Marshside and Hesketh Out Marsh

Today I decided to visit Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB reserve in Lancashire for the first time, whilst also paying a visit to Marshside RSPB reserve in Southport on the return journey.  My mistake was to arrive at Hesketh Out Marsh at low tide, and so there were very few birds around. However, the area (which is a large salt marsh) did seem full of potential with a nice sheltered viewing area, so a future visit is a certainty. The only birds I saw here today were:

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB

• Marsh Harrier
• Shelduck
• Mute Swan
• Chaffinch

Whilst at Hesketh Out Marsh I met two birders who had just come from Marshside RSPB and who said it was packed full of birds.  So, with very little to see here, I didn't stay too long and headed off to Marshside, where I saw the following birds:

Marshside RSPB

• Pintail
• Teal
• Mallard
• Shoveller

• Black-tailed Godwit
• Redshank
• Little Egret
• Greylag Goose

• Shelduck
• Curlew
• Lapwing
• Skylark ?
• Canada Goose
• Wigeon

• Black-headed Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull
• Coot
• Grey Heron
• Pink-footed Goose