Hesketh Out Marsh

August 15:

Returning from a quick visit to Hesketh West to see digger-driver John, I reflected on the fact that it had seemed ‘very quiet’ bird-wise but that actually when I added up what had been seen, it was still quite a haul.  I managed to record 8 little egrets, 3 grey herons, a couple of skylarks, 11 linnets, a young sparrowhawk and a (very small) young merlin.  I saw the merlin stood on the track ahead…

Winter is one of the most exciting times at Hesketh Out Marsh, and sightings this year have been spectacular as ever! Here at the heart of the Ribble Estuary, one of the UK’s most important locations for wintering wildfowl and waders, the reserve has welcomed thousands and thousands of birds gathering here for their winter holidays.

Just a smidgeon of wigeon at Hesketh Out Marsh

Since October, an impressive…

Some people may be unhappy at me for saying this but autumn has already begun, for some birds at least. This is particularly noticeable as wading birds that have failed to breed are now returning from further north. The two species that are almost always the first to appear are common sandpiper and spotted redshank, and both were on the lagoons this week. There are two spotted redshanks towards the western end of the reserve…

Now that the sun is shining, spring has well and truly arrived. Recently, the RSPB has led a guided walk to highlight the wildlife finding a home at Hesketh Out Marsh and the surrounding area. Although the weather conditions were ideal for wildlife watching, it had a calming effect on the tide, which gently flooded the reserve. Particular highlights during the visit included a flock of 27 Mute Swans, and a Black Swan…

The juvenile buff-breasted sandpiper that turned up at Hesketh Out Marsh on Sunday is still there and showing well this morning. Best views are by the large tree trunks on the top of the sea wall.

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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…

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

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…

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…

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…

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 Cormorants, 21 Mute Swans, 88 Canada Geese, 19 Greylags, 69 Teal, 60 Mallard, 135 Oystercatcher, 225 Dunlin, 45 Black-tailed…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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. …

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…

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…

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…

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…