Head behind the scenes at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh and witness a wildlife spectacle

BROWN HARE - CHRIS GORMERSALL RSPB

There is a wonderful wildlife spectacle to witness on the Ribble Estuary as the breeding season gets underway, with fantastic views of nesting birds and other wildlife to be had – and what better way to experience this than on a guided walk with the RSPB at Hesketh Out Marsh.

Thanks to a £43,000 grant from The Veolia Environmental Trust, which was awarded through the Landfill Communities Fund, the RSPB has transformed this saltmarsh reserve from fields back into a thriving home for nature, with the creation of new pools and the provision of nesting sites attracting a range of wildlife.

Now the team are offering people the chance to join a guided ‘Springwatch-walk’ at the reserve, near Hesketh Bank, on Saturday 23 May and take a look behind the scenes to see the recent changes and the wildlife spectacle that the nesting birds provide.

John Langley, Assistant Warden for RSPB Ribble Reserves, said: “Thanks to the funding from The Veolia Environmental Trust, we have been able to turn the reserve back into a wonderful, tidal wetland, with the new pools offering a variety of wildlife a home, including avocets, redshanks, peregrines and brown hares.

“It is a truly fantastic site and a guided walk is a great way to find out more about the wildlife here and the changes we have made on the marsh. We hope as many people as possible come and join us.”

Paul Taylor, the Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, added: “It is great to hear that this project has been a success. It has brought many benefits for birds and people and is a great example of how the Trust and the Landfill Communities Fund can both help improve habitats and make it possible for more people to experience and enjoy the natural world. I look forward to hearing about the reserve thriving in the future.”

The guided walk will include some moderate periods of walking along footpaths and sturdy footwear and waterproof clothing is essential.

This event will cost £4 for RSPB members and £5 for non-members. Booking is essential, please call the Ribble Discovery Centre on 01253 796292 to book your place.

Meet at 2pm at the Hesketh Out Marsh car park, Dib Road off Shore Road, between Hesketh Bank and Banks villages.

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

Point of Ayr - a Sunday outing

Eventually got out today with my camera with Rhodie to the Point of Ayr .. nice and mild winds, good variety of birds managed to get some clear shots of them - Neil

The RSPB’s Point of Ayr reserve at Talacre is on the north-west corner of the Dee Estuary, a relatively small area comprising sand flats, mud banks, saltmarsh, scrub, sand dunes and fresh water pools. It therefore attracts a very good range of estuary birds. Being next to the Irish Sea it is also favoured by seawatchers, often being the first landfall for migrating birds crossing over from the North West coast of England. 

The scrub ,wildflower meadows and sand dunes are

good for skylarks, meadowpipits, wheatear, stonechats and warblers.

In winter thousands of waders and wildfowl  gather on the mudflats including  greylag, dunlin, redshank, godwit, curlew, knot, and sanderling.  When the tide rises, the birds are forced onto the nearby marshes. The carefully positioned open backed  hide gives close views of the feeding birds.

There is a 75 mile (1 km) seawall path. Wide, level and surfaced - the seawall is accessible to wheelchairs/pushchairs. The hide is 0.75 mile (1 km) from reserve entrance.  One fixed bench without back.

Previous blog on area:

http://liverpoolrspb.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/little-terns-at-gronant.html

The Sentinel of the Marshes

Here's a little id  insight for you, look for the white wedges,  excellent photo for you to remember when looking thru you binos. Greenshank no white markings on wings & green legs!  

 Look for the W shape on back in flight.   Redshanks - N prendergast

Redshank -  N Prendergast

The so called  'Sentinel of the marshes'  as it's the first species to take to the air when flushed whilst making an awful lot of noise.

Very good identification video on Shank differences here:

http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id/bto-bird-id-common-shanks

Laura

A new site? Deeside Naturalists Society Connahs quay

Waders on the marsh  Connah's quay

Hi All,

I went to the the DNS Connah's Quay today which i have recently joined and was pleasantly surprised with what i saw and the quality of photo's that i could take with the sun behind me. "A bit like a Christmas Panto actually :-) "It's behind you" ! 

The high tide came in quite rapidly and flooded a huge area which is normally dry.

Oystercatchers

This of course shifted the birds onto higher ground.

These photo's are taken from the top of the two story brick built hide which is a great advantage point for viewing the birds.

Redshank

Of course the bright sunny and cloudless day with blue skies made all the difference but tomorrow's weather will be a different matter altogether.

Relatively speaking Egret & Heron

 

Curlew

Neil