The RSPB Community

An alternative Air Show

Alex — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:40:44 GMT

Click here to find out more about our Air Show with a difference.

Knots fear not

Alex — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 17:34:00 GMT

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. I wonder if the bird in the photo was just too tired to fly away after its incredible journey from perhaps as far away as Greenland? Or is it because these birds don’t see humans as a threat - perhaps they have never seen one before? Either way it makes for great views and a photographer’s dream!

Our Hesketh Out Marsh guided-walkers were lucky to see a young spoonbill circling them for some time. The young marsh harriers have also been popping up everywhere but especially at Hesketh where there have been 3 together recently. There are at least 40 little egrets about and they have been joined by a great white egret recently.

The bright sunny spells are still tempting migrant hawker dragonflies and small tortoiseshells and red admirals to fly too. Perhaps it is still not too late for an ‘Indian summer’?

Why not join one of our big tide walks coming up on the 16th and 17th October?

Flooded track

Alex — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:32:25 GMT

Dib road track is flooded between the farm house and our car park. Please take extreme care if visiting the reserve by car.

Maybe leave the car at home, put on your wellies and take a walk to the reserve down one of the many footpaths in the area.

Spring tides hit the Ribble

Alex — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:18:12 GMT

Spring tides hit the Ribble

Visitors are invited to the RSPB’s Marshside and Hesketh Out Marsh nature reserves to witness the high “spring” tides and the spectacular wildlife spectacle they bring to the Ribble estuary.

Spring tides actually occur every month but are particularly large in both spring and autumn. An increase in the moon’s gravitational pull takes the tide both further in and further out, completely flooding the saltmarshes and mudflats.

The Ribble estuary is internationally important for the vast numbers of geese, ducks and wading birds that rely on its marshes for food during the winter months.

Up to a quarter of a million birds may be present on the estuary on a good day and the colossal spring tides bring them to feed much more closely inshore than normal. This means they are much more visible to people visiting Marshside and Hesketh Out Marsh. The spring tide also flushes out many kinds of other wildlife that live on the saltmarshes, attracting birds of prey such as hen harriers, marsh harriers and short-eared owls.

The RSPB are running five days of Big Tide Birding guided walk events from March to May at Marshside and Hesketh Out Marsh, where visitors will be able to get close to the action as the tide comes in.

“The sights and sounds of huge flocks of birds and the dramatic display of predators doing what they do best, make these spring tides an experience to remember," says Warden Alex Pigott.

The first event is on Saturday 10 March at Hesketh Out Marsh and runs from 10.30am until 1.30pm. Tickets cost £5, £3 for RSPB members and half price for under 18s. Advanced booking is essential. For tickets, please all the Ribble Discovery Centre on 01253 796292.

Here are details of the other events on the Big Tide Birding season:

RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh

Sunday 8 April - 10:30-13:30

Sunday 6 May - 09:30-12:30

RSPB Marshside

Saturday 7 April - 10:00 - 12:30

Monday 7 May - 10:30 - 13:00

For more information and to book please call the Ribble Discovery Centre on 01253 796292.

Hedge-laying helps wildlife

Tony Baker — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:42:19 GMT

There has been some exciting RSPB management at Hesketh Out Marsh recently which I will have a stab at describing here.

We were fortunate to receive grant aid through Higher Level Stewardship for hedge-laying work. This funding was only available for a relatively short period so we were very pleased to have been successful in getting the funding and being able to crack on with it.

As it stood, the hedge was of relatively low value to wildlife, as anyone who has surveyed it over the last 5 years will be able to confirm. It had been neglected for many years, had little lateral growth and seldom produced any berries. It was more like a line of little trees that had been planted too close together than a hedge. Hardly any birds attempted nesting in it although magpies found the hedge a desirable location. Although it looks a bit sad at the moment in its recently chopped state, we can guarantee that it will harbour much more wildlife next year and in the years to come.

We have also planted a considerable length of new hedge. If you put our site in its local context, it’s great that our neighbour’s hedges are also still relatively young . This means that we now have a very healthy age-mosaic in the area with every stage from new to old as well as laid, flailed and un-managed hedges within a mile radius. We hope that some of our neighbours may follow our example and lay their hedges as they mature in years to come.

Hedge-laying is a traditional method of prolonging the life of a hedge and creating a stock-proof barrier. The first hedge-layers may not have realised that they were also creating a fantastic wildlife habitat at the same time. The new vertical growth of stems that arises in the spring to cross the laid horizontal branches, provides a wonderful nesting and feeding area for smaller birds and animals, protected from predators by a thorny screen. We are confident that we will add linnet to the nesting birds in the hedgerow along with a number of the other typical farmland/woodland edge species and if we are very lucky, yellowhammer too (we have left the occasional tall hawthorn as a song perch for them). The shrubs will also flower and fruit more vigorously (incidentally, this technique works well in the garden too!)

Local folk may like to know that the hedge is laid in the ‘Lancashire style’ by one of the few local experts in this craft.

We have fenced the hedge off from the grazers, leaving a wide strip of ground into which the hedge can expand. This will create a broad-based hedge which will be of much greater value than the narrow-based old hedge we started with. The rough grassland edge that will develop next year we hope will be the perfect place for grey partridges to nest.

The hedge was casting a shade on the flora which I think will be evident when we see next year’s growth of flowering plants. It was also shading out the ditch on the inland side. This is known to be a negative factor for another of our special wildlife species, the water vole, as well as of course suppressing aquatic plant growth.

Now its done we can’t wait for the spring to see the hedge take off!

Beautiful Barn owl

Alex — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:41:00 GMT

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 straight towards it. I thought it would have turned to fly away from me but instead it continued towards me undeterred by my presence.
Why do i never have a camera when I need one?

Great views of Great White

Alex — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 10:18:20 GMT

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.

Crossbill! -a first for HOM

Vera Marsden — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:12:27 GMT

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 Cormorants, 21 Mute Swans, 88 Canada Geese, 19 Greylags, 69 Teal, 60 Mallard, 135 Oystercatcher, 225 Dunlin, 45 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 75 Curlew, 22 Greenshank, 175 Redshank, 7 Common Terns, 6 Arctic Terns, 3 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 3 Yellow Wagtails, a Corn Bunting and 2 Raven.

Butterflies included plenty of Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, a few Common Blues, Small Tortoishell, Green-veined White and Peacock Butterflies and a Brown Hawker."

High Tide again tomorrow so well worth a visit.

Autumn round the corner?

Vera Marsden — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:56:43 GMT

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 Sandpipers and the usual Avocets were still there. The imm' Marsh Harrier was about as well as 5 Kestrels hunting the NNR and 49 Golden Plovers flew over before heading back to HOM east. Adult Lesser Whitethroat calling from the big hedge accompanied by what looks like a recently fledged young bird."

So, it's time to check for high tides again and the first Pink-foots returning. There is one already at neighbouring Marshside reserve.

Transition time again

Vera Marsden — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:34:00 GMT

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 better breeding season this year.

Plenty Golden and Grey Plover and Black-tailed Godwits with the odd Little Ringed Plover.

Red-legged and Grey Partridge are about.

Earlier in April a male Ring Ouzel caused much excitement.

Spring really is coming!

Vera Marsden — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 11:31:00 GMT

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 forward to next weekend there are more Spring high-tides coming up which always result in exiting watching.

The move out has started.

Vera Marsden — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:39:00 GMT

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 feet; several hundred overhead so I wonder if the Norfolk birds have started arriving as as Lancs is a staging post on their northbound journey back to the breeding grounds. No doubt there'll be a few goodies in the 'Pink's over the coming weeks. It was good to see some Golden Plovers in the fields yesterday at HOM too. A bit flighty but we counted at least 150 with 40 Lapwings. The latter were displaying over the stubble and with Skylarks in full song over the pastures it was just like spring and a Siskin bombing north must've been a migrant."

A siskin has also been seen on a feeder in the north part of Southport and a Ring-necked Parakeet!

Spring migrations underway.

Vera Marsden — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:39:00 GMT

This verbatim report from last Sunday would indicate that the spring migration is underway.

A siskin has also been seen on a feeder in the north part of Southport and a Ring-necked Parakeet!

Disabled access.

Vera Marsden — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:47:00 GMT

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 farm.

Raptors included 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers quatering the eastern bank, 2 Merlins and a Kestrel.

Thanks to our ex-warden who braved a bitter wind to bring this report.

Swans and raptors.

Vera Marsden — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:48:00 GMT

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 Peregrines, at least 2 ringtail Hen Harriers (possibly 3) 2 Kestrel and 5 Buzzards. Also seen were 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Barn Owls, a Little Owl and 3 Grey Partridge.

Oh, and a brown hare and fox.

Raptor Heaven

Vera Marsden — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:10:00 GMT

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 Kestrels, 4 Merlins and 1 Peregrine. Barn owls showed well with one at Hundred End and one around the car park & platform.

10 Whooper Swans flew over & about 70 Linnnets were also seen. The raptors are the highlight though my observations included a Marsh & Hen Harrier fighting, 2 Hen Harriers hunting together, Hen & Marsh Harrier in the same field of view as a Merlin & finally a Merlin & a Sparrowhawk fighting. Raptortastic!

Some excellent work going on too - the new footpath & the hedge-laying."

January at the Marsh

Vera Marsden — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:48:00 GMT

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, 1 adult Bewick's Swan, 1 Little Egret ,a Merlin, a Peregrine, 5 Buzzards, 5 Bramblings and a Brown Hare.

These sightings are typical of the month with other regulars being Teal and Wigeon in 1000's, Lapwing, Curlew, Pink-footed Geese and Barn Owls.

Earlier in the month a Green-winged Teal was about and even more unusual, a Red Kite was spotted in the area on the 8th.

Birds must like it here!

Vera Marsden — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:21:00 GMT

These sightings are 2010 highlights from regular birders and cover the whole of the Ribble Estuary Nature Reserves. Many are from Hesketh Out Marsh which has has produced some most rewarding experiences considering the reserve has only been in existed as a salt marsh since the outer sea-wall was breached just over 2 years ago.

First from our ex-warden -

Bittern, Great White Egret, White Stork, Crane, Spoonbills, Long-billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Green-winged Teal, top goose action, 90+ Bewick's Swans, 12 Short-eared Owls, 4 Hen Harriers, 7 Merlins, Honey Buzzard, Rough-legged Buzzard, Richard's Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtails, 450 White Wagtails, Lapland Buntings, 55 Bramblings, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Sandwich terns, Arctic Terns, Waxwings, breeding Avocets, Curlew, Med Gulls & Eiders - all mega but my Ribble bird of the year 2010 was this Woodchat Shrike on private land near Longton Marsh on 20th May.

For another watcher a Bittern on Crossens Outer Marsh back in January was the highlight of 2010.

Many Happy Birding Hours in 2011.

Good show in spite of weather!

Vera Marsden — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:55:00 GMT

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 seven on the wing; 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 5 Merlins, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, a juvenile Marsh Harrier and 2 ring-tail Hen Harriers. 17 Pheasants were feasting on the bird food that's been spread about.

In the bleak Midwinter

Vera Marsden — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:05:00 GMT

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. A Sparrowhawk zoomed through a flushed everything - 2 of the Lappies flew off calling in the direction of HOM east. 10 minutes later a female showed well with the Corn Buntings in the Hawthorn hedge behind the pond - it also showed well on the ground. The Sparrowhawk was one of the sexy six, the other five being; Peregrine, Buzzard, 2 ring-tail Hen Harriers, 2 Kestrels, 3 Merlins. Also seen was a hunting Barn Owl and six Whooper Swans. Well tidy. Happy Christmas!"

It gets better every day!

Vera Marsden — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:57:00 GMT

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 field, 1600 Skylarks, 400 Linnets on the salt marsh with 150 around the car park ponds, c.20 Tree Sparrows, c.40 Reed Buntings, 3 Corn Buntings, 13 Brambling, 5 Chaffinch, 5 drake Pochard in the river channel. Well worth a visit if you ask me!"

The following is copied from Ribble Estuary Facebook site and was compiled by one of our most enthusiastic birders.

"Just a few notes about birding at Hesketh Out Marsh at the moment.

For map see http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=330737625441#!/photo.php?fbid=103515129677225&set=o.330737625441

For what it's worth my route at HOM is normally (numbers correspond to sectors on map):

Dib Road between Hesketh Lodge farm and car park for Tree Sparrows.

Car park (16) - weedy field between car park and seawall good for finches at the moment; hedge for Bramblings, Corn Buntings and Tree Sparrows. Barn Owl often here early morning.

Walk east past pond towards raised seawall. Scanning from here along the east bank of the RSPB reserve often produces Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier and Merlin. Lapland Buntings currently in the fields to the east (8 - still RSPB reserve) but difficult unless flushed by a raptor. Can be with Corn Bunts or Skylarks. Scan fields to east out towards Douglas for harriers, buzzards, Golden Plovers or wild swans.

Walk back through car park to viewpoint and scan saltmarsh (6 & 7). Often a Peregrine on dead trees.

Walk west towards Hundred End along seawall. 'Inland fields' for Tree Sparrows, Bramblings and sometimes Golden Plovers. Merlin often perched on birches in hedges. Western saltmarsh has lagoon (can't see this from viewpoint) but frozen at the moment. Scaup was here recently.

Walk as far as Hundred End to scan NNR (2) for geese. Geese can be out of view but this is best chance of seeing them feeding at HOM. This is my favourite area - good for Hen Harrier, Barn Owl, Merlin and Lapland Bunt at the moment with big Skylark flocks.

Walk back along public footpath (between fields 11/12) unless there are wild swans here (not at moment). The fields near the model aircraft club were wet in the autumn and good for waders (Curlew Sands, Little Stint). Any of these hedges can have Brambling and Tree Sparrow at the moment.

Hope that helps. I'll post more if I think of it."

Waxwings, Smew and Pink-foots by the thousands.

Vera Marsden — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:52:00 GMT

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, Merlin and 10 Grey Partridge.

‎Early yesterday a watcher counted 5,700 Pink-feet at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh and Hundred End; part of the count for the Lancashire Pink-foot census which is currently 50K and counting. There was also a Lapland Bunting with Skylarks, ringtail Hen Harrier, Merlin, Barn Owl and a Peregrine narrowly missed a Stock Dove right over his head. Back at the car park there were 2 Bramblings and 2 Yellowhammers.

Welcome back!

Vera Marsden — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:25:00 GMT

- 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 Plover, 35 Golden Plover, 50 Lapwings, 24 Curlew and 5 Yellowhammers. On the saltmarsh / estuary: 4 Little Egret, 1700 Lapwing, 430 Golden Plover, a female Scaup with 70 Mallards and 2 drake Pintail on the lagoon, 70 Wigeon and 200+ Teal in the creeks, 20+ Shelduck, 120+ Skylarks, a Buzzard, a Merlin, a Peregrine and 5+ Kestrels. On the rest of recording area: 21 Whooper Swans, 45 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 14 Corn Buntings (car park), 2 Grey Partridge, a Goldcrest, 3 Tree Sparrow, 25 Reed Buntings and 400+ Pink-feet on the NNR.

Don't be put off by the rain!

Vera Marsden — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 10:54:00 GMT

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 Partridges, 7 Herons, 5 Little Egrets, 90 Redshank, 1900 Golden Plover & 2100 Pink-footed Geese.

Yesterday, a Lapland Bunting was amongst the Skylarks. There were plenty of Reed Buntings and a couple of Corn Buntings and a few Tree Sparrows as well.

Snow Bunting!

Vera Marsden — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:39:00 GMT

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 Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 900+ Lapwing, 195 Golden Plover, 12 Grey Plover, 4 Ruff, a Greenshank, 7 Dunlin, 30+ Snipe (undoubtedly more present), 150+ Skylarks, 50+ Starlings, 1 Grey Wagtail, 40+ Meadow Pipits, 4 Tree Sparrow, 4 Reed Buntings and 30 Fieldfare heading east. Also 6 Grey Partridge and a single Black-tailed Godwit.

Raptors included 5 Buzzard, 3 Merlin, a Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawks and 7 Kestrels.

Although outside the HOM recording area around the River Douglas, Fieldfares were everywhere! An estimated 1200 in four flocks plus 4 Redwings and a single Brambling there too.