Popped to Marshside after a stroll along the beach and woods at nearby Formby yesterday between 3:30 and 4:30pm. No sign of the Dowitcher when I was there, but plenty of other birds:

Ruddy Duck 1
Black-tailed Godwit 70+
Curlew Sandpiper 1
Dunlin 12
Avocet 30+

Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat all over the place. Still a few Wigeon hanging about, plus Teal, Shoveller and a few other waterfowl. Always a lovely spot, but shem the yanky bird wasn't out playing. Lapwing, Redshank and Shelduck all across site too, plus the odd huge Hare running about!

-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Tuesday 4th of May 2010 01:28:31 PM

1/5/10

Marshside RSPB:

The fine summer-plumaged Long-billed Dowitcher was on show again early this morning, on Rimmers Marsh, viewable from the bank (I am tall ! ) between the second screen and Nels Hide....Also present:

60+ Black-tailed Godwit
5+ Dunlin
Redshanks
Oystercatchers
12 Avocet
4 Wheatears round the sand-plant
10+ Linnet
6 Sedge Warbler
2 Whitethroat
millions of singing Skylarks, Swifts, Swallows etc..etc

Visited Martin Mere on way home this afternoon. A Bean Goose and a Garganey have been seen today, but I didn't see them, as only a feeting visit. Still 200+ Pink-footed about, a dozen or so Whooper Swans and remnants of other winter waterfowl. Of note species I saw were:

Dunlin 2
Little Ringed Plover 2
Ringed Plover 1
Avocet 50+
Redshank 20+
Ruff 4
Swift 12
Swallow 30+
House Martin 10+

Most of the commoner warblers are knocking about and singing, plus the usual Tree Sparrows, GS Woodpecker and a Gropper singing too.

29/04/2010 - Couple of hours here with my Uncle from 10.40am at Marshside RSPB. Ended up missing a Long-billed Dowitcher by just half an hour but that didn't detract from the wealth of things to look at on the reserve and adjacent saltmarsh. Reported there this
morning but not seen by me were Marsh Harrier, Whinchat and Greenshank. Stuff seen included:

1 Spotted Redshank
22 Avocets
15 Wheatears (sandworks)
1 Peregrine (saltmarsh)
c20 Ringed Plovers
c800 Dunlins
8 Swifts
9 House Martins
Swallows
2 Reed Warblers
3 Sedge Warblers
a few late teal and wigeon and a host of common species breeding now.

At the Hesketh Arms in Churchtown nearby, for a drink and bit of food, a Ring-necked Parakeet flying over the car park from the direction of the botanic gardens was a surprise find.

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 29th of April 2010 05:10:49 PM

Hi Steve,

I am not sure what the situation is there im sorry, i was talking to a guy from the rspb with Johnathan platt on hesketh out marsh and the guy told us about the llamas and why, i did not get his name, just got the story that it is an active way the rspb are trying to help keep the foxes away for the Avocets

steve ashworth wrote:

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dennis have the rspb bought these llamas or borrowed them .

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dennis have the rspb bought these llamas or borrowed them .

Dennis atherton wrote:

---

morning visit to hesketh out marsh, quite desolate today, lots of shelduck, redshank, flock of linnets, reed bunting, little egret, oystercatcher, curlew, quite a few views of merlins, kestrel, buzzard, also lots of hares around and two grey partridge behind the viewing platform in the field

a nice sunny afternoon visit to marshside with JP, nice to see you again, highlights were, garganey showing from center viewing screen, lots of sightings of merlin, a nice flock of 12-15 golden plover in nice summer plumage from near to pollys, lots of redshank and black tailed godwits as usual, little egrets all along in lots of locations, sand martins flying through, avocet everywhere now, all spread all along, lots of skylark, also no stonechats for me or wheatears, no owls or harriers today neither

there are strangely now two llamas in the fields in an attempt to help keep the foxes away as they are fiercley territorial and thus to help to keep the avocets safe from one of there main predators hopefully,

-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 10th of April 2010 11:15:54 PM

---

much the same today-lovely walk along the road like Den-a redwing was along the road on the sandgrounders side,plenty linnets too

morning visit to hesketh out marsh, quite desolate today, lots of shelduck, redshank, flock of linnets, reed bunting, little egret, oystercatcher, curlew, quite a few views of merlins, kestrel, buzzard, also lots of hares around and two grey partridge behind the viewing platform in the field

a nice sunny afternoon visit to marshside with JP, nice to see you again, highlights were, garganey showing from center viewing screen, lots of sightings of merlin, a nice flock of 12-15 golden plover in nice summer plumage from near to pollys, lots of redshank and black tailed godwits as usual, little egrets all along in lots of locations, sand martins flying through, avocet everywhere now, all spread all along, lots of skylark, also no stonechats for me or wheatears, no owls or harriers today neither

there are strangely now two llamas in the fields in an attempt to help keep the foxes away as they are fiercley territorial and thus to help to keep the avocets safe from one of there main predators hopefully,

-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 10th of April 2010 11:15:54 PM

Visiting family/friends, popped into Marshside for an hr Tues (6th) before heading to Ainsdale dunes for the Winter Ephemera (see Wildlife Forum)

Among the usual stuff (flocks of BHG, Black-tailed Godwit, Wigeon etc)

Merlin (f) on the saltmarsh
Swallow(1) over Sandplant bund
Sand Martin (2) over the fresh marsh
Shoveler (1m)
Grey Heron(1 immature)
Common Gull (1)
Lesser Black-back (1)
Greater Black-back (2)
Reed Bunting (1m)

At least 8 Avocet, including 1 bird sitting in what seemed to be a nest scrape and 1 copulating couple.....although if that male's ratio of preening to mating continues I doubt their chicks will be fledged by next year! His mate must have neck & back ache staying in that position for so long

About 8 more Sand Martins over the road down to Ainsdale...no Stonechat there
Apparently they're as scarce on the coast as inland this winter

American Wigeon still present, giving good views from Ron Barker hide, plenty of Whooper Swans still present and good numbers of Avocet. Also good views of a Peregrine and it was nice to see Tree Sparrows.
Cheers Ian

well i managed to get to martin mere yesterday and was glad to see that nobody minded me taking pictures in the quiet hides. in fact, i crept slowly into one of the hides only to find a bloke with a canon 500mm L f4 lens snapping away at 10fps :)

i managed to catch sight of the american wideon after some guidance from one of the helpful guides in the ron barker hide. apart from that, plenty avocet as well as the usual shell duck and droves of whooper swans. managed to spot a woodpecker too!

took close to 600 pics(!) but will get 10-12 of the better ones up onto my flickr account over the next few days..

saturday morning to mere sands wood, not too much out of the ordinary, good to see two kingfishers from rufford hide, also gadwall, shelduck, teal, shovelar, cormorant, tufteds, the usuals, first singing chiffchaff in the woods near the tower

martin mere afternoon, still lots of whoopers but dwindling now, from the original 29000 pink feet there are now only 3000 left, american widgeon showing from the ron barker with all the eurasian widgeon, around 60 avocets now, also ruff, redshank and a single black tailed godwit, wet and windy day, not much else of note

lots of photographers there today, no one minds at all

chlorinekid wrote:

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Is the Mere kind to Photographers?

I'm planning a trip to Martin Mere in a few days and although I've been before, this is the first time taking my D90 + Sigma 70-200. Are the quiet folk tolerant of the sound of a shutter going off every few minutes or should I find somewhere out of the way?

Thoughts?

---

If you go during the week the sound of your shutter may be the least of peoples concerns? Martin Mere is a mecca for school trips obviously during the week, with the hides becoming an annoying 'shhhhhh you will scare the birds'. Hide etiquette leaves a lot to be desired imho. I would prefer people to talk as normal instead we get whispering, thus when you do want to converse you invariably upset somebody. Take your camera and click away, like the saying goes "you pays your money ......."

cheers
jason

Visited both this a.m.
American Wigeon (a British 1st for me) showing really well after it was eventually found, approx 60 Avocet, 3 Ringed Plover plus all the other usual birds.
At Marshside also lots of Avocet, 1 Little Egret and excellent close views of Snipe, plus lots of rain.
Cheers Ian

Not sure about D90 - but some Nikon's have a quiet shutter release setting - I always use that and not the burst mode as [1] the burst mode annoys me and I'm the one taking the photos and [2] I don't get sharp pictures on burst! Now on a bright sunny day on my own at somewhere like Bempton I might play with the burst setting for gannets in flight...

Another good place for photography is Marshside - the visitor centre hide has Avocet and Teal etc depending on the time of year within a few metres and if you walk along the main road with the shoreline to your left you might get some good shots over the saltmarsh - can include Merlin, Kestrel and SEOs.

Leighton Moss the hides over the pools [Eric Morecambe?] off the main reserve are very good first thing in the morning. Of course the next thing will be that 200mm isn't quite enough and you'll be admiring lenses which cost more than a car!

Pennington Flash - very early in the morning - before the dog walkers is also good



-- Edited by Pete Welch on Saturday 20th of March 2010 01:30:36 PM

thanks for the advice. i'm going on a monday anyway so i guess it won't be full of people but even so, i'll try and be discreet!

thanks again

I suppose it's all on the day and as to who is in the hide at the time.

Although not a photographer myself, I personally don't mind people "clicking away" but that's my opinion and anyone else is entitled to disagree.

Some people do find it annoying, but I would say "go for it".

Might be a good idea to ask if anyone minds first and then you won't be annoying anyone!!!

Is the Mere kind to Photographers?

I'm planning a trip to Martin Mere in a few days and although I've been before, this is the first time taking my D90 + Sigma 70-200. Are the quiet folk tolerant of the sound of a shutter going off every few minutes or should I find somewhere out of the way?

Thoughts?

We enjoyed a day split between Marshside and Hesketh OM

It was nice to see the avocet, first time for a year for me, and a female hen harrier at Hesketh.

Popped in to Martin Mere on way home this afternoon. Swans and Geese are noticeably reduced since last time I visited 3-4 weeks ago, with only a handful or two of Whoopers left, but PF Geese still in the 1000's.

Lots of Oystercatcher, Ruff, Avocet (70+), Ringed Plover (2), Redshank, Lapwing displaying all over, plenty of Wigeon and Teal still on the reserve, while the American Wigeon showed well for about 3 minutes for me before disappearing into a ditch .

Had a GS Woodpecker in the trees too, which was a surprise, can't remember whether I've seen one there before!?

Good numbers of Tree Sparrow, which seem to be taking their places over various nest boxes ready for laying. A couple of Stock Dove in front of a hide too, always a nice bird. No sign of more long distant summer migrants though, although there were a few Sand Martins earlier in the week. A family of Mallard chicks was a pleasant surprise though, Spring must be here!?

Excellent view of pair of avocets feeding, just 10 feet in front of main hide today. Plenty little egrets. Only other highlight, saw single male wheatear on sands to the west of the car park.

Similar species to Phil's from Monday - the American Wigeon was grazing around the mere with its Eurasian cousins and once found was easy to relocate from the Ron Barker Hide round to Raines Obs. A lifetime first for me. The Avocet numbers are now up to the 60s and there were also lots of Tree Sparrows about plus Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Ruff.

Decided to explore the surrounding area a bit having some spare time for a change and having turned right out of the reserve exit back towards Burscough along Red Cat Lane turned down Curlew Lane and was pleasantly surprised to find 15 - 16 Corn Buntings, on the phone lines mainly, in small groups 2s and 3s. Nice day.

An enjoyable afternoon at Martin Mere WWT today with the reported American Wigeon picked out from the Ron Barker hide and giving good views through the 'scope amongst the flock of Eurasian Wigeon. A lifer for me!!!

Also of note:-

Tawny Owl (roosting)
20 Ruff
45 Avocet (at one point, the whole flock took to the sky and was quite a spectacle)
3 Dunlin
Ringed Plover

+ the usual Duck species, Pink-Feet and Whoopers

A great afternoon's birding!!!

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 15th of March 2010 07:45:03 PM

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 15th of March 2010 07:58:16 PM

couldn't get toot mere ,half way there from marshside some t"$£er decided to overtake coming towards me and took my wing mirror off as well as his,but he didn't stop!!so i headed fer home,so never got to see the american wigeon.

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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today
not much out of the ordinary

---

Drake Amercian Wigeon still from the Ron Barker hide today.

today
marshside
not much out of the ordinary except
65 avocet(anyone thinking of going to photograph them,they are in front of nels but too far out to photograph due to deep water.approx 300 meters away
loads of wigeon,godwit,curlew etc
nowt ont marsh

Originally posted on 12/03/10 by Mark Cain

Still 3 Little Egret on site, also bar-tailed and black-tailed Godwits showing well as were 42 plus Avocet in front of Nel's Hide. Good view of Merlin hunting also.

Phil don't know what time you were there yesterday but when I arrived at 15.00 today almost the entire flock was either sitting down or asleep or both making picking up Bean Geese bill and leg colour a little tricky and when I did find the them they both had blackish bills from digging in the mud no.gif Still once I found them they were readily distinguishable from the Pinkies - a lifetime first for me.

Then, on the way back as the sun was going down called at Marshside - 52 Avocet now viewable from the Junction Pool screen.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I got them around lunchtime when they were all stood up feeding Sid, therefore much easier than later on in the day!!!

Phil Owen wrote:

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Decided to go to Plex Moss today and managed to see 2 Tundra Bean Geese in brilliant sunshine amongst the flock of 150 or so Pink-Feet there. They were really distinctive and what really stood out were obviously the orange legs and bill but also the longer neck. Great to get a good comparison with a Pink-Foot in the same view!!

Also had Little Egret, Curlew and Stock Dove amongst others.

---

Phil don't know what time you were there yesterday but when I arrived at 15.00 today almost the entire flock was either sitting down or asleep or both making picking up Bean Geese bill and leg colour a little tricky and when I did find the them they both had blackish bills from digging in the mud Still once I found them they were readily distinguishable from the Pinkies - a lifetime first for me.

Then, on the way back as the sun was going down called at Marshside - 52 Avocet now viewable from the Junction Pool screen.

Decided to go to Plex Moss today and managed to see 2 Tundra Bean Geese in brilliant sunshine amongst the flock of 150 or so Pink-Feet there. They were really distinctive and what really stood out were obviously the orange legs and bill but also the longer neck. Great to get a good comparison with a Pink-Foot in the same view!!

Also had Little Egret, Curlew and Stock Dove amongst others.

marshside today, short eared owl showing from crossens and merlin from nels hide, also loads of widgeon, around 30 avocets, snipe, redshank, black tailed godwits to, lots of pintail, a few pink feet still but less in numbers than usual, loads of roosting gulls, single med gull seen by others in the early morning, also 3 little egrets

tide watch later at 3 from the other end of the pier, redshank, dunlin, knot, curlew, bar tailed godwits, oystercatchers,

-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 6th of March 2010 07:42:34 PM

Found the Bean Geese on Plex Moss Lane today after failing to find them last weekend in the rain! In the field the key things that struck me were that:

[1] They were paler - particularly on the breast from the front

[2] The orange legs were very distinctive [but beware, there are orange legged Pink Feet in the same flock]

[3] The two Bean Geese stuck together and followed one another round and today at least, were on the far side of the potato field but spent quite a lot of time around the water lying in the field

Really educational and I had the moss to myself when I arrived, I was so engrossed that it was only when I set off to return an hour later that I spotted the other four cars that had arrived!

Some poor shots will be emailed into Ian for consideration for out of county.

marshside 27.02.10
spent most of the morning scanning the gull roost at tags island a regular helped us find at leat 5 med gulls and we just missed a yellow leg gull by minutes.A great spot to watch the knot,dunlin,sanderlings,bar tailed godwits,grey plover, redshanks and oystercatchers. Skylarks,meadow pipits and a few reed buntings generaly givng a spring feel to the morning.
Tried to find the tundra bean geese down plex moss lane but didnt find any amongst a flock of about 100 pink feet. Also 4 buzzards sighted in the area.
Nice to meet Dave liked the joke about another manchester birder ticked off his list



-- Edited by Gary Gorner on Monday 1st of March 2010 07:19:34 AM

Marshside 9.40am - 15.00

Nels hide
4 Avocets
2 Ruff
plenty of Pintail, Teal, Wigeon and Godwits

Around the sea marsh area up to Crossens

Ring tail Hen Harrier
3+ Merlin's, great views very close to the road
Peregrine
Buzzard
2 Kestrels
13 Little Egrets
18 swans in the distant fields at the far end of Crossens marsh were probably Whoopers
Lots of Redshank, Curlew and Herons in the channels
Good numbers of Skylarks singing away

It was also good to meet Gary Gorner and Vernon. I recognised Gary from his avatar on this forum

14 Avocets this morning. Still a few Pink-feet around.

Nice to see Whizzy the Beaver running round his pen.

Damn - just saw I missed a Green-Winged Teal - that's my fault for concentrating on the gulls, looking for the Med Gull, rather than checking all the Teal

-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Saturday 27th of February 2010 03:53:45 PM

Afternoon spent on the Sefton coast at Southport.

Highlights included :

Birkdale sands - 2 Med Gulls & 6 Twite

Marshside - 2 Avocets from Nels Hide, 2 Merlin & 1 Short Eared Owl on Crossen

-- Edited by Phil Panton on Tuesday 23rd of February 2010 09:26:34 AM

Sean Sweeney wrote:

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Kestrel eating on a post

---

I knew it was a harsh winter but I didn't know it had come to this.

Popped in for an hour or so on way home today. The Pink-feet are getting smaller in number, as are the Whoopers, with no sign of the Red-breasted Goose or Lesser Canada from earlier in the winter today. Plenty of the usual birds, with Ruff, large flock of Lapwing with a single Golden Plover, Pintail, Shoveller, Shelduck, Teal and Wigeon still going strong, while only a Kestrel eating on a post for the raptors.

Did get a distant brief view of a Short-eared Owl too, which is always a pleasure .

Enjoyed watching the Tree Sparrows in the bushes before hitting the M6 again .

Signs of spring on the way, with snowdrops out in full bloom and recent sightings on the notice board of Black-tailed Godwit passing through and Ringed Plover back on the scapes .

Anyone who may have some spare binoculars, telescopes, tripods or bird identification books can hand them in at Marshside, where they will be passed on to the primary school which overlooks the reserve, so that the children can view the birds, & hopefully begin a lifelong love affair.

11/2/10

Martin Mere (am)

1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) hunting behind Vinsons and Sunleys
1 Raven over
1 Buzzard
35 Ruff & 1 Oystercatcher on the Mere
2 Stock Dove & 10 Fieldfare in field next to Barker Hide
usual large numbers of Whoopers, Shelduck, Pintail etc.........

Marshside (pm)

Crossens Marsh:

1 Hen Harrier (ringtail)
1 Short-eared Owl, flushed by the Harrier. (They had a brief scuffle, then the Owl perched on a post and the Harrier continued hunting).
1 Merlin
1 Peregrine
4 Little Egret
11 Black-tailed Godwit over
2 Kestrel
1 Curlew

(Why have two of the best reserves in the NW been lumped together on one thread ?!)

Henry Cook wrote:

---

Anne Wilkinson wrote:

---

Great views of 3 SE Owls at Crossens Outmarsh on Sunday afternoon plus a Merlin and the wintering Bittern. (I have never seen such a dark and shaggy-necked Bittern before).

---

Maybe this was the bird which raised a few eyebrows at Marton Mere when news of a possible American Bittern was released.

---

That's a good point. I think the 'American' Bittern was seen by two experienced birders at Marton Mere and was never confirmed. The Marshside bird is definitely a European bird but very dark and strongly marked. Maybe its from the continent.

Henry Cook wrote:

---

Anne Wilkinson wrote:

---

Great views of 3 SE Owls at Crossens Outmarsh on Sunday afternoon plus a Merlin and the wintering Bittern. (I have never seen such a dark and shaggy-necked Bittern before).

---

Maybe this was the bird which raised a few eyebrows at Marton Mere when news of a possible American Bittern was released.

---

That's a good point. I think the 'American' Bittern was seen by two experienced birders at Marton Mere and was never confirmed. The Marshside bird is definitely a European bird but very dark and strongly marked. Maybe its from the continent.

Anne Wilkinson wrote:

---

Great views of 3 SE Owls at Crossens Outmarsh on Sunday afternoon plus a Merlin and the wintering Bittern. (I have never seen such a dark and shaggy-necked Bittern before).

---

Maybe this was the bird which raised a few eyebrows at Marton Mere when news of a possible American Bittern was released.

Great views of 3 SE Owls at Crossens Outmarsh on Sunday afternoon plus a Merlin and the wintering Bittern. (I have never seen such a dark and shaggy-necked Bittern before).

Good views of the local RB Goose from the Barker Hide at Martin Mere. Two Ringed Plovers have returned to the RH scrape. No sign of the GW Teal.

Spent a couple of hours at Marshside this afternoon from 3pm.
Plenty of Pink Feet aswell as a couple of Barnacle Geese in with the group on Crossen Out Marsh.
Male Stonechat on fence post just after the Sand Plant, 5 Little Egrets on Crossen & good views of Short Eared Owls with 4 in the air at the same time.

I too was over Southport way this afternoon - we decided that a walk on the beach would be a good move so the beach selected was Ainsdale and despite walking to the far metal barrier behind Pontins there was no sign of the Snow Bunts. Caught up with the two Red-crested Pochard at the northern end of the marine lake. The dark bird did not appear to have any white wing bars when it flapped - is the common for the female - first time I have seen the species so I don't know. The lighter bird had all of the appropriate markings and was clearly a female.

There were two Barnacle Geese on the marsh opposite Sandgrounders hide amongst 20 or so Pinkies. The only other species of note were 5 Snipe directly in front of Sandgrounders.

We left Marshside at 4 o'clock - it then took two hours thirty minutes to get home because a lorry had dumped a load of spuds on the M62 closing the road and causing tail backs on the M6 and M56 - nice

Henry Cook wrote:

---

Saw the flock of swans from the new Hestketh Outmarsh reserve but they were on the other side of the Ribble and just too far away to identify from the viewing spot in a biting wind even on 60x zoom. I presume it is this flock which is reported to include good numbers of Bewick's Swans at the moment.

---

Around Christmas time there were two herds of swans Henry, the one you saw on the other side of the Ribble, and another in the fields SW of the hide towards Marsh Farm. As you suggest, the birds on the other side of the river were too far to ID, the ones by Marsh Farm were well within scoping distance. These birds were easy to miss from the hide as they were sometimes hidden by hedgerows, one had to walk west for half a mile along the sea wall to view them. Mike Baron and I had 9 Bewicks and 103 whoopers there on 29 December. Things may, obviously, have changed since then.

2 Merlins and 1 Peregrine on Crossens Marsh today. No sign of Bittern.
Saw the flock of swans from the new Hestketh Outmarsh reserve but they were on the other side of the Ribble and just too far away to identify from the viewing spot in a biting wind even on 60x zoom. I presume it is this flock which is reported to include good numbers of Bewick's Swans at the moment.

G W Teal again at martin Mere from Hale Hide. 2 RC Pochard at the LA Fitness end of the Southport Marine Lake.

Phil

Green-winged teal still showing well from the Hale hide at Martin Mere today.

Nothing unusual to report from Marshside but there are now two female Red-crested pochard on Southport Marine Boating Lake at the North End. One of the birds is unusually pale, the other darker like the collection at Martin Mere.