RSPB Marshside : 15th March 2016

RSPB Marshside  : 15th March 2016

The first birding group day out we could attend since coming back from holiday was to RSPB Marshside on what was a gloriously sunny day with no wind at all, which must be an absolute first for MArshside which is usually freezing cold and blowing a gale. There was a good smattering of birds and I got two “year ticks” as well as some other nice sightings.

The “year ticks” were Black-tailed Godwits which I would have expected to have seen on the Wirral already this year but perhaps they have all decided to roost at Gilroy Nature Park instead of on the coast ! The other was a Peregrine which perched, preening, on a dead tree brach on the marsh between the road and the sea. It remained there a very long time giving everyone a good, prolonged, view.

Other interesting birds were a nice flock of around fifty Avocets and three (I saw two) Greater Scaup; a male and a female. These latter were showing from the blind opposite the car park. In general there were plenty of the usual birds you would expect, including some nice Pintail but the day was made especially joyful by the sight of Skylark after Skylark ascending into the wind-free blue sky singing loudly its wonderful song.

After Marshside we repaired to the Hesketh Arms in Rufford where we sorted out some venues for the next term, to be finalised at next weeks meeting at Marbury.

Bird Sightings : Marshside