A Trip to Marshide RSPB and the Ainsdale Desert

I went out to Marshside RSPB this afternoon with the aim of catching the high tide later at Ainsdale Beach. The target birds at Marshside were the two Bewick Swans that have been seen over the last few day.  I did see them, but they were quite distant. Apart from these, there wasn't much else about.

And so onto Ainsdale. The title Ainsdale Desert refers to the fact that this glorious beach, which is normally home to several very large Cormorant and Oystercatcher roosts, not to mention 1000s of Dunlin and Knot and many Bar-tailed Godwits, Golden Plover and Ringed Plover not to mention the Gulls and other birds, was pretty much deserted today.

I couldn't believe it when I'd walked half a mile or so and all I had to show for it was a few Sanderling.  There weren't even that many people about, except for a couple of dog walkers sticking to the tideline and putting up the few remaining birds that were there.

Why do they do this? Don't they realise that the birds have to rest after feeding, before going out feeding again.  They really don't seem to think that there's anything wrong with letting their dogs chase the birds, just because they don't catch them.

Just before I left in despair, I did get a glimpse of two Golden Plovers, but they were too far away for decent photos.