Marshside RSPB

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.  The highlight of the day though was undoubtably the Spoonbill, of which at first we only had distant views.  However, later in the day I managed to get a little closer.

Spoonbill at Marshside RSPB

Spoonbill at Marshside RSPB

The 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.  The light and weather wasn't good for photos, so I'm fairly pleased with what I managed to get.  It even started sleeting towards the end of these shots.

Spoonbill in a ditch

Spoonbill heading back to the ditch

There were lots of Wigeon, Teal and Lapwing also in the fields too as well as a single pair of Greylag Geese and a large flock of Canada Geese.

More photos to follow ....

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, Pintail, 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 Curlew, 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.

Some photos to follow soon ....