MARSHSIDE RSPB

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

RE: MARSHSIDE RSPB

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday 24th March.

Roughly 12.30 - 3.30pm in strong winds

Halsall / Birkdale.
- 8 Cattle Egret
7 on bank of Fine Janes Brook and 1 just beyond them in field near to junction of Moss Lane / Daisy Way.

Marshside.
- 1 Spoonbill (distant from Sandgrounders)
- 1 female Scaup (Junction Pool)
- 1 female Merlin (opposite JP then hunting over it)
- Twite (small group just north of pier, flew towards sailing club)
- lots of Black-tailed Godwits
- Avocets
- 1 Knot (from halfway screen)

Crossens Outer Marsh. (Wildfowlers Pull-in)
- 1 Atlantic Canada Goose (better views this time)
- 1 Eurasian White-fronted Goose (adult)
- 2 Barnacle Geese
- c2000+ Pink-footed Geese
- 1 Water Pipit with Meadow Pipits
- 1 female Sparrowhawk flushed all the Pipits
- Golden Plovers with some Greys in amongst them

Lots of birds on the reserve including the usual Ducks, Waders, and Gulls.

Jon Bowen · Status: Offline

4 hours yesterday up to 12.15 produced

2 male Wheatear at the Sandworks
Spoonbill showing well on Crossens Inner
6 Avovcets in front of main hide
2 Scaup from the screen on junction pool
mixed flock of Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin Bar-tailed and (mainly) Black tailed Godwit briefly on Crossens Outer as the tide came in
300+ Golden PLover
2 Merlin
2 Barnacle Geese
European White Fronted Goose
the "Todds' like Canada Goose
2 singing Chiffchaff
Male Sparrowhawk
an abundance of Skylark and Meadow Pipit in song

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

A day I've had planned for some time and I was hoping the high tide would push all the way to the see wall like it did in 2017 but just came short of that.

Fantastic trip though with fantastic birds from the 54 species seen.

My top 5 highlights were: (top most first)

2 wheatears showed well for a short while.
A very cooperative Skylark posing well
Short eared owl just before the high tide peak (mothers fave)
Spoonbill in adult plumage too but very distant in the middle of the marsh..
Full summer plumaged Common gull.

Other fantastic moments;

2 Mediterranean Gulls
Female scaup
Meadow pipits
Avocets
Golden plovers
Ruff
Pink footed geese
Little egret
Reed bunting female
Pintail

The weather was windy but at least it was bright with some sun but after lunch it felt cloudy and dull.

Many thanks to Dad for the transport.

Ta!

Carl Fletcher-Poole · Status: Offline

A few hours today on a wet and windy grey day, wasn't expecting much, but if you don't go you will never know - 50 + Avocets, 1 Spoonbill (see pics) two reported 4 x Little Egret 200 + Greylag 200 + Black-Tailed Godwits, 100 + Golden Plover, Pintails, Shelduck, Teal, Widgeon, Oystercatcher, Little grebe's. Basically it was packed full of birds and I didn't expect it!

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday 17th Feb
Lunchtime visit to Crossens Outer Marsh.

2 good geese reported here...
Atlantic Canada Goose and Eurasian White-fronted Goose

I parked up at the Wildfowlers Pull-in and started scanning but the carrier flock of Pink-footed Geese were a good walk away back towards Marshside sand works, and they were widespread, distant, and many of them obscured in the longer grass with just their heads showing!
However despite the unfavourable situation I managed to pick up the lone Canada Goose that was with them so I suspect it was the Atlantic form, the only reason being because I know there is one there.
It soon dissipated into the mass of Geese and I lost it.

A few minutes later, I picked up on another flock of Pink-footed Geese a bit closer in and noticed what looked like the Eurasian White-fronted Goose in their midst. I thought it looked ok in the field, being considerably darker, the bill and head structure was different to the Pink-footeds, surprisingly difficult to determine if the bill is pink or orange though, you cant make out the black belly patches, and after discussing with Ian, its not 100% confirmed, I thought it was the bird at the rear in the images.

Other birds of note...
Golden Plover, Little Egret, and Skykark

Craig Higson · Status: Offline

Did a few hours here today before the snow & sleet drove me off. I called into Sandgrounders hide to check the log book (which didn't have much of interest in) and have a quick scan of the pools which had all the expected species plus a good number of Black-tailed Godwits. Across the way to the back of the old Sand Winning Plant I had a nice male Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier and Short Eared Owl. Scanning the flocks of Pink-footed Geese out on the marsh revealed a single Barnacle Goose so I decided to walk along the road to see if I could get a better view. Sadly I couldn't re-find the Barnacle Goose, but did get great views of a Merlin and very brief views of a White-fronted Goose which literally just stuck its head up for 1-2 seconds before it disappeared again into the vegetation.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Friday 18th of January 2019 04:29:44 PM

Mike Berry · Status: Offline

Four barnacle geese on the salt marsh opposite Nel's hide.

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Last day of holiday today, so spent around here. Another fabulous day, though Sandgrounders hide and the pool with the bench on towards Crossens (Polly's pool?) very quiet. Fairclough pool to Crossens; highlights:

Linnet (and a few silent finches over at the old sand works; I wonder if they were twite); meadow pipit, skylark, starling, etc.
2 stonechat
200+ teal
60+ shoveler
4,000+ wigeon
70+ pintail
2 gadwall
c120 tufted duck
2 pochard (both males)
c30 shelduck
1,000+ pink-footed geese
c150 golden plover
c500 lapwing
1 snipe*
10+ redshank
450+ black-tailed godwit
6 oystercatcher
9 curlew
4 little egret
2 grey heron
3 common gull
2 great black-backed gull
2 or 3 merlin
2 kestrel
1 hen harrier (male, as below, behind the old sand-works, being harassed by a merlin; spectacular)

*Or what was left of it; an extremely fresh raptor kill (possibly the merlin, which first appeared from around the area I found it); a bit grizzly, half the breast gone and the skull had been opened up, but amazing to properly examine that spectacular beak (and yes, I nabbed a few feathers; it's my favourite bird, after all. A nice addition to my nature table!).

A trek over the mudflats at the bottom of Fairway didn't produce any twite, knot or grey plover, as hoped, but I did see:

96+ shelduck
60+ pink-footed geese
8 golden plover
2 dunlin
8 snipe
45+ redshank
65+ oystercatcher
8 curlew
1 great black-backed gull

Cracking day.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Rob Creek wrote:

Early afternoon, couldnt stop long, working!

- 11 Twite flighty on saltmarsh opposite Marshside / Hesketh Rd
- 1 male Hen Harrier distantly on stump? towards Crossens Outer Marsh
- 1 very obliging female type Merlin on a trough also near Crossens OM

Plenty of usuals about.
- Pink-footed Geese
- Pintail
- Shoveler
- Wigeon
- Teal
- Black-tailed Godwit
- no sign for me of the female Scaup thats been at JP recently

Also something flew over me calling near junction pool and over towards the salt marsh. Sparrow-like and sounded like a mix between a loud cheap and a chirp, I didnt get that good a look at it to ID it as it was heading away from me.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 3rd of January 2019 06:26:08 PM

Well thats interesting, Ive just checked emails, BirdGuides have reported a male Hen Harrier behind the sand works a little earlier than I was there, I bet it was giving good views before I arrived.
Theyve also reported a Lapland Bunting calling flying over Marshside a little later than I was there. I wonder if thats what I heard?

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Early afternoon, couldnt stop long, working!

- 11 Twite flighty on saltmarsh opposite Marshside / Hesketh Rd
- 1 male Hen Harrier distantly on stump? towards Crossens Outer Marsh
- 1 very obliging female type Merlin on a trough also near Crossens OM

Plenty of usuals about.
- Pink-footed Geese
- Pintail
- Shoveler
- Wigeon
- Teal
- Black-tailed Godwit
- no sign for me of the female Scaup thats been at JP recently

Also something flew over me calling near junction pool and over towards the salt marsh. Sparrow-like and sounded like a mix between a loud cheap and a chirp, I didnt get that good a look at it to ID it as it was heading away from me.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 3rd of January 2019 06:26:08 PM

Paul Beachcroft · Status: Offline

From 10.00 until 14.30 today. Sunny, dry but cold. Highlights: 2 x Merlin; Twite; Sandpiper; Curlew; Black Tailed Godwit.

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Plenty of flying action yesterday, Friday, when a Peregrine came through. It made a great sight.
Similar numbers to previous post but managed to pick out a Ruff and the only other raptor was a Kestrel out on the marsh.

Charles Farrell · Status: Offline

Thurs 27th Dec

2nd visit here and what a splendid place it is. Didn't spend long enough to get accurate counts of some of the species, but there were certainly lots to see

- 1000+ Lapwing
- 300+ Golden Plover
- 200+ Black-tailed Godwit
- 40+ Redshank
- 50+ Pintail
- 100+ Pink-footed Goose (with many more out on the Estuary side)
- 10+ Little Egret
- Merlin (great views of it hunting)
- c40 Twite in flocks of 30 and c10
- c5 Great Black-backed Gull
- 2 Raven
- 10+ Curlew
- Lots of Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Wigeon, Shellduck, Canada Goose, Herring and Common Gull plus 100s of Starling

I only wish that I could have spent the whole day there as there appeared to be 1000s of waders along the seashore

-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Saturday 29th of December 2018 02:04:27 AM

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

44 species found today with a possible American wigeon would have made it to 45 but was a little way out and besides; I did something stupid when I grabbed my camera and took my eye of it and its whereabouts and lost it. With a previous history of a hybrid about - I'm stopping short of confirming it and especially as I was the only one there to see it!! Other highlights were; a female kestrel showed exceptionally well (with a picture I'm paticularly proud of) and flushed 2 snipes and made a go for a starling (maybe it thought it was a sparrowhawk). Pink footed geese showed fairly well, as did the skylarks. Found a female scaup in amongst 100 tufted ducks, and finally only 12 twites were found and they were very flighty. Ta! Ps. I'm unable to post pictures at the present due to being unable to connect my tablet device!!

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Tuesday 25th of December 2018 09:48:34 PM

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Late list from yesterday; from Fairclough pool to Crossens. Beautiful day, especially in the afternoon, and plenty to see, as usual:

Goldfinch, linnet, greenfinch, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, skylark (lots)
1,300+ starling, including a nice mini-murmuration over the out marsh late on (unfortunately not enough time to stop and watch, as I was late for my train, as usual)
2 raven
500+ teal
30+ shoveler
27 gadwall
1,500+ wigeon (majority on Crossens)
12+ pintail
25+ tufted duck
4 shelduck
1,000+ pink-footed geese
32 golden plover
c250 lapwing
1 dunlin
2 snipe
6+ redshank
250+ black-tailed godwit
8+ curlew
8 cattle egret
6 little egret
3 grey heron
3 great black-backed gull (all distant on out marsh)
1 merlin
1 kestrel
1 marsh harrier

Around the mudflats at the bottom of Fairway, where it meets Marine Drive, a single twite heard calling, though I couldn't find it. Also around here plenty of skylark, lots of shelduck, a single golden plover and a few each of snipe, redshank, curlew and little egret.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Working in Southport yesterday so called in Marshside on my break. Nice to meet you yesterday Steven even if only briefly.

I found the Wigeon in question, and despite whichever angle I observed it, I couldn't turn it into an American Wigeon. There 'could' be something else species wise in the parenting. However there was another Duck with them that appeared to have a lot of grey on the body almost male Gadwall shade but I don't think it was anything special, another possible hybrid.
I was speaking to an older gentleman yesterday who was sat on the bank on Marshside Rd and he told me he'd seen a pair of American Wigeon there this week.

- 4 Cattle Egrets with Cattle from Marshside Rd.
7 reported today, their rise in the UK continues.

- 1 Merlin chasing large flock of Starlings (made for a good spectacle)
- Pink-footed Geese all over the marsh now in big numbers, and plenty of Wigeon and Teal too

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 5th of October 2018 07:59:25 PM

Steven Heywood · Status: Offline

This wigeon, seen from the Sandgrounders Hide, had me baffled for ages. It was only when I got the photos home and zoomed in that I could confirm that it's a wigeon with a very pale head and some curious family background. For a couple of hours there I'd been hoping that what I suspected was a duck of dodgy parentage might turn out to have been my first American wigeon of the year. Ah well

(Heavily-cropped photo)

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Day off today, so spent it round here; bright and warm at first, becoming grey and windy later. From Fairclough pool to Crossens, including the path down to the tide line (where there were thousands of unidentified birds roosting amongst the vegetation and along the tide line):

Linnet, goldfinch, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, skylark, starling (hundreds), song thrush.
200+ teal
71 wigeon
12 gadwall
17 shoveler
5 tufted duck
2 shelduck
1 barnacle goose
6,000+ pink-footed geese (perhaps. Loads of them, anyway)
22 ringed plover
30+ golden plover (put up distantly; none on Crossens at all)
c300 lapwing
3 dunlin
12 ruff
8 redshank
200+ black-tailed godwit
6 curlew
10 little egret
2 common gull
1 great black-backed gull
2 kestrel

-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Thursday 27th of September 2018 11:05:13 PM

John O'Neill · Status: Offline

Hesketh Rd Platform
4 Cattle Egrets with 2 Little Egrets.

Pink Footed Geese everywhere, had really arrived en masse

-- Edited by John O'Neill on Tuesday 25th of September 2018 09:01:39 PM

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday 23rd September.

Had a few things to do today and mid afternoon I thought I'll have a drive over to Crossens Marsh and see what's about (well the American Golden Plover was reported at Hesketh yesterday after all). So I'm on my way when a report comes through of exactly that, but at Marshside!
No details as to where so I put something on Twitter to see if anyone could expand on it and I carried on my way. Nothing came back so I thought just do as you originally planned and go to Crossens. Great decision.

There was nobody else there so I parked up and got my bins out to try and locate any Golden Plovers. Next thing 2 cars pulled up and it was 2 birders who were also present last week, and 1 of them was the original finder Stuart Darbyshire. Then I heard one say there's no Golden Plover on here, I replied well I'm looking at a flock of 'em right now! I kind of kept myself to myself then and after last week too, so I set up scope some yards away.
Within literally seconds I had the American Golden Plover in my scope, I beckoned over to the other 2, I said it's in my scope now and offered them a view, they both came over and had a look and were happy I'd got them onto it.

A bit of personal gratification then I suppose, I had a quiet chuckle to myself as I was even happier in my mind that's what I saw last week, especially after being told infront of other people that I hadn't seen it and that it hadn't been seen since it was found in the morning. Last week I was too busy trying to help people get onto it, missed a record shot opportunity and was then told I hadn't seen it. Annoying!!!

Also of note...
- few 1000 Pink-footed Geese
- big numbers of Black-tailed Godwits
- 5 Ruff
- 2 Little Egret
- flock of c60-70 Lbj's ... I thought hello have the Twite started gathering early but they landed and I soon realised they were
Linnet and Goldfinch
-

Nice to see Colin Davies who turned up too.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 23rd of September 2018 10:57:45 PM

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Saturday 15th September

Arrived at Crossens Marsh early afternoon ended up staying a few hours.

I observed c60-70 Golden Plover resting on the inner marsh, with around 5 or 6 other birders present. Not an easy task with lots of young Lapwing mixed in sitting low in the marsh grass, having short sometimes invisible flattened crests and looking like Golden Plovers with the obvious pale stripe above the eye. A couple of GP's stood out and people were debating them but I was fairly certain they were just GP's. But then one popped up and started preening and this one was good for it, the American Golden Plover.
Whilst in my scope I let some have a look and got the others on to it and it was confirmed. Not been seen since around 10.30am and it had finally shown mid-afternoon.

I got my iPhone to my scope for a digiscoped shot but suddenly everything was flushed, a flock of around 15-20 Ring-necked Parakeets just beyond them had somehow managed to put the lot up. They were joined by more Golden Plover and we were joined by more birders as they'd been contacted by some present. Eventually the flock came down a bit closer and I thought this will be a lot tougher now there's probably well over 100 birds but within a few minutes I had it again at closer range. Again I'd got people on to it and it was looking good for a record shot but you know it's not your day when everything gets flushed just as you get your camera out.
Then just to rub it in, a couple came over to me and said "thankyou for that mate...we managed this digiscoped record shot"
I was proper miffed! Then another guy said the one he was watching was another American Golden Plover but different to the one I was watching. I know that 2 were seen a few days earlier but I couldn't confirm 2 on this afternoon.

They eventually landed and a couple more GP's stood out but in this instance I think they were just GP's. A few more birders turned up and were throwing their opinion about that nobody had seen it since the morning, then a msg from Birdguides saying the American GP had shown again was quickly followed by an Erroneous report. This annoyed me as I kind of assumed these late arrivals had informed Birdguides of their opinion that it hadn't been seen. I suppose I put 2+2 together etc.
I know what I saw in my mind was good, and others saw it, and got a record shot.

- Black-tailed Godwits 2000+
- Ruff possibly 15+ dotted around
- Pink-footed Goose c250+ (on inner and outer marsh)

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Day spent around here today:

Whitethroat, sedge warbler, goldfinch, linnet, greenfinch, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, skylark, starling
17 teal
3 shoveler (including a single half-grown chick)
18+ shelduck (mostly nearly-grown chicks)
1 mute swan
1 little grebe
c20 lapwing (single chick)
5 dunlin
2 snipe
5 redshank (four half-grown chicks)
18+ black-tailed godwit
9 curlew
1 (or possibly 2) cattle egret
3+ grey heron
1 great black-backed gull
1 kestrel

No little egrets, but there were three at the Marine Lake in the morning, and at least five late afternoon returning.

Cattle egret (both times) and most waders in close, and very nice to see redshank and shoveler young, too.

John O'Neill · Status: Offline

Hesketh Rd Platform
5pm

Cattle Egret , more or less full summer plumage, showing really well on much reduced water in front of viewing platform. A Little Egret adjacent for easy comparison.

1 or 2 Ringed Plover. 3 Snipe.

John O'Neill · Status: Offline

PM
1 Spoonbill loafing about by Polly's Pool
4 Summer plumage Dunlin, 1 young Little Grebe by Sandgrounders

Paul Wilkins · Status: Offline

The Glossy Ibis was in front of the Halfway Point screen around lunchtime today. Its fairly close to the screen but moves in and out of the vegetation. Full species list:

Shelduck
Black-tailed Godwit
Lapwing
Swift
Tufted Duck
Mallard
Gadwall
Coot
Mute Swan
Little Egret
Avocet
Greylag Goose
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Grey Heron
Wood Pigeon
Canada Goose
Swallow
Redshank
Dabchick
Magpie
Buzzard
Shoveler
Wigeon
Skylark
Moorhen
Sedge Warbler
Whitethroat
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Starling
Carrion Crow
Oystercatcher

Roger Baker 3 · Status: Offline

Sat 12th May. With Ian Lyth.

Hesketh Road Platform.

Temminck's Stint.
Glossy Ibis.

Roger.

-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Saturday 12th of May 2018 07:07:22 PM

John O'Neill · Status: Offline

Hesketh Rd Platform

2 Glossy Ibis in with the big flock of Black Tailed Godwits. Quite distant but one flew a bit closer. before landing out of sight in long vegetation.

10 + Ruff many in variations of Summer colours

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Today, from just before midday to 6pm, Fairclough Pool to Crossens:

Whitethroat, reed warbler, sedge warbler, linnet, sand martin, house martin, swallow, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, skylark
4 wheatear, with 3 stonking Greenland-race males and a female
3 white wagtail
Coot & mallard with broods
11+ teal
1 garganey
c10 shoveler
c20 gadwall
50+ tufted duck
c100 shelduck
c600 pink-footed geese
1 white-fronted goose in with them (all on Crossens outer)
70 mute swan
2 ringed plover
c50 dunlin
15+ redshank (pair seen mating)
c30 ruff, with a full lek going on
c150 black-tailed godwit
40+ avocet
10+ oystercatcher
6+ little egret
3 grey heron
1,000+ black-headed gull
1 great black-backed gull
1 kestrel

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

Early morning, Highlights

Garganey 1m
Ruff c20, 1m in full breeding plumage
Curlew Sandpiper 3, 1m in breeding plum age, Poor quality phonescoped image attached

-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Sunday 6th of May 2018 12:01:06 PM

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

..."Usual Gulls and Ducks around...and also an odd looking Swallow that was flying near Nel's hide but it flew over the banking before I got in the hide and when I picked it up again it was flying away and distant. Looked interesting but it wasn't a good view"...

I see a Red-rumped Swallow was reported on Birdguides this afternoon at Marshside, after I'd gone by the way. I'd like to think I would've ID'd this one straight away as they fly a lot slower and in my view they do stand out in flight, but the bird I saw could well just be a Swallow.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Delivering in Southport today so took a mid-afternoon tacho break at Marshside.

Of note...
- just missed 2 Glossy Ibis by minutes, they dropped in and flew off
- 1 Great White Egret from Sangrounders hide
- 1 Spoonbill - a very brief sight of its head and bill in a distantchannel
- 2 Little Egrets
- Plenty of Avocets
- Black-tailed Godwits in good numbers
- 1 Ruff dressed in black
- 2 Sedge Warbler
- 2 Common Whitethroat
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 2 Skylark
- 2 Linnet
- 1 Kestrel
- 5 Common Swift
- 1 Swallow

Usual Gulls and Ducks around...and also an odd looking Swallow that was flying near Nel's hide but it flew over the banking before I got in the hide and when I picked it up again it was flying away and distant. Looked interesting but it wasn't a good view.

Carl Fletcher-Poole · Status: Offline

Great few hours here today. 6 x Ruff, 1 x Spoonbill, 2 x Med gulls amongst the huge amount of Black headed, 6 x Avocets, Shovellers, Teal, Golden plover, Black Tailed Godwits, Pintails, Redshank, Meadow pipits and many more!. A first for me a male and female Scaup (see pictures) showing well from Nells hide

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Thoroughly enjoyable day spent around here today; birds not put up at any point I saw, so no doubt numbers far higher for some species than I was able to note.
Marshside main (afternoon):

Meadow pipit, skylark
700+ teal
120+ shoveler
6 gadwall
90+ pintail
c2,000 wigeon
c50 tufted duck
10 pochard
40+ shelduck (more on outmarshes)
2,000+ pink-footed geese (mainly on outmarshes)
18 mute swan
1 little grebe
40+ golden plover
c400 lapwing
5+ dunlin
2 redshank
2 snipe
c20 black-tailed godwit
13 (I think) avocet
7 oystercatcher
8+ little egret
3 grey heron
2 common gull
3 great black-backed gull
1 kestrel
1 buzzard

Crossens inner & outer marshes (just an hour or so, late afternoon):

Meadow pipit, pied wagtail, starling
73+ teal
840+ wigeon
11 shelduck
450+ pink-footed geese
31 golden plover
400+ lapwing
3 little stint (inner marsh, in front of sewerage works)
80+ dunlin
6+ redshank
160+ black-tailed godwit
1 curlew
4 little egret
2 great black-backed gull
1 kestrel

Beach and mudflats at the bottom of Fairway (late morning); tide well out, so pretty quiet (though worth the effort):

c50 twite
9+ skylark
57 shelduck
20 knot (including one with yellow tag below ankle, and yellow ring above, which I couldn't read, unfortunately)
70 - 100 redshank
2 snipe
2 curlew

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

Nice to get back to normal birding which is what I enjoy most after the previous days of crossing of certain targets I had written out for the year.

44 species found in a short visit of 3 1/2 hours.

Highlights included 3 little stints with a flock of dunlin (they were interesting to watch as one in particular didn't like the other two), a surprisingly early 7 avocets, 1st winter male scaup, pochard, a buzzard, common gulls, shelduck, pink footed geese, plus the ususals..

Ta!

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

Afternoon here over the high tide .. 1000s of birds

80+ Twite
60+ Skylark
Rock/water Pipit flew over
Stonechat
Big numbers of Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin, Oystercatcher and Golden Plover
2 knot close in
80 Bar tailed Godwit
1000+ Black tailed Godwit
Merlin
Peregrine
Barn Owl
3 Buzzard
Great White Egret

Plus loads of Pinkfeet, wigeon, Pintail, Gadwall etc

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.00-13.30

This was the only area in the North West the Met Office said would be free from snow today, but there was a strong westerly blowing straight from the freezer.

The birds seemed to feel this chill too, with a large gathering of Pink Footed Geese resting on the track in front of the car park.

Thankfully no dog walkers, or birders disturbed them.

On the marsh in front of Sandgrounders almost every clump of sedge had a Wigeon or Lapwing sheltering behind it.

Even Black Headed Gulls were struggling against the icy wind, a sudden gust blew one to within inches of a passing car.

Only a female Kestrel seemed untroubled by the weather, she hovered in the usual manner regardless.

Contractors were working removing all trace of the former sand works, the area appears to be being processed back into saltmarsh.

6 Skylarks were by the newly formed pools here, and a large low flying female Sparrowhawk zoomed across the saltmarsh.

Also here were 6 Little Egrets. 15 Golden Plovers were dotted amongst the Lapwings on the inner marsh. 2 Little Grebes were on Sandgrounders Pool

A large Buzzard did'nt seem to upset the waders and ducks too much, but when a Great Black Backed Gull appeared it was mass panic.

A single Barnacle Goose was among the Canada and Greylags.

Between Marshside Road and Hesketh Road the inner marsh is completely flooded, apart from a few small islets, and it's packed with Wigeon, Shoveler,

Mallard, Pintail and Teal.

Amazing numbers of Black Tailed Godwits too, with lesser numbers of Redshanks. 2 Little Grebes were in front of Nels Hide, as were 4 Snipe.

Nels Hide is closed Tuesday-Thursday next week for maintenance.

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

Went today with Malcolm to look for the Long-billed Dowitcher, after 2 hours searching Malcolm managed to find it from Nells hide
Cheers Ian

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Day spent around here today.

Long-billed dowitcher showing from Nell's hide; distant without a scope for a small bird, so plumage intricacies not obvious, but still gave good indication of general jizz, as well as wing and back pattern.

Rest:

Goldcrest, goldfinch, linnet, meadow pipit, skylark.
1 stonechat
800+ teal
700+ wigeon
c100 shoveler
c20 gadwall
c40 pintail
15+ tufted duck
1 goldeneye (first of the winter for me)
c30 shelduck
Lots of pink-footed geese
5 mute swan
40+ golden plover
900+ lapwing
25+ redshank
3 ruff
650+ black-tailed godwit
2 oystercatcher
2 curlew
1 (probably 2) cattle egret
c10 little egret
3 grey heron
3 great black-backed gull
1 merlin
2 kestrel
1 buzzard

Crossens inner and outer marshes held high numbers of wigeon (1,500+), as well as teal, lapwing, black-tailed godwit, curlew, little egret and great black-backed gull, but of most interest from her was probably 9 whooper swan, over low heading East, bugling as they went.

Mike Berry · Status: Offline

Long-billed Dowitcher, two showing really well.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Seeing as how I didn't need the American Golden Plover for the year I only glanced at it through a guys scope before continuing to search for the Dowitcher, he was the one who reported it out as a juvenile, but having corresponded with a local birder who had watched it more extensively it was an adult! This is despite it being put out as both ages on the pagers, they can only transmit what they are told, so not their fault. It will teach me to pay more attention next time, but seeing as how I had to get back and the Dowitcher was the target bird I just didn't have the time to look at the American Golden Plover other than a glance through the very helpful birder's scope

The full story was that I turned up and said to a birder "is it showing?" to which he said "yes do you want a look through my scope?". Gratefully I did, expecting the Dowitcher, but to my surprise it was the plover! I said to him that it was the plover and he said that's what he thought I had meant! I said sorry & that it was the Dowitcher I was asking about, but he hadn't seen that, so I headed off to try to find it!! A real mix up biggrin

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A very late post, I was there the same day (Tuesday 10th) as Mark (below) but had a little more time so stayed for a while longer.

On arrival at Crossen's Inner Marsh the Golden Plover flock were still present but had taken flight not long after Mark had left and the American Golden Plover was nowhere to be seen. I had a good search of the Inner & outer marshes which both held plovers but to no avail. I found a couple of Ruff but nothing else out of the ordinary. Still it was nice birding to the backdrop of calling Pink-footed Geese again, I never tire of that. After a while I headed up to Banks but no sign of the Little Owls up there, still it gave me an excuse to pop into the Parker microbrewery on the same lane to pick up a couple of bottles of beer for teatime!

The I headed back to Marshside where at Crossen's Inner Marsh the American Golden Plover had been refound. This bird was a brighter bird that the one I saw in Wales two days earlier, again being a juvenile despite originally being put out as an adult. A report of the Long-billed Dowitcher being still on the marsh had onlookers confused as no-one in the group on the road had seen it. However my 'Sherlock Holmes-ian' powers of deduction saw a couple of birders a way along the grass bund at the back of Crossen's Inner Marsh so I set off to where they were with, amazingly, only 2 other birders for company who shared my deductions! As we approached a birder leaving confirmed that the bird was down that way so we continued on. Finally we found it hunkered down, roosting low on the bank of a pool, out of view and far from the road indeed. Slowly several other birders twigged that we were on it and joined us whereupon the Long-billed Dowitcher flew into the open onto a pool and gave fabulous views as it preened not far from the bund. Having left my camera gear in the car I snapped a record shot through the scope on my phone (see attached). Having a fair amount of time but not unlimited I headed home with the 2 yankee waders under my belt (not literally!).

Since the day Mark & I were there there have been no further sightings of either bird at Marshside RSPB.

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

American Golden Plover currently showing, far north eastern end, Crossens Inner Marsh. View from either road or grass bank near the houses. With the Golden Plover flock, a bit distant for photos but decent enough scope views.

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Day spent around here today; highlights:

Plenty of goldfinch, meadow pipit and skylark.
1 linnet
1 wheatear
120+ teal
60+ shoveler
40+ wigeon
c20 gadwall
3 pintail
2 shelduck
400+ pink-footed geese (many arriving later on)
3 mute swan
c250 lapwing
6 snipe
25+ redshank
4 ruff
1,000+ black-tailed godwit
5 cattle egret (together as per photo below; lovely sight)
5 little egret
2 grey heron
1 common gull
1 sparrowhawk
1 - 3 kestrel

Mudflats at the end of the path from the sand works; large flock of waders (c1,000) put up when still distant, appeared 80% knot and 20% dunlin, but can't be sure. Positively ID'd:

2 grey plover
4 dunlin
300+ knot
3 redshank
300+ oystercatcher
1 curlew
1 little egret
c30 great black-backed gull

Crossens inner and outer marshes:

Goldfinch, pied wagtail, hundreds of starling.
120+ teal
60+ wigeon
2 shoveler
15+ golden plover
400+ lapwing
1 dunlin
1 curlew sandpiper (inner marsh, seen from in front of sewage works)
11+ snipe
18+ ruff
50+ black-tailed godwit
1 curlew
1 kestrel

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

A good day to unwind. With 51 species seen, today was more of a waderistic day. Highlights included common sandpiper on the Marine lake, also from Nels hide was 1000 plus strong flock of Black tailed godwits with one juvenile bar tailed godwit amongst them, a wheatear flew past the hide very close (my 1st for the year), pink footed geese have arrived in good numbers, and 5 cattle egrets together in one photo frame near the hide but not close to it (2 of which still have their summer plumage). From the path by Crossens was Dunlin, golden plover, curlew, oh and not forgetting the 2 curlew sandpipers as well, both giving belting views!! Another big highlight was a raven passing through, (a first at Marshside for me), also 3 buzzards passing over. Out of interest, other waders included lapwing, redshank and ruff. Ta!

Ps. The attached pictures of the cattle egret are my personal best, beating last year's but took care and patience and timing to get!

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Saturday 23rd of September 2017 08:54:00 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

12.00-16.00

Beach Area (Edge of Salt Marsh) : 6 Grey Plovers, 2 Grey Wagtails, 3 Kestrels and 6 Little Egrets.

Former Sand Works : 12 Meadow Pipits and 200+ Goldfinches.

Nels Hide area : 18 Ruff, 1 Sparrowhawk and 800+ Black Tailed Godwits.

2 Swallows by Sandgrounders were the only hirundines seen.

Carl Fletcher-Poole · Status: Offline

Two Cattle Egrets are back and showing well at Nell's Hide. One looks like an adult and one a first year. Could be the ones that bred at Burton Mere as the day before there was reported three at the same hide.

Mike Berry · Status: Offline

6 pink-footed geese dropped in at 12.20 this afternoon [first of the year]
2 cattle egret already there.

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Day spent around here today:

Blackcap, whitethroat, reed warbler, sedge warbler, linnet, reed bunting, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, skylark
c25 tufted duck, with at least two young broods
12 shelduck
c150 lapwing
2 or 3 common sandpiper
5 dunlin
7+ redshank
c80 black-tailed godwit
1 avocet
3 oystercatcher
1 cattle egret
4 little egret
3 grey heron
2 great black-backed gull
1 or 2 sparrowhawk (both times with prey)
2 kestrel

John Williams · Status: Offline

12.00-16.00

Site of old sand works : 6 Linnets.

Sandgrounders : 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Egrets, 60+ Black tailed Godwits, 7 Shelducks, 5 Redshanks and 2 Oystercatchers.

Junction Pool/Nels Hide

1 Cattle Egret showing really well on the Junction Pool, it then moved to join the cattle on the dry mud in front of Nels Hide.

It then followed the cattle as they moved into the tall grass towards Hesketh Road, and so became difficult to see. 2 White Wagtails were also on the dry mud.