Browse by Tags

The big ‘spring’ tides of the autumn blow in again soon (seasons can get confusing can't they!) and the birds are even more mobile than usual. On the September spring tides our Marshside guided walk participants enjoyed some great close-up views of knots and dunlins out on the estuary...

Last Wednesday evening I had an amazing view of a Barn owl as it flew right over my head! I was lucky to watch it for quite a while as it was hunting along the bottom of the sea wall next to the hedge heading straight towards me, as I was walking along the newly laid hedge measuring the new fence heading...

A Great white egret has been at Hesketh Out Marsh since wednesday 26 October. It has been seen everyday in the lagoons or creeks on the reserve, and yesterday was very close to the sea wall and viewing platform especially as the tide was coming in.

A near verbatim report from Colin again - "During a High tide wildfowl count today a Crossbill headed SE calling as I was watching Barn Owl at 12.50PM at the east end of the reserve; 2 Sandwich Terns heading up-river, 2 Marsh Harriers, 12 Kestrels (10 sitting on posts on NNR), Sparrowhawk, 11...

This is a verbatim report from one of our local birders - thanks, Colin. "My first Merlin (a female) of the autumn at HOM lunchtime! The biggish tide pushed a few more birds onto the reserve including 12 Little Egrets, 15 Greylags, 8 Teal, 10 Greenshank, a Grey Plover, 7 Dunlin, Green and Common...

There are still up to 3000 Pink-foots with the odd Barnacle around and the usual cast of raptors but they have been joined by singing Chiffchaffs, Corn Buntings and Willow Warblers, Wheatears and Meadow Pipits. Swallows have been reported and Avocet numbers are increasing. Hopefully, they will have a...

Our ex-warden visited this morning and found plenty of evidence; singing skylarks, displaying lapwings and a curlew displaying. Other highlights were 2 marsh harriers, 1 merlin, 1 buzzard, 1 little egret, 2 corn buntings, 3 reed buntings and loads of shelducks, wigeon, teal and redshank. Looking...

This verbatim report from last Sunday would indicate that the spring migration is underway. "The Marsh was reliable for raptors with single female Hen Harrier and Marsh Harrier over the saltmarsh and a male Sparrowhawk along the lanes. There seemed to be plenty of Pink-footed Geese with itchy...

This verbatim report from last Sunday would indicate that the spring migration is underway. "The Marsh was reliable for raptors with single female Hen Harrier and Marsh Harrier over the saltmarsh and a male Sparrowhawk along the lanes. There seemed to be plenty of Pink-footed Geese with itchy...

The disabled access path to the viewing area is now complete and today there are still large numbers of migratory swans present. 28 Bewick's Swans and 136 Whoopers were on the fields inland of the seawall. 80 Linnets were feeding around the car park pond and there were 4 Grey Partridges near the...

The marsh is a reliable feast of both at the moment. Make the most of it before the winter migrants leave and the raptors disperse as their 'ready meals' are harder to come by. Today, 159 Whoopers and 7 Bewick's Swans were seen. Raptors include Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, 3...

A near verbatim report from our ex-warden who visited the reserve today with a fellow birder. "I managed the magnificent seven by 4 p.m. and between us we worked out the following numbers; Hen Harrier (3 ringtails), 2 Marsh Harriers (adult female & juvenile), 1 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3...

One of our regular birders out today recorded two ringtail Hen Harriers - one female over the stubble and a smaller bird possibly and immature male, one with white in the wing coverts of the right wing and paler outer tail feathers. Also seen were 2 adult European White-fronted Geese, 107 Whooper Swans...

Between 8.15 - 9.35 this morning although the weather was a bit grim the birding was good. A single Lapland Bunting was with the Linnet flock of c.300 in the bird seed mix field. Also there, 17 Reed Buntings, 55 Bramblings and 25 Tree Sparrows. There was plenty of raptor activity with the magnificent...

An an almost verbatim report from our ex.Warden. "Late this afternoon I had an excuse to drive from Southport the long way home via the Marsh, it was well tidy; in the wild bird cover I saw - c.450 Linnets, 30 Bramblings, 25 Chaffinches, 12 Corn Buntings, 1 Reed Bunting & 3 Lapland Buntings...

This is a verbatim report from our ex.warden on how he spends his lunch hour. "Hightlights; female Hen Harrier, juvenile Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzards, Sparrow-hawk, Peregrine, 2 Merlins, 4 Kestrels (the magnificent seven!), 8000 Pink -footed Geese on the adjacent NNR with 2500 on the eastern stubble...

This morning visitors reported seeing two Waxwings and 3 redhead Smew flying westwards over the seawall. Other birds included a Lapland Bunting, again, in the weedy field near the car park, 7+ Bramblings, 25+ Chaffinch, 20 Tree Sparrows, 4 Corn Buntings, a Sparrowhawk mobbing a ringtail Hen Harrier,...

- and thanks to one of our most prolific recorders. Yesterday, the following was his (almost) verbatim report. The fields inland from the seawall are worth a look at the moment. At least 7 Bramblings there with Greenfinches and Chaffinches this morning. Also in the same field: Ruff, 15 Dunlin, Grey...

A report from a hardy watcher yesterday afternoon found a visit well worth while. He saw a Hen Harrier, 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers, 2 Peregrines, 3 Merlins, 3 Kestrels, a Raven, 4800 Teal, a female scaup (been around a bit), 440 Linnets, about 200 Meadow Pipits, 45 Greenfinches, 30 Pied Wagtails, 5 Grey...

The warden saw a Snow Bunting take off from the new saltmarsh at high tide today and head off high towards Southport. Another birder listed 15 -20 Whooper Swans with 6 Mute Swans mingling. There were 300+ Pink-footed Geese, 50+ Wigeon, 70+ Mallard, 700+ Teal, 4 Tufted Duck and a Pintail. 6 Little...

Sorry this report is a little late but perhaps to be extended later. Early Thursday morning from a border reported 11 Fieldfare, 3 Bramblings, 41 Jackdaws (a flock of 37), 7 Chaffinch, 14 Greenfinch, 4 Siskin, 385 Starlings and a Song Thrush all heading up river. On the reserve - Goldcrest and Brambling...

Yesterday evening a Great White Egret was spotted 200m west of viewing area, and about 30 Little Egrets heading upriver. Also 2 Marsh Harriers (an adult and a juvenile ), Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Peregrine, Buzzard, 3 Kestrels, Barn Owl, 80 Mallards, 900 Teal, 1300 Lapwings, 4 Ruff, a Kingfisher piping in...

An almost verbatim report from one of our watchers - At 5.05 pm yesterday evening the reserve was bathed in glorious sunshine and some interesting birds were to be seen. 5 Grey Plover, 1 Greenshank and 13 Redshank on the main lagoon plus a tight Teal flock of >150 birds, 3 Little Egrets and 1 GREAT...

Balmy weather here and yesterday at least 200 Swallows were over the stubble to the east of the reserve. Less usual was a Lapland Bunting was on the National Nature Reserve with Skylarks, Starlings and Meadow pipits all put up by an immature Marsh Harrier. Other highlights included 124 Pink-foot...

Yesterday a visit at high tide proved very fruitful for the warden and colleague. There were plenty of waders on the reserve pools before the tide covered them including 12 Avocet, 3 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plover and some nice flocks of Ringed Plover (50) and Dunlin (180) with...