Hesketh Out Marsh and Marshside RSPB Reserves

A few hours birding with my daughter Katherine.  First of all we headed to Hesketh Out Marsh which is a relatively new RSPB reserve.  Situated where the river Ribble joins the sea, just to the north of Southport. it is a large area of saltmarsh.  Access is to the sea wall where a hide provides very little shelter from the elements!

Apart the Wigeon and Whooper Swans pictured below the birds seen included Pink-footed Geese, Teal, Shelduck, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Little Egret, Curlew, Redshank, Snipe and a group of Tree Sparrows.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB Reserve

Hesketh Out Marsh - A small part of the thousands of Wigeon present.

Whooper Swans - These six flew in while we were there.

We left Hesketh Out Marsh and made the short journey to Marshside RSPB reserve.  Marshside is situated just to the north of Southport and is freshwater marsh next to salt water marsh.  One or two hides are available, The Sandgrounder hide is comfortable with good views across the marsh.

A Cattle Egret turned up at Marshside in July and up to five have been seen.  Three were present while we were on site, albeit rather distant.  We were fortunate to see a Peregrine fly across the reserve, flushing thousands of birds.  Later a Sparrowhawk also caused some disturbance, as did a Buzzard and a Kestrel.  Also present were Black-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Redshank, Snipe, Ruff, Snipe, Grey Plover, Pink-footed Geese, Teal and lots of Wigeon.

Marshside RSPB - View from the hide.

Not a great photo but one of the rarest bird present!  A Cattle Egret doing what it does best!