Print pageSeasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Spring is an atmospheric time at Hesketh Out Marsh. It's when birds like lapwings, avocets and redshanks perform their eyecatching courtship displays, with much flying around and shrieking. Come and watch the birds' antics from our viewing platform. You might also see brown hares 'boxing' - that's when females try to shake off their over-eager suitors.
Summer
This is a wonderful place to watch birds. On a summer visit you could see graceful greenshanks and black-tailed godwits, on their way back south after breeding in the north - maybe Scandinavia, Iceland or Russia. Or look for bright white little egrets fishing in the creeks. Watch carefully and you'll see their technique of scaring the fish out of hiding with their yellow feet, before grabbing them with their long bill. If there's a commotion among the gathered birds, it could mean a marsh harrier's floating along, looking for a meal...
Autumn
The wading birds are joined by ducks and geese from as far afield as central Russia and Siberia. Birds like teals and wigeons come here to escape the sub-zero temperatures in Europe; believe it or not, the UK has a comparatively warm climate! Listen out for high-pitched alarm calls given by the 'sentinel of the marshes' - the redshank. A bird of prey like a merlin or buzzard could be on the prowl.
Winter
Thousands of pink-footed geese gather at Hesketh Out Marsh. These neat, brown geese are smaller than the greylag and Canada geese you see in your local park, and they have an 'oinking' call that sounds amazing when lots of them do it all at once! Hen harriers hunt the marshes for small rodent or bird prey, while yellow-billed whooper swans also arrive on the estuary to feed.