, 2013
Great White Egret distant views from marshside with lots of little Egrets too, just up the road at weld road at the roundabout with the horse and cart, on the beach here 50-60 Twite showing really well
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 9th of February 2013 07:18:02 PM
Martyn Jones said
Tue Jan 15 2:47 AM, 2013
Sun Jan 13:
A good day out with Leigh Ornithological Society to Marshside RSPB produced a variety of birds, starting with a Buzzard in the trees on the approach road from Southport Town Centre.
A Spoonbill was showing well from Marshside Road along with several Little Egrets, although it would disappear down the ditches and streams quite often which made distinguishing it from the Egrets difficult at times Lots of Wigeon, Teal and Lapwing were also in the fields too as well as a single pair of Greylag Geese and a large flock of Canada Geese.
From inside Sandgrounder's Hide, the Great White Egret could be seen on the left side of the reserve, along with a few Black-tailed Godwits and more Wigeon and Teal. Two Little Grebes popped up in front of the hide here.
From Nel's Hide Shoveler, Pintails, Golden Plover, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen and Carrion Crows could be seen, with a Robin and a pair of Dunnocks along the path to the hide. A Peregrine Falcon was also seen perched on a dead trunk out on the salt marsh.
Out on the Sand Haul Road the high tide didn't come in as quickly as last time I was here (when it was quickly surrounded my wellies) due to the lack of wind, but eventually a lot of the Marsh was flooded. The only raptors were distant views of a Peregrine Falcon and a Merlin. Several flocks of Pink-footed Geese flew over as well as a few Redshank and Curlews, but hardly any Oystercatchers or Knot. There were also several Shelduck, Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls. A large flow of Meadow Pipits with some Skylarks was flying around the road and landing in quite large numbers at times. We didn't see any Twite.
On the Marine Lake on the way home I had good close views of three Cormorants and a single female Goldeneye as well as the usual Coots, Moorhens, Mute Swans and various Gulls.
I think that's everything - this area rarely disappoints me.
Nick Isherwood said
Mon Jan 14 2:01 AM, 2013
Had a small family outing to Southport today which just so happened to coincide with the high tide. Whilst having our lunch in the car just south of Marshside I could see a small flock of finches/buntings flying around just beyond the sea wall. Grabbed the bins and went over to investigate and was delighted to find about 30 Twite happily feeding on the shoreline. I had heard these birds are sometimes present during the winter here but a nice find all the same.
Also present was a female Scaup that was associating with some Shelduck just offshore. At one point I even had some Twite and the Scaup in one binocular view.
Ian Campbell said
Fri Jan 4 12:11 AM, 2013
Visit this a.m., excellent morning with huge numbers of all the following; Wigeon, Teal, Black-tailed Godwit, Pink-footed Goose, Knot, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Shellduck; lots of Pintail, Shoveler, Gadwall, Redshank, Curlew. Also saw 2 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 5 Little Egret. Followed advice of a volunteer and near Hesketh Out Marsh saw over 100 Whooper Swan but best was 2 Bewick Swan. Cheers Ian
John Williams said
Thu Dec 27 8:37 AM, 2012
12.00-15.00
Old Sand Plant
A flock of 36 Goldfinches and a single Wren that seems to moving around with them.
Sandgrounders
Masses of Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Lapwing etc. Also plenty of geese, mainly Canadas and Pink Footed plus 20+ Greylags.
50+ Black Tailed Godwits, 6 Little Egrets, 9 Pintails plus a couple of adult Great Black Backed gulls that frequently spooked everything smaller than a goose.
A quick scan across Crossens Outer Marsh (before the heavens opened) revealed masses of Pink Footed Geese, with skein after skein flying in from the direction of Hesketh Bank.
2 Little Egrets on the outer marsh plus a brief glimpse of a big white dot that I'm pretty sure was their bigger cousin, before it disappeared into a gulley.
I checked every post and perch on the Outer Marsh and not a single raptor to be seen anywhere.
It was pouring down so I did'nt check the junction pool for long, but a very brief scan only found a few Coot and Black Headed Gulls.
Nels Hide
40+ Pintail, 10 Pochard, 1 Redshank, 7 Shelduck and 20+ Tufted Ducks plus the usual masses of Wigeon ,Teal and Shoveler.
1 adult Great Black Back with about a dozen Herring Gulls. I checked through the masses of Teal from both hides but no sign of the Green Winged.
John Doherty said
Sat Dec 15 6:35 PM, 2012
Second visit in a week, this one for high-tide today.
From the train in fields past Burscough Bridge - 8 Whooper Swans
Marsh/Beach inward - 1 Oystercatcher, a few Redshank, 2 Peregrines hunting plenty of Curlew and Shelduck
Reserve - All the usual waterfowl, plenty of it. Golf course at the bottom end had a Little Egret and 70 Pink-footed Goose on it, obviously before tee off, 1 Little Egret was on the further bit towards Crossen Inner Marsh, plus some Black-Tailed Godwits were present.
Highlights from high-tide, mainly round the sandworks - Lots of Meadow-Pipits and Skylarks; Redshank, Shelduck, Pink-Footed Goose, 3 or so further Little Egret, also 1 Female Merlin. Also usual stuff, surely some Dunlin in the big flocks which were being spooked) Someone I chatted with had a Grey Plover out there.
Marsh on way back to pier - Common Buzzard, had it inbound, too.
I think it was 3 or 4 Spoonbills had been reported in the log at Sandgrounders - they were at the marina/marsh - tried to latch on to them but no sign, would have been a first for me. Did get a pair of Oystercatcher here though.
A top day out, even if there were no owls
-- Edited by John Doherty on Saturday 15th of December 2012 06:35:53 PM
John Doherty said
Mon Dec 10 1:19 AM, 2012
Great day out to Marshside after a long week - the weather starting off showery, but clearing to leave the stunning sight of a rainbow streaming down onto that horizonless marsh!
From the train past Burscough I always see something interesting - inbound, it was 100-150 Pink-footed Geese; but better than that, coming back home there were 80 or more Whooper Swans on the farmland - only ever seen that single juve at Elton so that was a sight for me!
At Southport, almost the first birds I clapped eyes on was a lifer - a flock of 80 Twite up near the pier and favouring the debris where the tideline would have been. The marsh also had Curlews, Shelducks and several Goldfinch flocks, and there were 8+ Little Egret along its length, mainly lone birds. The reserve had the usual suspects - Wigeon dominated all other waterfowl counts, with some Pintails, Teals, Shovelers etc in. The waders were Black-tailed Godwit (100+) a few Redshanks for show
A Kestrel was hunting from the sewage works
Smashing day with many highlights
sid ashton said
Thu Dec 6 5:17 AM, 2012
Had a quick visit to Marshside this afternoon after visiting family on Merseyside. The highlight had to be watching the big flocks of Knott, from the peace and quite of the marsh edge - very reflective.
Also of interest a juvenile Scaup from Sandgrounders hide.
Ian Boote said
Sun Dec 2 4:42 PM, 2012
Shoreline with large flocks Oystercatcher Redshank, Dunlin Knots and Sanderlings Shelduck several Curlew, Little Egret and Skylark. from the hides viewng points lots of water Kestrel, Loads of Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall Lapwings Black-Tailed Godwits, more Shelduck Greylag Geese and reports of a spoonbill earlier last week
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 04:52:24 PM
John Doherty said
Mon Oct 22 9:05 PM, 2012
Today - the main highlight was constant geese movement in the dim skies over - near a couple of thousand, mainly Pink-Footed Goose, but some Greylag flocks - 600 PF alone flew out towards Blackpool as I was leaving, with many (Pink-footed Geese) scattered on the beach - Also plenty on the reserve itself.
Highlights - Little Grebe (Marina) 6 Little Egret (beach) plenty of Shelduck on the foreshore, too.
Main reserve - Lots of Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, some Pintails, odd Gadwalls, odd Curlews/possibly Whimbrel, 100+ Black-tailed Godwits Crossen Inner Marsh - 1 Little Egret
Outmarsh - Little Egret 16 (probably inclusive of the six from the beach earlier) some Redshank (10) 1 Hunting Kestrel prevented a raptor whitewash Goldfinch flock was just that - sadly no Brambling or Siskin
-- Edited by John Doherty on Monday 22nd of October 2012 09:10:47 PM
Ian Boote said
Sat Sep 22 8:58 PM, 2012
Called in on way back from Leighton main action was on shore but two Reed Warblers and widgeon in addition to similar as last sightings at Nells Blue-Winged Teal not reported by birders today Most action on Shoreline with at least 1000 Pink-Footed Geese in a huge number of groups moving onto the mud flats from the fields and further afield. Huge flocks of mixed waders Black-Tailed Godwit, Redshank, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Dunlin, Greenshank, Snipe, sure Whimbrel, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, large stands of Knots and Sanderlings Shelduck lapwing thousands of birds an tons of mud.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 08:59:01 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 09:26:36 PM
Ian Boote said
Thu Sep 20 7:16 PM, 2012
First visit
went to viewing platform and a number of birders with good scopes were pointing out the blue-winged teal on the basis of the white face mark. Went to Nells as I wanted to see more Hundreds of Redshank, loads of Shoveler and Teal, Little Grebes, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, in the fields Curlew, Lapwing, Pink-footed Geese
Road between the Hides going east Little Egret in a ditch about 10 metres away and a Merlin flushed from hedge
Sound Grounders hide a very chatty chap and not much else
Sea Shore/salt marsh 100 Pink-footed Geese, 50 Shelduck 50 Oystercatcher, flushed Snipe, Many Groups of Ringed Plover, Curlew, Dunlin, Knot, Redshank, Bar Tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Cormorant Lesser and Greater Black-backed Gulls, more Little Egret, Swallow, House Martin, one skylark, flock of goldfinch lots of meadow pipits.
and down towards the pier several large clouds of waders moving about.
Top site don't miss the seashore but take your wellies.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 20th of September 2012 08:15:54 PM
Doc Brewster said
Thu Sep 20 4:48 AM, 2012
The Blue-winged Teal was seen again today on Junction Pool at 4pm, sorry it went missing yesterday, Martyn
Martyn Jones said
Wed Sep 19 5:56 AM, 2012
I had a great day out at Marshside today on one of the RSPB's Big Tide Walks. Here's a rundown of what I saw:
The Sand Road 1 Kestrel Loads of Swallows in the air, and a large group of at least 25 on the ground Five or six Little Egrets Lots of Oystercatchers, Shelduck, Curlews and Cormorants in a continual flypast as the tide rolled in Fantastic views of several Dunlin and Knot on the ground (down to just 2 metres) Many Ringed Plovers which were a lot more skittish Several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits 2 Carrion Crows 2 Grey Herons Many Gulls quartering the marsh for flushed rodents Many distant swirling 'clouds' of Starlings and Dunlin
A sight that I've never seen before was that of a large mixed group of Starlings and Swallows (50-ish birds in total) flying low above the marsh vegetation, presumably to flush insects? When the Swallows had flown about 10 metres they'd veer up into the air and fly back to the start of the party and begin again. The whole flock thus slowly rolled forward down the marsh - stunning teamwork which I'd be interested to hear more about if anyone knows of this behaviour.
Soundgrounders Hide Coffee and not much else
Nel's Hide Lots of Black-tailed Godwits 1 Little Grebe 2 Pink-footed Geese Over 1 Redshank 1 Sparrowhawk which flew straight across the hide window 2 Little Egrets 1 Grey Heron 1 Canada Goose Some Teal (none of the blue-winged variety though) Several Shovelers (males starting to get winter plumage) 2 Mute Swans Several Mallards Many Coots 2 Moorhens Loads of House Martins skimming the water 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
I can thoroughly recommend the Marshside area (if not always Soundgrounders Hide) for a day out that has never disappointed me.
sid ashton said
Tue Sep 18 1:28 AM, 2012
For anyone interested, photographs and write up on the Blue-winged Teal on John Dempsey's blog:-
http://birdblog.merseyblogs.co.uk/
Phil Panton said
Mon Sep 17 1:51 PM, 2012
Blue Winged Teal reported on Junction Pool from late Sunday (16th) morning
Doc Brewster said
Mon Sep 17 9:19 AM, 2012
Spoke to a mate who lives locally just after the pager report. He confirmed the bird was a Blue-winged Teal, most likely a female or juvenile bird (imm male mooted on a local blog). It was watched in poor conditions, squally rain, but was not present a short time later and as of 8.30am today there was still no sign. Definitely one to keep an eye out for over the next few days as it could well settle down with the local ducks
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 17th of September 2012 09:24:00 AM
John Williams said
Fri Sep 14 3:54 AM, 2012
15.00-18.00
Old Sand Plant
1 Wheatear
Viewable from Sandgrounders
Work was being carried out on this section of marsh so there were few birds about.
600+ Pink Footed Geese arrived in a procession of skeins, but then dispersed to the outer marsh.
Outer Marsh (Crossons)
6 Little Egrets, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 6 Curlew plus usual gulls, Starlings etc.
Viewable from Nels
540 Black Tailed Godwits, 12 Snipe, 3 Golden Plover, 3 Little Grebes, 1 female Sparrowhawk plus the usual waterfowl and gulls.
Throughout there was a steady stream of Swallows and House Martins moving South, with them were 3 Sand Martins
Gary Gorner said
Wed Sep 5 7:24 PM, 2012
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Dead zone? Early September
I'm kinda with John on this one though and the use of a nice JCB to enlarge the scrape in front of the hide wouldn't go a miss
Just what I was thinking a lot of dry grassy areas around sandgrounder that could be made into a massive scrape,then we would see how many Avocets would breed in one area.Its a shame to have an area so close to all those waders with 1 moorhen in the whole area today,and with petrol prices the way they are going ,they need to do something to persuade people to travel,and for the time being its off my list.I would rather go to Ainsdale and see thousands of waders .
good ideas chaps im just anticipating the return of the wildfowl ,cant wait, It wont be long now
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Sep 5 4:23 AM, 2012
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Dead zone? Early September
I'm kinda with John on this one though and the use of a nice JCB to enlarge the scrape in front of the hide wouldn't go a miss
Just what I was thinking a lot of dry grassy areas around sandgrounder that could be made into a massive scrape,then we would see how many Avocets would breed in one area.Its a shame to have an area so close to all those waders with 1 moorhen in the whole area today,and with petrol prices the way they are going ,they need to do something to persuade people to travel,and for the time being its off my list.I would rather go to Ainsdale and see thousands of waders .
Ross's Goose 1...It's about time Ross came to collect his Goose!
Long-tailed Duck 1f
Merlin 1m
Sparrowhawk 1
Little Egret 2
Golden Plover 200+
Lapwing 500+
Black-tailed Godwit 500+
Curlews
Wigeons
Pintails
Teal
Gadwall
Shovelers
Shelducks
Pink-footed Geese 1000+
etc.etc.etc. The numbers are a bit guessametrical but there were lots of birds!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 15th of November 2013 09:07:14 PM
along the beach...
lots of redshanks, oystercatchers, curlews, shelducks
more waders but distant due to low tide.
1 knot, 9 snipe, 1 merlin, 2 little egrets
meadow pipits, skylarks & linnets flying around.
nels hide...
huge numbers of teal, wigeon, pintails & black tailed godwits
pink footed geese scattered around
5 ruff, 1 sparrrowhawk.
sandgrousers hide...
much the same as nels with hundreds of golden plovers with the lapwings
ross's goose on the pool.
outer marsh...
hundreds of pink footed geese
1 kestrel, 1 buzzard, 1 peregrine falcon, 8 little egrets
goldfinches, linnets, meadow pipits & skylarks around old sand works.
got comfy on the bench looking onto rimmers marsh around 3.35pm to watch the egret roost, ideal position, 46 little egrets passed over me then the 47th & 48th was the great white egrets
2 Merlin
2 Peregrines
2 Sparrowhawks
On the shore
Grey Plover
Sanderling (90)
Oystercatcher
Barnacle Goose
Black -Tailed Godwits
Teal
Wigeon
and the Ross's Goose (??)
Approx 40 Pink-footed Geese flew toward the office on Wennington Road and then changed direction toward Marshside
Today 8am: another 200 approx Pink-footed Geese over Southport on the way in to work
Beach - Couple of Little Egrets, Dunlin flock (aka quiet)
Nel's - 12 Snipe, 1 Ruff, nos of Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Ringed Plover.
Sandgrounders - 2 Little Grebes, 1 Female Sparrowhawk flew right past the hide and close, odd Dunlin + offering of waterfowl as per Nel's
Plus Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches etc etc
Merlin reported.
Quiet, but still gets me used to the wellies for a long and exciting Autumn!
-- Edited by John Doherty on Friday 13th of September 2013 08:39:00 PM
good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin (only one juv.) and Snipe with a supporting cast of Lapwing, Redshank and Oystercatcher and a solitary Ruff.
I found a "Wood Sandpiper" but the only other guy in the hide reckoned it was a young Redshank. After a while he started to have doubts but then it called and flew off, leaving him relieved and me feeling a bit silly
The undoubted highlight was a lifer, several! - C30 passage Sandwich Terns West of the Southport Pier. Also flocks of Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Oystercatchers and Black/tailed Godwits.
Over towards the main RSPB reserve was three Little Egrets on the marsh plus some Redshanks.
Sandgrounders had the main bulk of birds (Nel's was dried out and dead quiet) - the ditch running adjecant to Marshside Road contained 8 Common Snipe and a Common Sandpiper, and the reserve itself had one of each; 1 Avocet, 200+ Black-tailed Godwits, nice Redshanks in front of the hide, Oystercatchers + usuals and there were odd Shelducks on the marsh.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 24th of July 2013 09:01:05 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 24th of July 2013 09:15:34 PM
Avocet 2ads 1juv
Redshank 2
Oystercatcher 3
Little Egret 2
Common Sandpiper 1
Black-tailed Godwits
Shelducks
House Martins
Swallows
Meadow Pipit 1
Skylarks
etc.
Sandgrounders hide,
Avocet 2
Black Tailed Godwit 100+
Oystercatcher 20+
Redshank 20+
On path to car park
Reed Bunting
Sedge Warbler
Garden Warbler
Junction Pool,
Avocet 2+1 chick
Little Egret
Nel's hide,
Reed Warbler
Dunlin 50+
Black Tailed Godwit 70
Redshank 16
Out On the salt marsh,
Ringed Plover 2
Redshank
Linnet
Meadow Pipit
Skylark
-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Monday 17th of June 2013 05:28:21 PM
Saltmarsh coming in from town centre- 1 Little Egret, 1 Oystercatcher, some Redshanks, Linnets, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, lots of Reed Buntings, and Starlings, some Wood Pigeon, Canada Goose etc etc
Reserve - Took in all hides including viewing platform - Shelducks, including parents with eight ducklings; Mallard broods x 2, lots of grown Goslings; 22 Avocets, Black Tailed Godwits and Redshanks plenty, Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks, 100+ Dunlins, further Oystercatchers, 1 Swallow, loads of Swifts, some Housemartins, Reed Warbler right in front of Nel's singing and showed, Sedge Warbler heard.
Obviously quiet this time of the year but enjoyable all the same.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 12th of June 2013 05:29:12 PM
Old Sand Works
12 Linnets, 4 Meadow Pipits and 240 Starlings (2 large flocks containing approx 50% juveniles). Masses of Starlings on the saltmarsh too.
Sandgrounders Area
Just the usual species, lots of half grown chicks amongst the Black Headed Gulls on their small island. Avocets brooding right in front of the hide.
4 adult Canada Geese were shepherding 12 well grown young along in a creche, and forced them to swim in a ditch, the adults took no messing around from the goslings.
Lots of Canada and Greylag goslings elsewhere, families of Mallard etc too.
The Junction Pool held just few Shelduck and gulls.
Nels Hide
6 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, lots of Avocets and Black Tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Ringed Plover dotted around too.
1 Sedge Warbler close to the hide. ( 1 Spotted Flycatcher reported this morning here, but not seen by me)
Hesketh Road
1 Little Egret plus Canada Geese, gulls etc.
Apart from a few Meadow Pipits (One carrying a large crane fly) and a Magpie no other birds around the old sand works.
The scrub/bushes along the roadside north of Sandgrounders held 5 Linnets, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Whitethroats and a Dunnock.
Just the usual birds visable from Sandgrounders, including a flock of 75 Black Tailed Godwits, plus 6 Dunlin.
A Peregrine plunged into a swirling mass of panicking godwits at one stage, it did'nt take any, although I got the impression it could of done so if it really tried, then flew across to Crossens Outer.
The breeding Black Headed Gulls are mostly massed on the small island at Sandgrounders, where several have chicks, apparently there as been a lot of predation by foxes elsewhere.
4+ Skylarks in song flight over the outer marsh. Anxious Redshanks virtually everywhere, flying low across the road at car level, I fear some will get clobbered by traffic.
At the Junction Pool, Reed Warblers are showing well, chasing each other around the reed stems, otherwise just the usual waterfowl and gulls.
Nels Hide
The marsh as largely dried up, although the remaining shallow pools in front of the hide suit the waders.
Dunlin and Ringed Plover dotted around, masses of Black Tailed Godwits, plus the highly territorial Avocets which chase the godwits away with vigour when they stray too close.
Hesketh Road
5 Little Egrets and 1 Grey Heron, one of the Little Egrets looked big enough to be the "Great White", and had a neck like a garden hose, but also nape plumes.
1 drake Wigeon, 2 drake Shovelers and a couple of Gadwall are still around.
Several Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies along the roadside, with single Speckled Wood by Nels Hide.
a walk along the beach towards marshside produced a good mixture of waders...
dunlin
knot
redshank
ringed plover
grey plover
black tailed godwit
shelduck
skylarks, meadow pipits & linnets. at least 6 wheatears
nels hide..
no signs of the garganeys.
small numbers of..
gadwall
wigeon
shoveler
teal
pintail
tufted duck
30+ avocets
several black tailed godwits, dunlins & redshanks scattered around
at least 5 ruff
10 little egrets
6 reed warblers, 4 showing very well at one stage at junction pool screen.
sandgrousers hide..
1 common sandpiper, also seen from junction pool screen
1 Mediterranean gull, it moved around a lot and showed well on at least 4 occasions overhead
4 little egret
1 barnacle goose
black tailed godwits, dunlins, redshanks & avocets scattered around
1 sedge warbler
several whitethroats around
small numbers of swallows, sand martins, house martins & swifts
around sand plant..
at least 8 wheatears
20+ linnets & goldfinches
oddly no birds of prey
1 hare & 1 weasel.
still a good day out & 2 lifers for john, glad you had a good day
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 4th of May 2013 11:28:42 PM
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 4th of May 2013 11:30:17 PM
Only thing different was that I made my first visit to the end of the sand-haul road for the noon high tide, and was treated to the sight of several thousand Knot +/-Dunlin wheeling around as the tide advanced, as well as a nice group of approx 25 Grey Plover. Lots of Sanderling earlier on at the front edge of the Knot groups. No raptors about though.
It was a 9.3m tide and it didn't really advance onto the salt marsh, which suited me - one of the wardens was telling me you do have to be careful with the really big tides that come through channels which cover parts of the sand haul track.
Great to see the Wheatear in the sand works - spring dawdling along at last?
Paul
PS I'm afraid I wouldn't know an Argentatus Herring Gull if it nicked my sarnies!!
Very active reserve. From Visotor Centre: plenty of Avocets, Black Tailed Godwits, A few Redshank, 2 Buzzards, 2 Little Egrets, alot of Black Headed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls, a few Duck species...none in any high numbers now incl Wigeon, Pintail, Teal and Tufted.
Nel's Hide: much the same as Visitor Centre minus Buzzards and Egrets. A mixed flock of approx 40 Golden Plover and 20 Lapwing. No sign of any Ruff or Greenland White Fronted Goose but whilst en route between hides, a single goose amongst the other species from viewing screen was a Greylag, due to its large size, thick neck and pink feet.
From the road that splits the 2 hides: Meadow Pipit, Skylark above, 1m 1f Stonechat, and a flock of small wader roughly ~200 doing their aerial acrobatics, probably Knot.
Not to be defeated by the Spoonbill (nobody saw it from the hides) I heard a road of its likely location mentioned and set off to find it. Sure enough after approx a mile following the reserve edge and driving through the estate, I ended up on the far side of the reserve, 4 other birders present and there was the Spoonbill in a ditch so I kept getting head and shoulders, then a bit of preening, but a Spoonbill none the less so well worth the effort. Also a few hundred Pink Footed Geese in the same area.
Mammals: a few Brown Hares knocking about the reserve.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 11th of April 2013 12:15:06 AM
Old Sand Works
1 Wheatear, 6 Linnets plus lots of Meadow Pipits.
The adjacent saltmarsh held lots of displaying Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Redshank, but no sign of hirundines or any raptors.
Sangrounders
Amongst the mass of noisy Black Headed Gulls were 49 Avocets, plus the usual Black Tailed Godwits, Teal etc.
Junction Pool
A pair of Little Grebes.
Nels Hide + Hesketh Road viewpoint
10 Avocets, 5 Snipe, 2 Ruff, 12 Dunlin and 6 Little Egrets.
8 Pintail plus lots of Teal and Shoveler stiil around, although only a few Wigeon remain.
10 Herring Gulls, 2 Great Black Backs and a huge 3rd winter "Argentatus" Herring Gull.
2 Cormorants were also here, with another on Sandgrounders, I can't recall seeing any here before, as far as I know the pools are too shallow for fish and dry up completely in summer?.
Highlights
1 Greenland White Fronted Goose
2 Dark Bellied Brent Geese
all three originally seen on the outer marsh from Sandgrounders area before relocating onto the reserve
Female Hen Harrier
2 Wheatear
3 Chiffchaff
plenty of wildfowl including Pintail, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck
600 Pink Footed Geese including 1 with neck collar
Single ringed Black Tail Godwit amongst the many seen
other waders including snipe, redshank, Ruff, Lapwing
7 sitings of Little Egret
Peregrine
40 Whooper Swans on the estuary
Hi Kev, I assume these were Black-tailed Godwits?
1 Spoonbill
12+ Avocet
Numerous BT Godwits
Cheers Ian
Visitor Centre Hide. Vast numbers of Wigeon everywhere you looked (probably in the hundreds), Avocets in close view
(~25-30), Black Tailed Godwits (~20), flock of Skylark doing a tour of the marsh (~25), small flock of Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, few pairs of Gadwall, 2 Curlew flying round the reserve, a few Pintail and Teal, countless Black Headed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls present.
Nel's Hide. High number of Wigeon, some Pintail and Teal, probably ~100+ Golden Plover with a large flock of Lapwing. Avocet ~20-25, high number of Black Headed Gulls, 2 Geese at distance, dark hue plumage especially on rump giving a high contrast with the tail resembled Bean but bill was quite large and broad so probably Greylag Geese.
Gull of note bathing, large and was quite pale grey compared to Lesser Black Backed, it lifted up off the water a couple of times but legs were in shadow so can only put it down to Herring Gull.
Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and a large flock of Starlings made up the numbers
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 23rd of March 2013 11:25:55 AM
This was the lowest I'd ever seen the tide in many visits - there were plenty of birds out there but I could only get so far,
Walking from the station on the beach produced odd Oystercatcher, Redshanks and Teals.
The reserve had - 1 Little Egret, 1 Spoonbill (distant and brief scope-aided views, it's a ditch dweller!) 10 Avocets ( from Nel's); some Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Pintails, Shelducks, Shovelers, Tufted Ducks, Pochards (for once here!), Black Tailed Godwits, Teals, 5 Little Grebes (2 x pairs from Nel's, 1 at the platform) 100+ Golden Plover.
I went over to the sandworks and stayed for 3 hours, including a venture out to along the saltmarsh. Whne I got there I stood on the raised rubble walls and could see a low raptor following the beach line before dropping down - looked to be the Merlin as it was on a dead tree on the marsh later. A Kestrel hovered over the sandworks, and 3 Reed Buntings put in an appearance, but there was nothing like the single Wheatear (reported around in the week) or Stonechat (2 reported midweek) and certainly not the Hen Harrier and Short Eared Owl (seen that day) there was the constant buzz of Meadow Pipit and Skylarks. Also,
More Redshanks, Black Tailed Godwit, Curlews, Shelducks, 2 Little Egret, 700+ Pink Footed Goose (mostly over and on the marsh)
All in all a pleasant day
-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 19th of March 2013 08:12:39 AM
Along the beach towards marshside, good numbers of...
Knot
Dunlin
Bar tailed godwit
Oystercatcher
Redshank
Grey plover
Ringed plover (several)
Lots of curlew & shelduck.
Only birds off prey..
1 merlin
1 kestrel
Meadow pipit, skylark & linnet.
Hundreds pink footed goose coming in to roost on crossens out marsh late on.
Very quiet at sandgrousers, all usual wildfowl inc..
4 little egret
2 little grebe
Nels hide...
200+ golden plover
300+ black tailed godwit
8 oystercatcher
9 snipe
7 redshank
2 dunlin
1 little grebe
Plus usual pintail, teal, shoveler, tufted duck, wigeon, pochard & gadwall.
Stayed in Nels to watch the egrets go to roost, 26 little egrets passed, no signs of great white egret but a nice surprise was a spoonbill
Cold but good day out
2 avocets reported on 19th, none today.
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 23rd of February 2013 10:51:48 PM
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 23rd of February 2013 11:04:50 PM
I must have seen you there Pat, I was viewing the Long Tail from about 15.30-16.00. I put in a couple of hours scanning around lunchtime, but the duck was hidden in the reeds.
Amazing how illusive this female Long Tailed Duck is, the last time I came across one was a male that spent several weeks at Inner Marsh about a decade ago, and he spent
much of time in open water.
No sign of returning Avocets yet, but a pair of Oystercatchers seem to be settling down on the small island at Sandgrounders, Black Headed Gulls are property viewing here too.
There's little to add to Ian's report, the sheer numbers of Wigeon is amazing though. Lots of Shoveler and Pintail too, and most seem paired.
The high water level at Nels is great for ducks, but may make wader viewing difficult now they're starting to move.
The only Pink Footed Geese I could find were a couple of small groups on Crossens Out Marsh, lots of Greylags mixed in with the Canadas though.
A single Yellowhammer and a pair of Grey Partridges were on the old sand works.
A female Merlin and a Buzzard were sat on fence posts at Crossens. 5 Little Egrets here too, and I'm pretty sure a large lankier one way out on the estuary was the Great White.
Another female Merlin was sat on a dead tree stump on the salt marsh opposite Nels, a female Kestrel around here too.
A small group of Skylarks were showing really well just below Marine Drive opposite Nels, if only I'd have brought my camera some cracking photos could of been had.
A group of 15 Curlew were showing really well from the bench at the Hesketh Road end. More Curlew, with Redshank and lots of Black Tailed Godwits around Sandgrounders.
Female Long-tailed duck seen from RSPB viewing platform on Hesketh Road.
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 9th of February 2013 07:18:02 PM
A good day out with Leigh Ornithological Society to Marshside RSPB produced a variety of birds, starting with a Buzzard in the trees on the approach road from Southport Town Centre.
A Spoonbill was showing well from Marshside Road along with several Little Egrets, although it would disappear down the ditches and streams quite often which made distinguishing it from the Egrets difficult at times Lots of Wigeon, Teal and Lapwing were also in the fields too as well as a single pair of Greylag Geese and a large flock of Canada Geese.
From inside Sandgrounder's Hide, the Great White Egret could be seen on the left side of the reserve, along with a few Black-tailed Godwits and more Wigeon and Teal. Two Little Grebes popped up in front of the hide here.
From Nel's Hide Shoveler, Pintails, Golden Plover, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen and Carrion Crows could be seen, with a Robin and a pair of Dunnocks along the path to the hide. A Peregrine Falcon was also seen perched on a dead trunk out on the salt marsh.
Out on the Sand Haul Road the high tide didn't come in as quickly as last time I was here (when it was quickly surrounded my wellies) due to the lack of wind, but eventually a lot of the Marsh was flooded. The only raptors were distant views of a Peregrine Falcon and a Merlin. Several flocks of Pink-footed Geese flew over as well as a few Redshank and Curlews, but hardly any Oystercatchers or Knot. There were also several Shelduck, Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls. A large flow of Meadow Pipits with some Skylarks was flying around the road and landing in quite large numbers at times. We didn't see any Twite.
On the Marine Lake on the way home I had good close views of three Cormorants and a single female Goldeneye as well as the usual Coots, Moorhens, Mute Swans and various Gulls.
I think that's everything - this area rarely disappoints me.
Also present was a female Scaup that was associating with some Shelduck just offshore. At one point I even had some Twite and the Scaup in one binocular view.
Cheers Ian
Old Sand Plant
A flock of 36 Goldfinches and a single Wren that seems to moving around with them.
Sandgrounders
Masses of Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Lapwing etc. Also plenty of geese, mainly Canadas and Pink Footed plus 20+ Greylags.
50+ Black Tailed Godwits, 6 Little Egrets, 9 Pintails plus a couple of adult Great Black Backed gulls that frequently spooked everything smaller than a goose.
A quick scan across Crossens Outer Marsh (before the heavens opened) revealed masses of Pink Footed Geese, with skein after skein flying in from the direction of Hesketh Bank.
2 Little Egrets on the outer marsh plus a brief glimpse of a big white dot that I'm pretty sure was their bigger cousin, before it disappeared into a gulley.
I checked every post and perch on the Outer Marsh and not a single raptor to be seen anywhere.
It was pouring down so I did'nt check the junction pool for long, but a very brief scan only found a few Coot and Black Headed Gulls.
Nels Hide
40+ Pintail, 10 Pochard, 1 Redshank, 7 Shelduck and 20+ Tufted Ducks plus the usual masses of Wigeon ,Teal and Shoveler.
1 adult Great Black Back with about a dozen Herring Gulls. I checked through the masses of Teal from both hides but no sign of the Green Winged.
From the train in fields past Burscough Bridge - 8 Whooper Swans
Marsh/Beach inward - 1 Oystercatcher, a few Redshank, 2 Peregrines hunting plenty of Curlew and Shelduck
Reserve -
All the usual waterfowl, plenty of it. Golf course at the bottom end had a Little Egret and 70 Pink-footed Goose on it, obviously before tee off, 1 Little Egret was on the further bit towards Crossen Inner Marsh, plus some Black-Tailed Godwits were present.
Highlights from high-tide, mainly round the sandworks -
Lots of Meadow-Pipits and Skylarks; Redshank, Shelduck, Pink-Footed Goose, 3 or so further Little Egret, also 1 Female Merlin.
Also usual stuff, surely some Dunlin in the big flocks which were being spooked) Someone I chatted with had a Grey Plover out there.
Marsh on way back to pier - Common Buzzard, had it inbound, too.
I think it was 3 or 4 Spoonbills had been reported in the log at Sandgrounders - they were at the marina/marsh - tried to latch on to them but no sign, would have been a first for me. Did get a pair of Oystercatcher here though.
A top day out, even if there were no owls
-- Edited by John Doherty on Saturday 15th of December 2012 06:35:53 PM
From the train past Burscough I always see something interesting - inbound, it was 100-150 Pink-footed Geese; but better than that, coming back home there were 80 or more Whooper Swans on the farmland - only ever seen that single juve at Elton so that was a sight for me!
At Southport, almost the first birds I clapped eyes on was a lifer - a flock of 80 Twite up near the pier and favouring the debris where the tideline would have been.
The marsh also had Curlews, Shelducks and several Goldfinch flocks, and there were 8+ Little Egret along its length, mainly lone birds.
The reserve had the usual suspects - Wigeon dominated all other waterfowl counts, with some Pintails, Teals, Shovelers etc in.
The waders were Black-tailed Godwit (100+) a few Redshanks for show
A Kestrel was hunting from the sewage works
Smashing day with many highlights
Also of interest a juvenile Scaup from Sandgrounders hide.
Shoreline with large flocks Oystercatcher Redshank, Dunlin Knots and Sanderlings Shelduck several Curlew, Little Egret and Skylark.
from the hides viewng points lots of water Kestrel, Loads of Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall Lapwings Black-Tailed Godwits, more Shelduck Greylag Geese and reports of a spoonbill earlier last week
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 04:52:24 PM
Highlights - Little Grebe (Marina)
6 Little Egret (beach) plenty of Shelduck on the foreshore, too.
Main reserve - Lots of Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, some Pintails, odd Gadwalls, odd Curlews/possibly Whimbrel, 100+ Black-tailed Godwits
Crossen Inner Marsh - 1 Little Egret
Outmarsh - Little Egret 16 (probably inclusive of the six from the beach earlier) some Redshank (10)
1 Hunting Kestrel prevented a raptor whitewash
Goldfinch flock was just that - sadly no Brambling or Siskin
-- Edited by John Doherty on Monday 22nd of October 2012 09:10:47 PM
Most action on Shoreline with at least 1000 Pink-Footed Geese in a huge number of groups moving onto the mud flats from the fields and further afield. Huge flocks of mixed waders Black-Tailed Godwit, Redshank, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Dunlin, Greenshank, Snipe, sure Whimbrel, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, large stands of Knots and Sanderlings Shelduck lapwing thousands of birds an tons of mud.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 08:59:01 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 09:26:36 PM
went to viewing platform and a number of birders with good scopes were pointing out the blue-winged teal on the basis of the white face mark.
Went to Nells as I wanted to see more
Hundreds of Redshank, loads of Shoveler and Teal, Little Grebes, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, in the fields Curlew, Lapwing, Pink-footed Geese
Road between the Hides going east Little Egret in a ditch about 10 metres away and a Merlin flushed from hedge
Sound Grounders hide a very chatty chap and not much else
Sea Shore/salt marsh
100 Pink-footed Geese, 50 Shelduck 50 Oystercatcher, flushed Snipe, Many Groups of Ringed Plover, Curlew, Dunlin, Knot, Redshank, Bar Tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Cormorant Lesser and Greater Black-backed Gulls, more Little Egret, Swallow, House Martin, one skylark, flock of goldfinch lots of meadow pipits.
and down towards the pier several large clouds of waders moving about.
Top site don't miss the seashore but take your wellies.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 20th of September 2012 08:15:54 PM
The Sand Road
1 Kestrel
Loads of Swallows in the air, and a large group of at least 25 on the ground
Five or six Little Egrets
Lots of Oystercatchers, Shelduck, Curlews and Cormorants in a continual flypast as the tide rolled in
Fantastic views of several Dunlin and Knot on the ground (down to just 2 metres)
Many Ringed Plovers which were a lot more skittish
Several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits
2 Carrion Crows
2 Grey Herons
Many Gulls quartering the marsh for flushed rodents
Many distant swirling 'clouds' of Starlings and Dunlin
A sight that I've never seen before was that of a large mixed group of Starlings and Swallows (50-ish birds in total) flying low above the marsh vegetation, presumably to flush insects? When the Swallows had flown about 10 metres they'd veer up into the air and fly back to the start of the party and begin again. The whole flock thus slowly rolled forward down the marsh - stunning teamwork which I'd be interested to hear more about if anyone knows of this behaviour.
Soundgrounders Hide
Coffee and not much else
Nel's Hide
Lots of Black-tailed Godwits
1 Little Grebe
2 Pink-footed Geese Over
1 Redshank
1 Sparrowhawk which flew straight across the hide window
2 Little Egrets
1 Grey Heron
1 Canada Goose
Some Teal (none of the blue-winged variety though)
Several Shovelers (males starting to get winter plumage)
2 Mute Swans
Several Mallards
Many Coots
2 Moorhens
Loads of House Martins skimming the water
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
I can thoroughly recommend the Marshside area (if not always Soundgrounders Hide) for a day out that has never disappointed me.
For anyone interested, photographs and write up on the Blue-winged Teal on John Dempsey's blog:-
http://birdblog.merseyblogs.co.uk/
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 17th of September 2012 09:24:00 AM
Old Sand Plant
1 Wheatear
Viewable from Sandgrounders
Work was being carried out on this section of marsh so there were few birds about.
600+ Pink Footed Geese arrived in a procession of skeins, but then dispersed to the outer marsh.
Outer Marsh (Crossons)
6 Little Egrets, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 6 Curlew plus usual gulls, Starlings etc.
Viewable from Nels
540 Black Tailed Godwits, 12 Snipe, 3 Golden Plover, 3 Little Grebes, 1 female Sparrowhawk plus the usual waterfowl and gulls.
Throughout there was a steady stream of Swallows and House Martins moving South, with them were 3 Sand Martins
good ideas chaps im just anticipating the return of the wildfowl ,cant wait, It wont be long now
Just what I was thinking a lot of dry grassy areas around sandgrounder that could be made into a massive scrape,then we would see how many Avocets would breed in one area.Its a shame to have an area so close to all those waders with 1 moorhen in the whole area today,and with petrol prices the way they are going ,they need to do something to persuade people to travel,and for the time being its off my list.I would rather go to Ainsdale and see thousands of waders .