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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Little Owl on Gravel Lane this morning

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

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

KEV BROWN wrote:

---

Numerous BT Godwits

---

Hi Kev, I assume these were Black-tailed Godwits?

Spoonbill again present this a.m. along with lots of Avocets.
Cheers Ian

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Blue Winged Teal reported on Junction Pool from late Sunday (16th) morning

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