In late 2020 I was working in the Southport area so decided to pop to RSPB Marshside. Just on arrival seeing and hearing the flocks of Pink Footed geese low over, the wader flocks in the distance and the waterfowl feeding and roosting on the waterbodies made me realise what I was missing - more regular trips to nature reserves with a diverse mix of birds and lots of them too! It was a welcome trip away from the monotony of the West Pennine Hills with its over grazed sheep pastures in the winter period and those many Crows who seem to shapeshift into anything from the size of a Goldcrest to an Ostrich. Was it hope or just a dreamers desperation? Seeing all that life there, visibly before my eyes was uplifting. Not just seeing but hearing too. Whether it was the bubbling call of the Curlew in the distance, the whistle of the Wigeon, the half-hearted rather limp quack of the Teal, the warning call of the Redshank or the hasty calls of the Pink Footed Goose - it seemed to make me forget that there was a busy road cutting through. I saw a gathering of about 10 men in a line - each 20cm apart from another facing over the vast Ribble Marshes, looking in the direction of Blackpool tower. I wondered what had taken so much of their concentration and focus. Whatever it will be would disappear when it knew I was arriving!
At the viewing screen I found out that was an adult male Hen Harrier. Nice! However, I was not heading that way to see that beauty. Something a bit rarer was gracing the reserve today. A winter plumaged Grey Phalarope. It was at the back of the reserve but showed very well. The first time I had properly seen one was at Clowbridge Reservoir it has been extremely hard to get lifers in Rossendale now. It spun and fed amongst the vegetation, giving remarkably close views. Photographic opportunities were ruined by its speedy actions or my rather slow reactions.
Christmas Eve was forecast to be dry but cold and sunny. Perfect! I had a plan to go to Mere Sands Wood and then Martin Mere when it opened its doors to the public before rushing back for midday or a bit after. The day was breaking, and a Song Thrush serenaded me as I stumbled out of the car like a drunk Z list celebrity. Although I have never drunk alcohol so maybe the early start was making me tumble and stumble? My first one singing since the summer. I took to the trails and to my delight the hides were still open. There wasnt anyone in them, just a few walkers around the reserve.
There were quite a few Blackbirds out today and many appeared of the Scandinavian variety. One of the interesting facts about Mere Sands Wood is that it has the usual dabbling ducks such as Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall and Pintail and divers such as Pochard and Tufted Duck that are found at Martin Mere and Marshside with a species of Sawbill duck found vary rarely at most of the lowland wetlands due to water depth the Goosander. Mere Sands Wood seems to do have this nice balance of these species along with Goldeneye which is a bit more common in the lowland wetlands south of the Ribble and in the general Southport area.
A Cettis Warbler called. It was probably the first time I heard and saw one here. They have bred here for the last few years. Cettis Warbler were first recorded at Marton Mere in 1990 and in 2010 bred for the first time in Lancashire at the same site. Now they breed as far east as Brockholes in Lancashire and maybe into coastal Cumbria too. Another surprise was a winter plumaged Mediterranean Gull flying over with Black-headed Gulls. Its calls alerted me to its presence, and I believe I may have never seen one in December before? There was a Great White Egret recorded here and it would have been nice to see it on this reserve but no such luck for me today.
A circuit around and I made my way to Martin Mere. From Holmeswood Road turn left at Cousins Lane which becomes Curlew Lane eventually. In summer Yellow Wagtails are present here. I think there are carrot fields here with drainage ditches. A flock of Whoopers were on the floods and a Corn Bunting jangled away. Might have been my first of the year. No sign of any Yellowhammers but there were Tree Sparrows who were also present at Martin Mere.
At Martin Mere the hides were closed but the viewing screens were not. There were some Ruff, Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatcher present early spring arrivals? I took a walk around the Reedbed and heard some squealing Water Rails and quite a few Cettis Warblers. I probably heard 10 different Cettis Warblers around the reserve. There was a minimum of 4 Little Egret around and 2 Great White Egrets. It was the first time I had seen Great White Egrets here and it seemed they were becoming more frequent. I saw one fly in from the South could it have been at Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve near Maghull?
Away from the Ribble Marshes and Leighton Moss it is still a rare site to see more than 2 Great White Egrets on a particular reserve. Both areas have probably recorded just over 10 on occasion. Not that far away on the Dee Estuary 30 plus Great White Egrets have been recorded! Martin Mere managed to have maybe 4 and maybe more of them before the lockdown was imposed in March 2020. I had 2 fly over Grane and drop onto Ogden in October 2016 so I am quite lucky!
I had a think about some of the species I had seen Mediterranean Gull, Great White Egret, Little Egret and Cettis Warbler - 50 years ago would anyone have thought these 4 species would be seen in Lancashire on the same day during winter with ease?
Photo No1 is the Grey Phalarope from Marshside. The next 9 are from Mere Sands Wood. Then the next 3 are at Curlew Lane. The remaining are from Martin Mere.
