The weather forecast looked favourable so we decided on a day out in a westerly direction, this would be out of Yorkshire so with passport in had we headed into Lancashire and landed at Southport, Marshside RSPB reserve at about 10:30am to see lots of Pink footed Geese flying over the marsh.
We headed to the Visitor Centre first, toilet stop, whilst there we had a look over the marsh to find various ducks and waders Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Mallard, Wigeon, Black tailed Godwits, Avocets, Redshank, Black headed Gulls
Male Teal
Other birds of note were Canada Geese, Starling, Lapwings with Golden Plovers, Grey Heron with elusive Little Egrets. We decided on a walk across the road onto the marsh, keeping to the footpaths of course, here we found Skylarks, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch and a couple of Male Wheatears
Wheatear posing for the camera
Back to the car due to the now dark skies and only just in time as the heavens opened, so much for the weather forecast, but we watched the gulls flying past the car as we ate dinner and added a Common Gull to the day list.
We moved off and headed towards Yorkshire once again, can’t stop away too long, but first we stopped off at the Brockholes Nature Reserve next to the M5 for a coffee, not much happening here due to the strong cold winds and rain. Watching from the visitor centre with coffee in hand we saw Pied Wagtails, Coot, Moorhen, Black headed Gulls, Grey Heron and Tufted Duck, rushing back to the car we got sight of a few Sand Martins overhead. Looks like a good reserve, big and a few things for the children as well, it’s the first time we’ve been so maybe well be back when its warmer
Day List in no particular order :-
Mute Swan, Wigeon, Black tailed Godwit, Redshank, Avocet, Common Snipe, Black headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Little Egret, Pink footed Goose, Canada Goose, Shoveler, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck, Starling, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Coot, Moorhen, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Wheatear, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Sand Martin, Common Buzzard[on travels]
Huddsbirder 