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Everything changes

Posted by on March 30, 2008 9:38 PM | 

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Got down to Marshside for a few hours today - glorious sunny morning - but Bazzo and John B were out before me, and had already scored with several Wheatears, a Chiffchaff and White Wags at various spots around the reserve, before they headed off onto the mosses.
I walked the coastal path between Hesketh Road and Marshside Road and had two singing Chiffchaffs, Greater 'Pecker and several Goldcrests.
A male Wheatear was singing on the southern side of the peninsula in a warm corner - strange to hear one with its scratchy muted warble so early here....

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Plenty of pipits going through, and Avocets and Goldies amongst the Lapwings, Blackwits etc.
Three Stock Dove on the eastern side of Marshside One.
I understand work starts to clear the Sandplant this week, by of all people, the Forestry Commission (no, I don't get that one either).
Here's a few shots of the place taken today - guess it may be a bit different next time I get down....

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Took a walk round the Forest of Bale for old time's sake, a Goldcrest was feeding in there and a few Blackbirds were flitting about.
Three Stonechats on the marsh off the point.
Up to 1,000 Pink Feet further out.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....


Comments (12)

Bazzo wrote...

Garganeys, Kingfisher, Treecreeper, 6 Chiffchaffs, all at Mere Sands Wood yesterday (March 30th).

Posted by: Bazzo  | March 31, 2008 6:11 AM

Paul Slater wrote...

On 19 March, a Chiffchaff was singing near Otterspool. A pair of Stonechats was also present on the grassland, at the Old Garden Festival site where Skylarks had stared singing again. The day previous, a Buzzard had been at the site, and some Bluebells had already started flowering.
I have been visiting the old Garden Festival site, and nearby areas, for over twenty years, and have observed how the site has matured into the wooded landscape it is today. Over 100 species of bird have been recorded at the site, with woodland species making increased usage of the site as the trees grow and mature. A recent new species at the site was a Coot, on the lake below the old Chinese pavilions. This bird probably being a refugee from the recent works taking place in nearby Sefton Park.

Posted by: Paul Slater  | March 31, 2008 6:13 AM

Derek Williams wrote...

Latest from Haskayne, March 20-25th:
20 Rooks nests; Wheatear; Barn Owl; 2 Redwing; Great Spotted Woodpecker; 3 Pink Feet; 2 pairs of Tufted Duck; 25+ Shelduck; 176 Fieldfare; 4 Snipe; Great Crested Grebe; Buzzards; Raven (23rd); 150 Mallard; 150 Curlew; Teal; Oystercatcher; alba wags.

Posted by: Derek Williams  | March 31, 2008 6:17 AM

Bazzo wrote...

While I was passing the time on Mt Baker yesterday (Sunday) a little bird whispered the following to me, which adds a bit to the news John has already given: destruction of the Peninsula will begin with the felling of all trees and bushes, to avoid the painful (and PR-unfortunate) necessity of destroying nesting birds during the digging. An estimated 45,000 tonnes of rubble and sand is to be shifted, to where, my informant knows not.
At, say, 30 tonnes a truckload that will necessitate 1,500 truck journeys, not to mention the energy expended in the actual digging.
Yes, folks, the lunatics really have taken over the asylum!

Posted by: Bazzo  | March 31, 2008 10:37 AM

Malcolm Walker wrote...

Watched an Osprey over Meadow Fisheries near Helsby on Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm.
The bird did two circuits of the lake, before coming back into the wind to hover.
Didn't catch a fish though.

Posted by: Malcolm Walker  | March 31, 2008 10:54 AM

Barrie wrote...

Re destruction of Mount Baker, Forest of Bale etc. Has there been no local consultation regarding this?
Surely, a few days with a bulldozer or two could have 'enhanced' the habitat.
By all means take away any remaining ironwork, fences etc but why go to all the trouble/energy consumption/CO2 expiration etc carting away the sand?
Let the asylum's lunatics have their day playing in the sandpit then leave it for the rest of us.

Posted by: Barrie  | March 31, 2008 12:47 PM

Philip Collins wrote...

Let me add my disgust at the crazy proposals for the ex sand works.
On a more spring like note saw my first Peacock and Tortoiseshell butterflies in the garden today.
Still male and female Blackcap present.

Posted by: Philip Collins  | March 31, 2008 4:48 PM

John Bannon wrote...

Around 1500 Golden Plover on Marshside 1 tonight, some looking superb in their pre-nuptials.
Also, two Little Stints chasing each other about.
Seven Little Egrets flew over heading for their roost on the Marine Lake islands...does the Great White join them I wonder ?
Late Fieldfare on the Golf Course, but not a hirundine or any other migrant.
Thirty odd Linnets around the sandplant...if they quickly build nests, will it stop the bulldozers ?
Plus a female? Avocet excavating a scrape/nest on the shingle island immediately in front of the Sandgrounders hide.
Ears to the Meres

Posted by: John Bannon  | April 1, 2008 12:50 AM

John E wrote...

Hi John,
Do you have any information on what's happening at the Sandplant? I've looked on the RSPB's website but there's no information on there.
A raised hide would be nice but failing that I'd rather they left it as it is, anything but bulldozing it or turning it into a car park!

Posted by: John E  | April 1, 2008 1:02 PM

john wrote...

Howdy John, I've seen nothing on paper I'm afraid, but I do know that the difficulty with the site seems to be a question of precedence.
Industrial sites such as this in such valuable conservation areas must be returned to their former state - which in the context of the Ribble means more marsh.
Arguably we've got more than enough of that, but if it was transformed into a more attractive habitat for say, migrants, then it could create a precedent that would allow other parts of the coastline to be turned over to other uses.
Daft as it sounds, I think I've got that right.
The site isn't under the control of the RSPB, but hopefully if Graham or Tony are reading, they may be able to shed a bit more light on the future of the Sandplant compound?
What about it guys, there's a lot of concerned people out here....?

Posted by: john  | April 1, 2008 1:40 PM

Alan Bale wrote...

Dear birders
re the Sandworks Marshside, I have also heard that some pre-emptive work to strim vegetation on the site may be about to occur and prevent birds nesting before removal of spoil to a local site of some of the bunds.
I have a real fear that not enough communication of any plans has been made since the end of sandwinning and the removal of the processing plant in February 2007.
It is already migration time and also some species will be beginniing to nest on the site.
Surely a moratorium of any works should be in place until at least one more full nesting season is allowed to take place before any final plans are drawn up.
This would ensure that the wildlife using the site since industrial use ceased can be fully assessed.
It would be useful for the details of any proposals to be made public before any decisions for this important site are made.
On a positive note I have recently changed my route to work and started to notice Little Egrets on the North Island of the Marine Lake, five on 6th March and 16 including four greyish juveniles on 13th March and am hoping they will nest this year.
All the best
Albion

Posted by: Alan Bale  | April 1, 2008 10:23 PM

John Siddle wrote...

John, I received this from Natural England press office. They're looking into things as we speak...interesting that they plan to build a visitor centre..
John

"I have spoken to our area manager and he was aware that Natural England were engaged in discussions on this work some time ago.
The site is immediately adjacent to the RSPB reserve at Marshside and just South of our own Ribble National Nature Reserve. The operator, Rainfords, have recently pulled out of operations there and there is a condition that the site be restored afterwards. Rainfords were causing damage to the SSSI/SPA site through excessive lorry movements and an associated 'sand road' across the saltmarsh.
We have been engaged in the future plans regarding pursuing a 'mixed' end use of salt marsh and visitor 'centre' of some kind that would have the following benefits:

i) Ceasing sand extraction from the south of the estuary will bring an end to damage to internationally important wildlife habitats.
ii) Restoration of the sand storage site offers an opportunity to restore coastal habitats that support a wide variety of wildlife.
Kind regards
Susan Clark"

Posted by: John Siddle  | April 17, 2008 10:11 AM

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