With no sign of any decent winds to make seawatching worthwhile on this sequence of high tides, Marshside is probably worth a butcher's tomorrow (assuming I don't crack and head to Shetland...)
With this in mind, here's the latest press release from Jen Walker from the RSPB, detailing a series of events starting tomorrow, for those who like their birding organised.
The nifty Knot pic above is courtesy of Andy Hay/rspb-images.com
Over to Jen....
"There will be a wonderful wildlife spectacle happening along the Ribble Estuary this week as the October high tides provide fantastic views of the birds and wildlife at RSPB Marshside and Hesketh Out Marsh nature reserves.
The RSPB, which looks after both reserves are running four days of 'Big Tide Birding' events from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 October. These spring tides only happen a handful of times each year and can completely flood the saltmarsh, making thousands of wading birds come close to roost and attracting birds of prey like hen harriers, marsh harriers or short-eared owls.
Join staff and volunteers at RSPB Marshside nature reserve, near Southport for a guided walk out onto the saltmarsh to get a close up view of the hide tide excitement on Thursday 27 October from 10 am to 1 pm and on Friday 28 October from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm. Meet in the car park on Marine Drive, Southport (next to reserve and the old sand works).
On Saturday 29 October from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm, be inspired by the tide and wildlife at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh nature reserve and on Sunday 30 October 12 noon to 3 pm join a guided walk and watch the speed of the tide as it completely floods the marsh. Volunteers will be on hand with telescopes at the viewing platform. Meet in the car park at the end of Dib Road, off Shore Road.
Both events are suitable for all levels of experience. No booking is required for any of these events. The walks cost £5 adults (£3 RSPB members). For more information please phone: 01704 226190.
Alex Pigott, reserve warden said "The sights and sounds of huge flocks of coastal birds as they come closer inland with the incoming tide as well as the dramatic display of birds of prey, makes it an experience to remember. We hope you will fancy joining us."
The Ribble Estuary is an internationally important area for the vast numbers of geese, ducks and wading birds that rely on the marshes during the winter months.
You can visit RSPB Marshside nature reserve any day of the week for free. As well as seeing a variety of birdlife, this is a great time of year to see pink footed geese and wintering wildfowl. Free parking is available in the Sefton Council car park opposite the junction of Marshside Road and Marine Drive. For more details phone: 01704 226190 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/marshside.
You can visit RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh anytime on foot along the coastal footpath from Southport or Hesketh Bank. You can visit by car too, but please take care along the very bumpy track. For more details phone: 01704 226190 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/heskethoutmarsh"
Been shovelling sand for the last three days, so I haven't had a chance to bird the coast, although Grey Wags, Redwing, Fieldfare, Skylarks, Mipits etc have all been moving through, and a Woodcock was calling over Dempsey Towers last night.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »
A Raven on the beach by Cabin Hill this morning.
More birds are using food supplements provided in gardens than ever before. Newly published results from the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Garden Bird Feeding Survey (GBFS) show that the number of species seen during autumn and winter is up by almost 50% since the 1970s.
Gone are the days when feeding garden birds was on kitchen scraps, suet-filled coconut shells and monkey nuts threaded on string. Today, garden bird feeding is a multi-million pound industry, with a bewildering array of food and feeders on offer. Newly published results from the GBFS show that during the 1970s an average garden feeding station hosted 16 species during autumn and winter. This figure rose sharply to 21 species last decade before reaching an all-time high of 23 species last winter – up by half (49%) on the winter of 1970–71, when the GBFS commenced.
While numbers of some species – including House Sparrow, Song Thrush and Starling – have declined, the huge influx of other species has resulted in an overall increase. The main winners have been:
* Goldfinch (1% of gardens in the 1970s, 61% now)
* Long-tailed Tit (3% of gardens in the 1970s, 29% now)
* Woodpigeon (5% of gardens in the 1970s, 67% now)
* Great Spotted Woodpecker (7% of gardens in the 1970s, 30% now)
* Nuthatch (9% of gardens in the 1970s, 22% now)
Some 40–50% of UK householders are now thought to feed birds in their gardens, with an estimated 50–60 thousand tonnes of bird food provided per annum. With feeding opportunities changing rapidly, the GBFS is playing an essential role in charting effects on birds.
GBFS data show that many species – including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Jay and Chaffinch – use garden feeding stations more when natural foods are in short supply. While the trend for more species using garden feeders is great news for householders, it does raise important questions about the availability of food for birds in the wider countryside.
Tim Harrison, BTO Garden Ecology Team, commented: “Changes in farming practices and woodland management appear to be pushing individuals of many species out of these habitats, while increased availability of specialist bird foods and feeders is pulling them into gardens.”