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September 2007. Stop press: Glossy ibis and Great white egret on the reserve, see below for details.
Opening times
RSPB Marshside nature reserve is open every day and there is free entry to the reserve. In the Sandgrounders hide volunteers are on hand from 10.30am – 5pm to show visitors the birds through binoculars and telescopes. The popular hide is heated and wheelchair accessible. There are also four other viewing areas on the reserve along with several kilometres of paths. Highlights
see pink-footed geese and wigeons in winter.
Location & Access
24 Hoghton Street
Southport
Merseyside
PR9 0PA
Tel: 01704 536378 (9 am to 5 pm)
Grid reference: SD355203
Free parking is available in the Sefton Council car park (adjacent to the sand washing plant) opposite the junction of Marshside Road and Marine Drive.
Click here for more information. Glossy ibis and Great white egret at Marshside.
September 2007. The arrival of two rare wild birds not usually found in the UK has brought an unexpected taste of the Mediterranean to the RSPB Marshside this summer.
Glossy ibis
A glossy ibis, an extremely rare visitor from Southern Europe, took up residence at the RSPB Marshside reserve near Southport. A large dark bird, with a distinctive down curved beak, the arrival of the ibis has drawn birdwatchers to Southport from across the country, A flock of 17 appeared at WWT Slimbridge earlier in the year before dispersing, and it is possible that this bird is one of that flock. The bird has proved a popular attraction, obligingly putting in a daily appearance in front of the reserve’s Sandgrounders Hide
Great white egret
To the delight and amazement of RSPB wardens and visitors, another rare southern visitor, a great white egret, has also appeared on the reserve. This large, long-legged, bird was first spotted on an inaccessible part of the Ribble estuary, before it moved to the RSPB Marshside reserve.
RSPB Marshside warden, Graham Clarkson said: ‘The glossy ibis has been attracting lots of visitors to Marshside throughout the summer, but the unprecedented arrival of the great white egret saw the hides on the reserve full every day, as visitors tried to spot it amongst the flock of it’s smaller cousins, the little egrets.’
The reserve could soon be nicknamed ‘Ribble-sur-la-Mer’ as 27 pairs of elegant, black and white avocets have nested at Marshside this summer, and a flock of up to 14 little egrets (a species which has made an incredible northward invasion from southern Europe into North West England in recent years) is also resident at Marshside.
Tim Birch of the RSPB Northern England region added: ‘The stronghold of these birds was once only in the Mediterranean region and they were unbelievably rare visitors to England. However, in recent years, little egrets have become resident in the north west and parts of the south east, and great white egrets are appearing more frequently. The reason for the northward spread of these birds is not fully known, but we know that climate change is having an effect on wildlife and there could be a link.’
Ironically, one of the RSPB’s first successful campaigns in the late 1880s was to stop the slaughter of egrets on their southern European breeding grounds. Feathers from the dead birds were used to decorate hats worn by Victorian ladies.
Marshside RSPB
Part of the internationally important Ribble Estuary, Marshside has some of the best lowland wet grassland in the north-west of England. It is an important refuge in winter for pink-footed geese, wigeons, black-tailed godwits and golden plovers and in spring provides nesting places for lapwings and redshanks, which are declining elsewhere.September 2007. Stop press: Glossy ibis and Great white egret on the reserve, see below for details.
Opening times
RSPB Marshside nature reserve is open every day and there is free entry to the reserve. In the Sandgrounders hide volunteers are on hand from 10.30am – 5pm to show visitors the birds through binoculars and telescopes. The popular hide is heated and wheelchair accessible. There are also four other viewing areas on the reserve along with several kilometres of paths. Highlights
see pink-footed geese and wigeons in winter.
Location & Access
24 Hoghton Street
Southport
Merseyside
PR9 0PA
Tel: 01704 536378 (9 am to 5 pm)
Grid reference: SD355203
Free parking is available in the Sefton Council car park (adjacent to the sand washing plant) opposite the junction of Marshside Road and Marine Drive.
Click here for more information. Glossy ibis and Great white egret at Marshside.
September 2007. The arrival of two rare wild birds not usually found in the UK has brought an unexpected taste of the Mediterranean to the RSPB Marshside this summer.
Glossy ibis
A glossy ibis, an extremely rare visitor from Southern Europe, took up residence at the RSPB Marshside reserve near Southport. A large dark bird, with a distinctive down curved beak, the arrival of the ibis has drawn birdwatchers to Southport from across the country, A flock of 17 appeared at WWT Slimbridge earlier in the year before dispersing, and it is possible that this bird is one of that flock. The bird has proved a popular attraction, obligingly putting in a daily appearance in front of the reserve’s Sandgrounders Hide
Great white egret
To the delight and amazement of RSPB wardens and visitors, another rare southern visitor, a great white egret, has also appeared on the reserve. This large, long-legged, bird was first spotted on an inaccessible part of the Ribble estuary, before it moved to the RSPB Marshside reserve.
RSPB Marshside warden, Graham Clarkson said: ‘The glossy ibis has been attracting lots of visitors to Marshside throughout the summer, but the unprecedented arrival of the great white egret saw the hides on the reserve full every day, as visitors tried to spot it amongst the flock of it’s smaller cousins, the little egrets.’
The reserve could soon be nicknamed ‘Ribble-sur-la-Mer’ as 27 pairs of elegant, black and white avocets have nested at Marshside this summer, and a flock of up to 14 little egrets (a species which has made an incredible northward invasion from southern Europe into North West England in recent years) is also resident at Marshside.
Tim Birch of the RSPB Northern England region added: ‘The stronghold of these birds was once only in the Mediterranean region and they were unbelievably rare visitors to England. However, in recent years, little egrets have become resident in the north west and parts of the south east, and great white egrets are appearing more frequently. The reason for the northward spread of these birds is not fully known, but we know that climate change is having an effect on wildlife and there could be a link.’
Ironically, one of the RSPB’s first successful campaigns in the late 1880s was to stop the slaughter of egrets on their southern European breeding grounds. Feathers from the dead birds were used to decorate hats worn by Victorian ladies.
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.
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