Seaforth Nature Reserve, a hidden Gem

Lagoons, Seaforth Nature Reserve  L Bmson

It's been many years since our group visited the Seaforth nature reserve. Covering an area of 30ha the reserve is situated within the north end of the Bootle docks system, at the mouth of the Mersey. Comprising of two lagoons, one freshwater and the other saltwater, surrounded by land formed by tipped infill now rabbit-grazed grassland, and a small reed bed. Three hides are located by the freshwater lagoon.

A magnet for many species the reserve is a major roosting site for waders and seabirds and ducks in winter; and nationally important for spring passage Little Gulls. Wader roosts form 2-3 hours before high tide, so we coincided or trip with the tides approach. 

Swift J Binks

Arriving at the car park at Crosby marine lake (our meet up point) our first sighting was a swift flying in over the lake, a welcome harbinger of spring, newly arrived from its long migration. This was the first of our migrants for the day and a very good omen it turned out to be.

The reserve itself is a tadge difficult to locate, nestled in the dock complex and its maze of units. Entrance to the reserve is by yearly permit £20 from Peel ports,  if you have a permit you just arrive at the docks, show your pass at the gate and go into the reserve. As this reserve is leased and maintained by the Lancashire wildlife trust you should really be a member of the trust (Join your local Wildlife Trust | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside) and you may be asked to present your membership card when applying for the permit. Reserve manager Fiona Whitfield 0151 9203769 seaforth@lancswt.org.uk

The first thing you notice as you drive through the complex is it’s a dump! Industrial waste littered about, fortunately the reserve is better looked after. The second thing you should notice as you enter the reserve is the recently completed tern rafts by the trust offices, ready to be placed on the lagoons for the returning common terns. The reserve has a breeding colony of between 150-180 pairs of common terns and is one of the largest in the north of England. 

What a racket, we are greeted by a cacophony of calling gulls, intermingled with wader peeps and duck whistles and babbles. What a fabulous place this is, sensory heaven. 

We situated ourselves in the main hide, and by the wooden screens either side. Our group was comprised of new birders and experienced birding stalwarts, it wasn't long before bird species seen were being reeled off, complete with informative identifying factors and other bird insights. 

Oystercatchers, geese and gulls on grassy banks  N Prendergast

Shelduck, godwit,canada goose,wagtail   L Bimson

On the lagoons we found ducks such as tufted, teal, goldeneye, shelduck and mallard. On the grassy banks, two flighty, twittering linnets foraged for small seeds. Large numbers of oystercatchers huddled and gulls squabbled - black-headed, common, herring, lesser and great black-backed. On the shoreline a large group of cormorants, which roost on the reserve daily, sun bathed, whilst a   mute swan snoozed the morning away. Other guests, Canadian geese, lapwings, redshank, godwits and a flamboyant ruff re-fueled or just took time out.

Little ringed plover   N Prendergast

Little ringed plover nest  N Prendergast

Knot and turnstone buddies   L Bimson

To the left of the hide on a narrow spit, we were delighted to find a diminutive pair of little ringed plovers raking through the shingle. Turned out these little clockwork dynamos had a nest a little further back on the shore. Wonder what their chances are with all those predatory gulls about...mmh. 

Moving to the right of the hide another spit had a knot hanging out with a turnstone, or so it seemed, as they stayed close for all the time we were there. They were visited briefly by a common sandpiper and a white wagtail. 

White wagtail  N Prendergast

The arrival of two whimbrel landing on the causeway spit, created a stir and a discussion ensued on the differences between them and their larger cousin’s curlew.  (Excellent BTO video -    BTO Bird ID - Curlew and Whimbrel ) Easily spooked they didn't stay long, calling as the fled, a loud, rolling twitter. (XC301139 Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) ) Wonderful.

Whimbrel   N Prendergast

Another call of note alerted us to another surprise rare visitor to the reserve, a spotted redshank   (http://www.xeno-canto.org/141507)

Black and bar tailed godwits  L Bimson

Several black tailed godwits were already on the reserve on our arrival, another chance for an id lesson came when 3 bar tailed godwits arrived, smaller with their upturned bill, splendid in their stunning summer plumage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecJSoImIT2Y)

A little flock of wheeling dunlin came in as with the tide, making 'shapes' as they circled the lagoon before landing on the shoreline, their summer plumage little black bellies obvious.

Perhaps not one we expect to see here was a raven, spotted high flying over the northern end of the reserve. 

Without a shadow of a doubt the terns that dropped into the reserve during our visit made our day. It appears we were fortunate that on the day of our visit the wind direction had changed to a south easterly and this meteorological shift brought in a large fall of terns to our shores.

Black tern  N Prendergast

When the first black tern turned up at 11.10am a commotion erupted, twenty one birders dashing out the hide for a better view. Little did we know that by the end of the day an astonishing twenty four will have arrived, taking a break from their migration from Africa to their European breeding grounds such as Finland. What fantastic birds these little terns are, with their distinctive black head, swooping over the lagoons, dipping the surface for insects.  

Terns in flight  J Binks

Seventeen sandwich terns gracefully winged in along with the Common terns, some alighted on the shore and gave us yet another id lesson, larger with their distinctive black head crest 

Sandwich and common terns  J Binks

(https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/browse-bird-families/terns.aspx

Last but not least worthy of a mention was the little gull, a popular spring migrant to the reserve. This feisty endearing gull thoroughly entertained us with his antics; little but full of character, hyper-active, tern imitator and not afraid to take on bigger birds, at one point our bird appeared to be having a flying face off with an oystercatcher!

Little gull  N Prendergast

Little Gull and Common Tern   L Bimson

Bird list

Swift, house martin, sand martin, swallow, starling, magpie, wheatear, linnet, reed bunting, house sparrow, yellow wagtail, pied wagtail, white wagtail, cormorant, little ringed plover, mute swan, Canada goose , greylag goose, heron, whimbrel,  knot, turnstone, dunlin, redshank, spotted redshank, oystercatcher, ruff, black tailed, bar tailed godwit, teal, tufted duck, goldeneye, mallard,  shelduck, g.c grebe, herring, little, black headed, lesser black backed, gtr black backed gulls, sandwich tern, common tern, black tern, crow, raven.

Have your say……

“I too loved the Black terns not least because we had seen so many in Romania and it was amazing to see the same species on home ground.  Another 'ooh' moment for me was when the 2 whimbrel took flight and called with their lovely 7 syllable 'pee'.”   Dr Jenny Jones

“Great idea to get various perspectives on the day.

Day started off with an almost military operation in a choreographed convoy through the security checkpoint. Our leader, Chris, negotiated any visa issues with pin point precision. So we were all in safely without any losses. 

Once settled by the reserve, the day just got better and better.  Being a complete novice I was in awe of the many experts in the group. They made me feel very welcome and taught me so much. I had never heard of half of the birds present so that was a fantastic bonus. 

Can't wait for the next time. Thanks to everyone for a great day.”   Paul Cunningham

“It was a great day! I learned a lot from the group, much more than I could ever do alone. I can now spot the difference between sandwich and common terns and black and bar-tailed godwits. I got to see the similar species next to each other, and hear from the experts what the key id points were in flight and on the ground. Seeing the increasing numbers of amazing black terns was a big highlight!”  Jennie Geddes

Black Terns  L Bimson

Record-breaking bird settles into new home at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh

It’s smiles all round for staff and volunteers at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh after efforts to create a safe home for a record-breaking bird have proven to be successful.

Both Arctic and common terns are now nesting safely at the reserve after the team placed two brand new purpose-built rafts out on site, thanks to funding of £43,026 from The Veolia Environmental Trust, which was awarded through the Landfill Communities Fund. Covered in cockle shells to replicate the shingle beaches where they would normally nest, the tern rafts help to protect the eggs and chicks of these delightful birds from predators.

The Arctic tern is famous for holding the record for the longest migration of any bird – over 25,000 miles every year all the way from Antarctica. It is an uncommon bird in North West England, with the Ribble Estuary at the southern limit of its breeding range. These incredible creatures can now be seen gracefully patrolling over the reserve’s newly-created lagoons, before stooping to catch a fish from the surface.

Nick Godden, RSPB Ribble Reserves Warden, said: “The day after we put the two tern rafts out, there were birds already investigating them. It is so exciting to see these birds nesting on the purpose built rafts so soon and we are really hoping they will be successfully raising chicks in a few weeks’ time.

“Of course, it’s not just terns that are making themselves at home at Hesketh Out Marsh. Visitors can expect to see other fantastic wildlife such as redshanks, brown hares and nesting avocets, all set against the atmospheric backdrop of the stunning song of the skylark. With summer in the air, it’s the perfect time to come and visit and get closer to nature.”

The terns are the latest creatures to make a home at the site since the RSPB transformed wheat fields back into a thriving home for nature eight years ago. The new pools and nesting sites – created thanks to the £43,026 grant from The Veolia Environmental Trust - are giving visitors a chance to get better views of wildlife at the reserve than ever before.

The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Paul Taylor, added: “It is great to hear that this important project is achieving what it set out to do. The results show that the Landfill Communities Fund makes a real difference to England and Wales’ biodiversity. I look forward to hearing about the continued growth of the tern population in the future.” 

For more information about Hesketh Out Marsh, please visit rspb.org.uk/heskethoutmarsh

Spectacular seabird spectacle at Preston Marina

An unusual choice? Nesting common tern - Paul Ellis 

Hundreds of seabirds are arriving at Preston Marina for the breeding season after making the epic journey from West Africa.

Over the next few months, the breakwaters around the Marina will be teeming with common terns as they attempt to nest on the surrounding breakwaters. Nicknamed sea swallows, these charismatic birds are admired for their graceful flight.

The RSPB is giving visitors the opportunity to get to know the charismatic seabirds with a series of tern-watching events starting on Saturday 23 May. Staff and volunteers from the nature conservation organisation will be on hand with powerful telescopes, offering close up views of the fast and agile birds.

Calum Booth, RSPB Marine Conservation Officer for North West England, is organising the events. He said: “Common terns are fascinating birds to see in action, whether it’s looking at the cute fluffy chicks in their nest or watching their speedy parents outmanoeuvre piratical gulls trying to steal their dinner.”   

Common terns have tried to nest on the breakwaters around the marina since 2009 but, initially, a lack of suitable nest materials hampered their success. 

Contrary to what their name might suggest, common terns have been in long-term decline and are classed as a species of conservation concern.

Keen to give the birds the best chance of nesting success, in 2011 the Fylde Bird Club teamed up with Preston City Council and created numerous artificial nests by placing recycled tyres and gravel on the breakwaters. In 2012, the RSPB joined the partnership and has actively supported the project ever since.

Over the last two years, Fylde Bird Club also has been working with pupils and staff at Saint Aidan’s Church of England Technology College, Preesall, to create purpose-built tern nest boxes. These provide tern eggs and chicks with shelter and protection from predators.

Deputy Headteacher, Anthony Lord, said "This has been an excellent project to be part of.  The students can't wait to see the birds actually settled on the boxes on site."

By providing safe places to nest, the number of terns breeding at the marina has gone from two pairs in 2009 to more than 140 in 2014.

Paul Ellis of the Fylde Bird Club, added: “Preston Marina offers an unsurpassed opportunity to see these birds at close quarters and watch all the drama of life in the colony. Last year the colony increased by 20% and two pairs of arctic terns joined the common terns. However, available nest material still limited their numbers.

“This year 106 new nest trays have been provided and we are hoping these will allow even more birds to join the colony.  If they continue to have good breeding success the population could eventually exceed 200 pairs.

“Once again, Preston City Council deserves high praise for supporting this project and we are very grateful to Saint Aidan’s Technology College for assisting by making nest trays.”

Preston City Councillor Robert Boswell, Cabinet member for environment, said: “This is a very important project for the council to be involved in. It’s fantastic news that the numbers of common tern pairs are growing year on year. Hopefully this can carry on with the efforts of the RSPB and Fylde Bird Club, we owe them a big thank you. I would urge people to get to one of the events and see these fascinating birds.”

The RSPB will be running common tern events at Preston Marina on the following dates: Sat 23 May, Sat 6 Jun, Sun 21 Jun, Wed 8 Jul, Wed 22 Jul, Thu 6 Aug, Fri 21 Aug. The free events run from 10am to 4pm. Visitors are free to drop by at any time. The events will take place in the long car park on Mariners Way. 

Second time lucky – the David Attenborough Nature reserve

One of many - Lapwings

The first time we tried to get to Nottingham we had to turn back after 4hrs, grid lock on the M6 after an accident, not the best way to spend husbands’ birthday!..  Travellers beware. A month later we finally got there, not without further traffic snarl ups and worse I left my binoculars behind!  Still...

The reserve has a large car park, no fee, nor entrance cost, but donation recommended similar to Mere sands wood reserve.

My initial impression of the reserve is a mature version of Brockholes, similar habitats, large walking area, but more overgrown. I was particular pleased to find a tower hide, always good to view from on high, over the reeds! Access pretty good with benches dotted about to tally on. Again the visitor /café although smaller reminded me of Brockholes, set by the lake, nice food and yes if you want to feed the ducks, swans, geese and coots they’re waiting for you. Bird food on sale in shop.

Nature centre

We went in August, the weather wasn't particular good which probably meant some birds were skulking away, however the highlight came within five minutes of starting our walk, as we stopped on Barton lane overlooking the Tween pond a kingfisher flew past us, closely followed by a hair stirring common tern overhead!  Lots of tufties, mallard, coot, grebe, mute swan on lakes, geese and herons on the river, mixed tit flocks, sparrows, blackbirds and thrushes in the undergrowth, sedge warblers in the reeds. Common terns and black headed gulls were on posts on the Coneries pond. Lots of Lapwings on the works pond, buzzard and kestrel over the Erewash fields (llamas minding a sheep flock here!)  

Works pond

Butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies were noticeable along the river path vegetation, along with a couple of little voles scurrying across.

Quite at few welcome information boards insitu 

On the south west edge of the Nottingham, the Attenborough Nature Reserve is a mostly quiet haven. Managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, the 360 acres of lakes, wetland, grassland, woodland and scrub, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) it’s squeezed between the railway and the River Trent. The extraction of river gravel created the lakes. The reserve lies around these flooded gravel pits and the created habitat attracts wildlife, especially the birds for which it is best known. There are large lakes formed by the flooded pits, known as Church Pond, Clifton Pond, Coneries pond, Main Pond, Tween Pond and Beeston Pond, plus drier areas of scrub and grassland such as Corbetts Meadow and Erewash field

Main pond

Coneries pond

The spire of St Mary’s church in the centre of Attenborough village and is visible from most points across the reserve, and it is the village that gives the Nature Reserve its name. Sir David Attenborough, who opened the reserve in 1966.

Terns

The reserve is an important over wintering site for wildfowl i.e. shoveler, goldeneye, goosander, wigeon and large numbers of mallard and teal.  For several years several Bittern, have spent the winter in the reserve. In the summer, the breeding birds include great crested grebe, shelduck, little ringed plover and common tern, for which tern breeding platforms are provided. Reed and sedge warblers in the reed beds.

The reserve was busy with families and its criss-cross reserve paths are used by bike riders. The paths provide a range of views; are surfaced and are mainly flat so give easy access for those in wheelchairs and other disabled users. There was one point on the walk where a kissing gate may be considered narrow, path alongside the railway leading from Erewash field to nature centre.

River Trent

The riverside path forms part of the Trent Valley Way, a long distance footpath that follows the River Trent, on the opposite side there is some farmland proved to be popular with canadian and greylag geese . From here I could hear skylark and yellow hammer.

Tower hide

Clifton Pond from Tower hide

Tween Pond for Tower hide

The reserve has three hides,  one of the best being a tower hide giving view over the Tween and Clifton ponds (sorry no disabled access) On the day we went I met a lady who told she’d seen a Bittern 3 times during the winter months from the hide- in the Clifton pond. You will need to get the access code from the centre for the Delta hide. There are also viewing screens along the paths.

The reserves Nature Centre has a small shop and is the base for The Wildlife Trust’s educational activities. Depending on the time of year there are screens showing what is happening in nest boxes and elsewhere on the reserve. At the back of the centre a doorway leads to a seated bird feeding area and access to the new sand martin nest/bank hide.

Sandmartin Bank

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/2014/06/05/%E2%80%98bird-becomes-bouncer%E2%80%99-sand-martin-shown-door-new-footage

The Nature Centre café does meals; soups, sandwiches cakes recommended after a mornings exploration of the reserve, we sat on the balcony and had cake and coffee, well you have to…

On A6005, seven miles south west of Nottingham on the River Trent.
Google Maps.
 

More information:

http://www.nottmbirds.org.uk/sites/Attenboroughsite.html

 www.attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/attenboroughnaturereserve

Puff and Chuffs; the day we went to Anglesey

RSPB South Stack

Yns mon or the Isle of Anglesey as its known is a wonderful landscape of rolling welsh countryside, mountains and stunning bays. This was our destination for the day, lots of seabirds and anything else that crossed our path.

Despite a rogue shower as we sped down the A55, the day turned out beautiful, stunning blue skies and lovely warm sunshine.

One of the things that perplexed me on route as we passed through housing estates was the absence of what I call common garden birds, (despite Anglesey’s results in the big garden birdwatch) hardly a blackbird seen, a splattering of sparrows and starlings, and not a tit or finch in sight! Mmh, indeed the local residents were predominantly jackdaws, perched on numerous chimneys.

We arrived at RSPB South Stack by 10am; around a dozen of us had resisted the televised Wimbledon men’s final and made it to the island.

This is a spectacular reserve for seabirds. The cliff ledges packed with nesters, down 300 metres, far below the sea crashed against the rocks, yet more birds, feeding, gathering...the noise, the calls, the cries…the smell, guano, well what do you expect, this is a seabird colony of thousands.

The reserve footpaths meander through large areas of pretty heath land along the cliff tops,

Silver studded blue

home to all kinds of wildflowers such as pink thrift, sea campion, gorse, wild thyme, birds foot trefoil and horseshoe vetch.

From the lower car park we headed straight for the cliff tops, we were treated to flights of  butterflies  along the way, painted ladies danced with silver-studded blues , the latter being a  speciality of the reserve. A stonechat couple perched obligingly on the topmost branches of spiky gorse, comely to the eye and always a pleasure to see. This habitat is perfect for smaller birds, rock and meadow pipits, wrens, linnets and skylark’s conspicuous by their calls and manners. 

Approaching the cliffs we observed gannets, wings folded back, plummeting into the sea, guillemots, razorbills and puffins incoming, silvery sand eels grasped tightly in beaks.

Guillemots

We sat near Ellin’s tower. Observing the squabbling, jostling auks. Up to 4,000 breeding guillemots and 700 razorbills, squashed together on narrow ledges. Rock pipits flitted around the rocks below before flying up to the grassier areas and headland where they nested.

A loud ringing 'che-oww' call, alerted us to 3 choughs (9 breeding pairs on site) on the grassy headland, splendid bright red, slightly curved bill and red legs - complete with `ringers’ colour bands.

Chough

They sat awhile before swooping and diving in a game of chase, out of sight.

(Did you know, in Cornish legend and it is said that King Arthur was transformed into a chough when he died, the red feet and beak representing his violent, bloody end)

We moved on, towards the steps leading down to the South Stack Island and the Lighthouse. We didn't need to go all the way down, just far enough to see the other side of the cliffs, and here are quarry was found; puffins, Comical parrot-like, waddling around their burrows on bright orange legs. We counted at least 7, were told there are about 20.

Puffins and Razorbill

Looking towards the lighthouse grounds, snug amid the daisies we could see lots of nesting gulls, herring, lesser and greater black backed and black headed.

On the way back  to the café for our obligatory cake and coffee , some of us were delighted to see a rock pipit  family, close to the path,  vigilant yet un- perturbed by the mesmerized watchers, as we observed the parents, beaks crammed full of insects and grubs return to their hidden nestlings in the heath.

Rock pipit

Sadly we dipped on the recently reported peregrines with their newly fledged chick

Next stop Cemlyn lagoon for terns, shearwaters and tysties.

Cemlyn shingle spit

Cemlyn run by the wildlife trust is a safe haven for breeding terns. The shallow lagoons of Cemlyn are separated from the sea by a curving shingle spit protected by wire and wardens. 

An astonishing place, on first impression, visually captivating, vocally clamorous   and then you realise how incredibly close you can get to the birds without disturbing them. This is one to the largest sandwich tern colonies in the UK with 2567 pairs breeding this year –warden survey 2014. Here the elegant sandwich terns  return from  wintering in the warmer climes of West Africa to nest each summer on a series of islands on Cemlyn lagoon; they are joined by  73  Common Tern, 36 Arctic Tern  and 370 Black headed Gull nests, and a single rare Roseate Tern. 

Sandwich Tern

  

Families

So many babies a joy to see, fluffy tern babies begging adults for fishy dinners. Parent birds swooping over the heads of the watchers on the shingle spit, beaks full of sand eels yet still able to call and announce their arrival to their awaiting mates and chicks! 

On a sunny afternoon this truly was a place to tarry a while, to rest up and sit amongst the multi coloured stones, close your eyes and listen, and glory in the cacophony. For others came a chance to re-discover a long lost childhood skills of skimming pebbles across the waters!

Incoming sand eel dinner

Away from the spit a footpath from the car park takes you to the beach, here you can look out to sea towards the Skerries and the isle of West mouse. 

Towards west mouse

Meadow Pipit

Along the path a bold meadow pipit flew back and forth around the gate, a nest nearby perhaps?

Seal

Scanning the waters we located some grey seals, basking on a rocky outcrop or bobbing about as is their nature. 

Merganser

A female red breasted merganser splashed near to the beach, whilst oystercatchers piped as they scurried over the rocky shore. 

But we were here for a purpose, we were looking for Manx shearwaters, and they obliged, far out to sea, skimming across the waters. Id insight -  a flying cross - wings at right angles to the body, changing from black to white as the black upperparts and white undersides are alternately exposed.(Did you know - It is the longest lived bird in Britain, with one living at least 55 years.)  

Other sought birds for the day, were tysties or black guillemots, again these were found out to sea their pure white patches on their black wings giving them away.

Time for home, mission accomplished, another grand day out. 

Laura

Pics: N Prendergast/L Bimson