Birdwatching at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh

RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh

This new salt marsh reserve is going to be a great place to admire big flocks of wading birds like Golden plovers, Lapwings and Black-tailed godwits. And as winter encroaches, birds such as Pink-footed geese, Wigeon, Teal and Whooper swans arrive on the estuary to feed from as far a field as central Russia, Siberia and Iceland.

In spring the marshes will be alive with the sight and sound of displaying waders, including Avocets and Lapwings; Avocets and Redshanks are among the birds that have already nested on the site. Greenshanks and Black-tailed godwits, are summer visitors. Whilst Little egrets can now be seen in the Ribble estuary area in large numbers right throughout the year, these favourites can now be seen fishing in the creeks and lagoons of the new reserve. Redshanks, Curlew, Dunlin and Shelduck can also be seen all year round feeding on the mudflats.


Viewing Platform **NB This is an exposed site with no other shelter	Looking towards Hundred's End 10/10/09

A taste of things to come, Egrets on a lagoon	Looking beyond reserve from Breach 4 towards Hesketh Sands & River Ribble

Hesketh Out Marsh is a reserve in the making, already the incoming tide has altered the lagoon maps seen below, smashing through constructed dykes, determined to make it's own design. Salt marshes are one of the most biologically productive habitats on the planet, rivalling tropical rainforests. The daily tidal surges bring in nutrients, which settle in the roots of the plants within the salt marsh, thus feeding the saltmarsh plants as well as the filter feeders in the mudflats such as mussels, barnacles and marine worms.

Future developments on the reserve include better access for the disabled, and an area by the car park earmarked as a wildflower/nectar bar area for our smaller birds, butterflies, moths, bees, dragonflies and other insects. If your lucky you might see a Brown hare racing through this patch to the fields behind.

Keep an eye out for any commotion from the birds on the marsh - a Peregrine is known in the area. Merlin, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Hen Harrier were all seen on the open day.


Plan of reserve showing lagoons.

History

The first steps towards the creation of an RSPB reserve at Hesketh Out Marsh on the southern shores of the Ribble took place late in 2006 with the purchase of 180 ha of arable farmland and surrounding sea-walls near Hesketh Bank. The land had previously been salt marsh, reclaimed from the sea in 1980 by the creation of an outer (private) sea wall. It was subsequently converted to arable, but the land is now being returned to salt marsh with creeks, saline pools and mudflats, via the process of managed realignment.

This process involved breaching the outer sea wall in strategic places, while at the same time strengthening the inner sea wall, resulting in the reinstatement of a semi-natural tidal regime, so hastening a return to salt marsh.


Large Creek formed from breach 4 10/10/09	Trees now dead, marsh at breach 4. 10/10/09

The prime habitat will be a fine example of actively-developing salt marsh at one of the largest sites of its kind in Europe. The RSPB are confident that the new marsh will soon support a wide range of salt marsh plants together with nationally-important high tide wader roosts, important breeding wader populations and significant populations of breeding and wintering passerines and raptors

The sea wall around part of Hesketh Out Marsh on the estuary was breached in 4 places on Tuesday 16 September 08, allowing the area behind it to flood. By allowing the tide to naturally flow through the area, creating muddy creeks and saline lagoons, the project creates habitat for breeding waders, wildfowl, invertebrates and fish.

The whole area was a natural salt marsh until the 1980s, when local landowners built flood defences and reclaimed it as farmland. It is hoped that returning part of the site to its natural state will reduce the risk of flooding to the surrounding area and create a large area - 150 hectares (370 acres) - of important wildlife habitat.

The scheme, supported by Lancaster City Council, the Environment Agency, the Lancashire Rural Recovery Action Plan, Natural England, Biffaward and The Banister Charitable Trust, will create a highly effective natural flood defence, with the salt marsh absorbing the energy of the tide as it moves up the estuary. In addition, the Environment Agency is repairing the original sea defences further inland and will protect farmland on the eastern side of Hesketh Out Marsh with a new sea wall.

Swans and Pinkies on Stubble RSPB Tenanted land

Un- breached RSPB fields towards River Douglas aka R Asland

Not all of the land held has been breached yet. The RSPB also holds fields to the east of the marsh area, tenants are currently farming these fields. These pictures taken on the 9th show large numbers of Pink footed Geese and Swans feeding on the stubble.

THE SITE WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED FOR VISITORS ON 9 OCTOBER 2009

Daily opening hours are 8am to 6pm or dusk if it is earlier.

Warning: No facilities currently on site.

Car park : The car park can hold eight cars; there are two disabled spaces. There are two bike racks

The Car park is situated at the end of DIB RD (look out for small wooden RSPB sign) Take Shore Road from Hundred End/Banks or Hesketh Bank. The turning is the first on the right after leaving Hesketh Bank and the first on the left after passing the Hundred End junction.

Dogs are only allowed on public footpaths and bridleways. Please keep them on leads

http://www.rspb.org.uk/heskethoutmarsh