Went Goose hunting at Crossens inner marsh this morning - arrived at 0630 and the view from the "old sea wall" was almost zero with only a couple of Greylags disappearing into the fog. Eventually the sun started to take over, the fog cleared and the geese started to arrive and with almost the first skein of Pinkfeet there was the target bird - a White fronted Goose . Also during that first session found 2 Barnacles, 8 or so Canadas and 2 hares.

Later in the morning having been over to Marshide found 2 more White fronts plus another one distant. The two together were much closer and showed big orange bills indicative of probable Greenland race. The sun by now was well up and was able to pick out a single pale bellied Brent Goose amongst the hundreds of Pinkies as well as the Barnacles again. Also had debates about a possible Bean Goose but could not positively ID the one candidate that myself and four other birders checked out.

At Marshside thought I should try to find the Lesser Scaup but despite it having been reported present at 0800 it was not to be seen shortly afterwards. However always nice to see the first Avocets of the year as well as good numbers of Golden Plover and Blackwits.

Quick afternoon visit with Henry Cook in the glorious Sunshine for the Lesser Scaup which was showing well at Junction Pool. Nice to get good views of this Male through the 'scope to study some of it's features.

Also present:

200+ Golden Plover
Big flock of Pink-feet on far side
20+ Meadow Pipits
5 Avocets
Black-tailed Godwit
Shoveler
Shelduck
Pintail
Teal
Wigeon
Lapwing
Little Egret
amongst others

An enjoyable visit!!









-- Edited by Phil Owen on Tuesday 22nd of March 2011 08:31:25 PM

Brief visit yesterday (Saturday) afternoon.

Usual stuff, including 12 Avocets and a Sand Martin

a.m. today, on the saltmarsh 1 female Hen Harrier and a Merlin also small number of Grey Plover with many Curlew, Redshank and Shellduck. From the hides huge numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, fewer Pintail, Shoveller and small number of Gadwall. Waders included 100's of Black tailed Godwit(some in breeding plumage) and Golden Plover and Lapwing, small number of Ruff but no Avocets yet. Also lots of Pinkfeet and a single Little Egret. To top it all off the weather was also fantastic
Cheers Ian

Saturday late morning visit. Masses of birds including:

Golden Plovers, Curlews, Blk T Godwits, Redshanks and Lapwings.
Little Egret 1
Merlin 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Greylag/Pinkfeet/Canada Geese.
All usual duck species represented.
Little Grebe 2
BH/C/H Gulls.
etc.etc.etc.

Please note that this thread has been re-opened to act as the sites main dedicated thread. I would ask that all posts for this excellent area are now put on here.

Please note though that other sites in the Southport area (such as Weld Road and Hesketh) have their own thread too.

Simon Glinn wrote:

---

Hi Sid,

Just to say that the marshsidebirders.com url you mention now points to a new site with up to date sightings, often submitted by the warden, and works alongside John's excellent blog ...

Cheers
_________________________________________________________________

Hi Simon

Just had a quick look at the new site - notice that you include other stuff as well as Marshside like the recent sightings at Trentabank and Pendle very good.

Sid

5/4/09

Rushed off with Ellie-birder after work to see the Woodlark, which turned out to be an odd-looking Skylark.......

Decent but sometimes hazy views of the Little Stint made up for our disappointment though.

Short-eared Owl hunting the marsh at 5pm,
2 Little Egrets,
20+ Avocets,
6 Ruff, Blackwits, large Golden Plover flock, 2 Dunlin, Wheatear, and 2 Grey Partridge flushed from near the sandplant.

Ian

I think that site has only recently been started up again and perhaps for that reason the Harriers we saw were not reported. A good up-to-date site covering Marshside is Jonn Dempseys site birdblog.merseyblogs.co.uk - he's talking about the Water Rail that has been showing in front of the Sandgrounders hide all day today for example.

Cheers

Sid A

-- Edited by sid ashton at 23:23, 2008-10-30

Ian

Were the Hen Harriers seen from the hides towards the landward side of the reserve? Others including myself have reported them on the forum on the other side of the road on the marsh on 28th September, 12th and 16th of October.

i think the future of the rspb in that area is the new reserve they are developing a bit further up the ribble behond banks marsh,which experts recon is going to be better than marshside?i i think the marshside,site is a short term thing and at some point in the future that will end up with sefton council developing the marine drive,just a guess,but eventually that road will be re built as all the ups and downs on it show,it needs re-doing. The new sites been kept pretty secret at the moment but is due to open in a couple of years i think.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON at 07:07, 2008-10-17

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON at 07:08, 2008-10-17

Just like to add that I agree totally with all the comments about the sand plant, the walls provided a fantastic view point and habitat and it's a shame if RSPB can't use there influence to utilise this for the benefit of birds and watchers. 1,000,000 members should have some voice here
Cheers Ian

I'd heard that the deal with the sand plant works was that when their contract expired they would return the land to it's original state. Which probably seemed a good deal at the time but over the years Mt Baker, as it became known, became a very important part of the environment. Seems stupid to rip up an important habitat. I spoke to the RSPB warden a couple of months ago who was hoping a sea watching hide could be built on the hill. There was even talk of a visitor centre and car park which would have been hidden by the dunes. It seems, however that the RSPB had little say in the matter.
I think Sefton council are dealing with it.

Shame, it's always full of birds and the only place to shelter from the wind.

I never went on the sandplant on Sunday but I think that access is still ok if you walk around the back and climb up. I tend to stay and watch from the road on the right hand of the sand plant.

9.6m high tide sounds good and should be ok if the rain holds off.
Good birding.

Sid,
I asked the same question to a local birder on Sunday. He had heard that more bushes were going to be planted to create some shelter for the birds but he was not certain about this happening.

Keep an eye on John Dempsey's birdblog as he often puts out info about the Marshside area. He can be found at; birdblog.merseyblogs.co.uk.

Went looking for raptors over the sea marsh after visiting Martin mere today

3 Buzzards
1 Merlin
4 Kestrels
1 Marsh harrier
1 Hen harrier
2 Peregrines
and 1 escaped Harris hawk which had the three of us scatching our heads over its id until a local birder confirmed it.

Also seen
4 Little Egrets
5 Stonechats
8 Snipe
and at least 300 'bee in a biscuit tin' Vespas and Lambretta scooters which went down Marine drive together which put up every bird around

always a great sight thousands of pink feet back home for the winter
lots of blacktailed godwits,snipe,lapwings and the odd curlew,heron and little egret on pollys.golden plover also seen but hard to pick up in the long grass.
kestrel mooching about infront of nels looking for snacks which i was trying to turn into a merlin

14.09.08
loads of godwits , redshanks,lapwings and a few snipe infront of nels.ducks are on the increase also.
sandgrounders hide 2 little egret , 2 little grebe .1 ru__y duck.
1 juv marsh harrier and 2 kestrel hunting on the outer marsh.
13 pink feet flew in from over the ribble 6.00pm

-- Edited by Gary Gorner at 09:11, 2008-09-15

Was there a couple of weeks back (possibly my 3 visit of the year) and keep missing the ibis, but cracking to see avocet chicks. Coast gave great close up views of Sanderling and Knot in summer plumage down near Aindale.

5.5.08
sedgewarblers and whitethrote everywhere but proving very ellusive to photo:
loads of dunlin,knot,bar tailed godwits on shore.nice to see a few butterflies making appearances mainly peacock and whites.
2 wheatear but no winchats
1 merlin sat on a post opposite nels.
1 ruddy duck female
2 yellow wags at the feet of cattle infront of sandgrounders hide lifer for me
a few common terns perching on posts at high tide.

Tues 25 march.

Much the same as gary yesterday but managed to see the Green Winged Teal right in front of sandgrounders hide.

Dean.

wildfowl numbers seem to be down but still plenty other birds on show curlew,black tailed godwits,lapwings,ruff,little grebe,little egret,kestrel,still a few pintail,wigeon,teal all seen from sangrounders hide 2_3pm