xxxxA few views of Hesketh Out Marsh - it was a bit grey and windy!
xxxxCommon Gull Southportxxx
Thursday evening I decided to have a wander around to Pennington just for the sake of something different. I did a swift tour of the hides but nothing interesting was around aside from a Snipe and a Green Sandpiper from Teal Hide. The latter flew off shortly after I arrived, no doubt heading for its roosting site at Hope Carr. One observation I would make is that there appears to be, in my opinion, much more focus on accommodating human visitors to PF than there is for the birds. Rather than building a new hide, the money could have been put towards providing pumps to control the water levels or even on some work controlling vegetation in certain areas. My fear is that PF will quickly loose its status as the jewel in the GM birding crown.
xxx
On Friday evening I again noticed a flock of Linnets on the wires off Parkside Rd – 54 birds were present. The next night a total of 94 Linnets were on the wires with birds still arriving as I left. I have noticed over the years that this seems to be a good spot for these finches.
Xxx
HGF has been relatively quiet the last four days or so. Nothing much moving with a few Swifts and the odd Sand Martin passing through. A juvenile Buzzard was perched on the apex of Midhops barn on Friday morning – he was on the end leaning over and watching the Swallows coming and going below. I could almost see the thought going through his mind – “Now how do I catch one of them then!”. This morning a small influx of Pochards was a welcome change to the 2 or 3 birds that have spent the summer here. The juvenile Black-necked Grebe is getting more elusive and harder to find each day – it keeps feeding under the bankings. The number of corvids hanging around has increased too with the fields starting to drop. On Friday a flock opposite the kennels contained 118 Rooks, 34 Crows and 23 Jackdaws.
Xxxx
On Thursday afternoon I had a quick detour around Frodsham No. 6 tank on the way home. Around 20 Redshanks (mostly juveniles) were feeding on the near shore with a Snipe and 2 Ruff. A single Black-tailed Godwit was also present but nothing else. On Saturday morning I decided to have a longer wander around the place. No. 6 tank held no waders other than a flock of 54 Black-tailed Godwits though 4 Black-necked Grebes (2 adults and 2 juveniles) were bobbing around in a small group with 98 Tufties, 14 Pochards and 23 Ruddy Ducks also on the water.
Xxx
At one point I watched three Buzzards hanging in the air over the near edge of No.6 tank, one over the other like a Fokker Triplane! A fourth bird flew off No.5 tank and joined them – they then drifted off south. I then had a wander around to the Weaver Bend. The weather was very unhelpful with a very strong wind blowing and the odd shower. Four Common Sandpipers, three Black-tailed Godwits and twelve Dunlin was on the banks. Although it was by now four hours after high tide (a low high tide at that), the water level was very high with no exposed mud – presumably due to the strong winds. Consequently not much joy for the waders though a distant view of around 120 Redshanks was had down river. In the fields surrounding the river around 450 Canada Geese plus a sprinkling of Greylags were grazing.
Xxx
One birder I met there was recounting the hundreds of waders that he used to spot on the old ICI tank – not a chance of one these days due to Peel Holdings management of the place. On the opposite side of the river it was clear that plenty of birds were visiting the tank there – unfortunately it appears to be out of view for birders and only accessible through the INEOS site. Six Buzzards were in the air together over this tank though and a group of 17 Swifts passed through.
Xxxx
On Sunday I had trouble sleeping so 06:40 found Billy and I stood on a very, very windy Ainsdale beach. I suspect Jonathan would have been up birding for two hours by then – still very early for me though! Nothing was moving over the water with the exception of a couple of Gannets. The shoreline was equally quiet with around 250 Sanderling, 6 Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Curlew and a couple of Ringed Plovers forming the wader presence. No Dunlins! Around 150 Sandwich Terns and a single Common Tern failed to attract the attention of any Arctic Skuas.
Xxx
At Marshside it was also a little on the quiet side with a Snipe and a juvenile Dunlin present on the Junction Pool. Over the salt marsh beyond the sand plant seven Kestrels were in the air together and a Little Egret flew over. I wandered up to Crossens Outer Marsh where a female/juvenile Marsh Harrier spooked the birds present and gave good views. Another Little Egret was one of the birds moving out.
Xxxx
Having recently read an article in a magazine that Dorothy found regarding Hesketh Out Marsh reserve and coupled with Jonathan’s accounts of the place I decided to pay it a visit. It is not open to the public until 28th October, however the warden at Marshside, who incidentally has recorded this area for years, kindly gave me some directions. I parked up in the car park for the clay pigeon shooting club and wandered down the track to the “bus stop” as Jonathan calls it. Given the public footpath goes all the way along the sea defence banking I can’t see the point of a hide which offers no protection against the elements!
Xxxx
A few interesting birds were found here. At least five Greenshanks were spotted with three disappearing into the many channels and pools which are hidden from view. Two of them remained in full view on the pool opposite the hide. Also here were 12 Redshanks, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 or so Curlews (including a juvenile which was a dead ringer for a Whimbrel except for the lack of a median crown stripe), a drake Wigeon and a Golden Plover. A female/juvenile Marsh Harrier also appeared briefly before dropping into some reeds and not reappearing. Further along three Little Egrets were also moving around the various pools.
Xxx
This site will be interesting in winter and will get more and more birds once the changes arising from the introduction of salt water to a fresh water environment have settled down. I can also see it being frustrating when a rarity appears as there are so many channels and pools for the birds to vanish into. I will certainly be spending more time here in the winter though I think it will get a bit cold as it is very exposed!
xxx
On Friday evening I again noticed a flock of Linnets on the wires off Parkside Rd – 54 birds were present. The next night a total of 94 Linnets were on the wires with birds still arriving as I left. I have noticed over the years that this seems to be a good spot for these finches.
Xxx
HGF has been relatively quiet the last four days or so. Nothing much moving with a few Swifts and the odd Sand Martin passing through. A juvenile Buzzard was perched on the apex of Midhops barn on Friday morning – he was on the end leaning over and watching the Swallows coming and going below. I could almost see the thought going through his mind – “Now how do I catch one of them then!”. This morning a small influx of Pochards was a welcome change to the 2 or 3 birds that have spent the summer here. The juvenile Black-necked Grebe is getting more elusive and harder to find each day – it keeps feeding under the bankings. The number of corvids hanging around has increased too with the fields starting to drop. On Friday a flock opposite the kennels contained 118 Rooks, 34 Crows and 23 Jackdaws.
Xxxx
On Thursday afternoon I had a quick detour around Frodsham No. 6 tank on the way home. Around 20 Redshanks (mostly juveniles) were feeding on the near shore with a Snipe and 2 Ruff. A single Black-tailed Godwit was also present but nothing else. On Saturday morning I decided to have a longer wander around the place. No. 6 tank held no waders other than a flock of 54 Black-tailed Godwits though 4 Black-necked Grebes (2 adults and 2 juveniles) were bobbing around in a small group with 98 Tufties, 14 Pochards and 23 Ruddy Ducks also on the water.
Xxx
At one point I watched three Buzzards hanging in the air over the near edge of No.6 tank, one over the other like a Fokker Triplane! A fourth bird flew off No.5 tank and joined them – they then drifted off south. I then had a wander around to the Weaver Bend. The weather was very unhelpful with a very strong wind blowing and the odd shower. Four Common Sandpipers, three Black-tailed Godwits and twelve Dunlin was on the banks. Although it was by now four hours after high tide (a low high tide at that), the water level was very high with no exposed mud – presumably due to the strong winds. Consequently not much joy for the waders though a distant view of around 120 Redshanks was had down river. In the fields surrounding the river around 450 Canada Geese plus a sprinkling of Greylags were grazing.
Xxx
One birder I met there was recounting the hundreds of waders that he used to spot on the old ICI tank – not a chance of one these days due to Peel Holdings management of the place. On the opposite side of the river it was clear that plenty of birds were visiting the tank there – unfortunately it appears to be out of view for birders and only accessible through the INEOS site. Six Buzzards were in the air together over this tank though and a group of 17 Swifts passed through.
Xxxx
On Sunday I had trouble sleeping so 06:40 found Billy and I stood on a very, very windy Ainsdale beach. I suspect Jonathan would have been up birding for two hours by then – still very early for me though! Nothing was moving over the water with the exception of a couple of Gannets. The shoreline was equally quiet with around 250 Sanderling, 6 Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Curlew and a couple of Ringed Plovers forming the wader presence. No Dunlins! Around 150 Sandwich Terns and a single Common Tern failed to attract the attention of any Arctic Skuas.
Xxx
At Marshside it was also a little on the quiet side with a Snipe and a juvenile Dunlin present on the Junction Pool. Over the salt marsh beyond the sand plant seven Kestrels were in the air together and a Little Egret flew over. I wandered up to Crossens Outer Marsh where a female/juvenile Marsh Harrier spooked the birds present and gave good views. Another Little Egret was one of the birds moving out.
Xxxx
Having recently read an article in a magazine that Dorothy found regarding Hesketh Out Marsh reserve and coupled with Jonathan’s accounts of the place I decided to pay it a visit. It is not open to the public until 28th October, however the warden at Marshside, who incidentally has recorded this area for years, kindly gave me some directions. I parked up in the car park for the clay pigeon shooting club and wandered down the track to the “bus stop” as Jonathan calls it. Given the public footpath goes all the way along the sea defence banking I can’t see the point of a hide which offers no protection against the elements!
Xxxx
A few interesting birds were found here. At least five Greenshanks were spotted with three disappearing into the many channels and pools which are hidden from view. Two of them remained in full view on the pool opposite the hide. Also here were 12 Redshanks, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 or so Curlews (including a juvenile which was a dead ringer for a Whimbrel except for the lack of a median crown stripe), a drake Wigeon and a Golden Plover. A female/juvenile Marsh Harrier also appeared briefly before dropping into some reeds and not reappearing. Further along three Little Egrets were also moving around the various pools.
Xxx
This site will be interesting in winter and will get more and more birds once the changes arising from the introduction of salt water to a fresh water environment have settled down. I can also see it being frustrating when a rarity appears as there are so many channels and pools for the birds to vanish into. I will certainly be spending more time here in the winter though I think it will get a bit cold as it is very exposed!
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