Mere Sands Wood and Marshside RSPB Reserve - 16th November 2024

 

Greylag Geese (D Axford)

Mere Sands Wood and Marshside RSPB Reserve

16th November 2024

Weather:  Cloudy, cool, brightened up in the afternoon

Members and friends:  27                      Driver: Glenn

Twenty-seven members and friends set off from Stockport for the trip over to the west Lancashire coast. After an early morning pit stop at Rivington Services the coach continued through the Lancashire countryside and villages giving us the first species of the day, Collared Dove. 

Robin (J Wharton)

Alighting from the coach on the main road outside the Mere Sands Wood, Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve, we identified a large flock of Pink-footed Geese in a field to the north. Included within the flock were three Mute Swan. Continuing onto the reserve we walked around the perimeter path. Stopping at the Mere End pool we found small numbers of waterfowl. Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Teal and Mallard were present, plus a single fishing Cormorant. The highlight was a fine male Mandarin duck. Some of the group also found a female present. 

Blackbird (D Axford)

In the adjacent woodland small flocks of Chaffinch and Goldfinch moved through the canopy. We also recorded the usual woodland species with Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit and Goldcrest identified. A Buzzard was seen flying over the treetops. The arable fields to the north of the woodland were very quiet with no geese at all. A flock of approximately fifty Skylark flew through and there was the odd Carrion Crow and Jackdaw amongst the furrows. Small numbers of Woodpigeon were flying back and forth accompanied by a few Stock Dove. A distant Sparrowhawk flew by. A couple of the group did connect with Corn Bunting in this area and fly-by Whooper Swans.

Coot (J Wharton)

Returning into the woodland we heard, and then saw, a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A few of the party were lucky to have brief views of a hunting Barn Owl in the fields to the west of the reserve. The main pool in the west of the reserve was unusually quiet (there looked like there had been some vegetation clearance done recently). Cormorant, Moorhen, Coot, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Canada Geese, Little Egret, Little Grebe and Grey Heron were present. A single Reed Bunting was found and Fireman John was lucky to see a Kingfisher. 

On the walk out of the reserve, back to the main road, we found Song Thrush, Blackbird and Pied Wagtail feeding in the field margins. Redwings and Meadow Pipit passed overhead. 

Lesser Black-Backed Gull (J Wharton)

The group returned to the coach and we travelled the short distance to the Marshside RSPB reserve. Alighting the coach in the car park at the old sand plant a couple of us decided to walk down the promenade to Southport. On the walk we were fortunate to see both female Merlin and Sparrowhawk come hunting low over the saltmarsh and then onto the south areas of the reserve.  On the saltmarsh there were large scatter flocks of Pink-Footed Geese, smaller flocks of Little Egret, distant Shelduck and the odd Curlew. At Southport pier we found the single Snow Bunting (that had been in the area for a couple of weeks) and enjoyed close views. We attempted, without success, to pick out the reported five Twite amongst a flock of sixty very flighty and mobile Linnet. 

Snow Bunting (NH)

Returning north along Marine Drive promenade we had excellent views of a male Hen Harrier hunting over the saltmarsh. On the flooded field at the south of the reserve we found large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover. The usual duck were in attendance, with some very smart male Pintail. Ruff, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit were present. 

Scoping north from the old sand plant we identified, over the saltmarsh, Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret and two very distant Spoonbill were seen. Colin had walked north along Marine Drive and connected with closer views of the two birds. There were more flocks of Pink-footed Geese and Little Egret here as well.  On the wider reserve a few of the group connected with Peregrine, Chiffchaff, Snipe, Raven and Stonechat. 

It had been a good day with 84 species recorded on this trip to the Lancashire coast.

Robin (D Axford)

Birds seen;