RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh,Lancs.

[Twitcheruth]

We visited this newish reserve after our stop at RSPB Marshide 20 minutes down the coast en-route to our 10 days in the Lake District.
First impressions were very good,despite the rather large potholes on the approach road!
Skylarks were singing and there were plenty of Meadow Pipits and Small White butterflies to see as we walked towards the viewing hide on the marsh.
Once settled in the hide (which is open ended,I assume to avoid being blown down in winter storms as it's very exposed to the elements!!) we were chuffed to observe about 5/6 White Wagtails strutting along in front of us as well as 2 female Wheatears,more Skylark and a stunning male Linnet all very pleasing to see!
Out on the vast marsh were good numbers of Shelduck,Redshank and a lone Greenshank,my first of the year!
We had our pic-nic lunch here and won't hesitate in calling again......providing it's not blowing a gale!

[Winterkoning]

Looks great....super photos Ruth Well done Hope you enjoyed the Hols

[Twitcheruth]

Originally Posted by Winterkoning

Looks great....super photos Ruth Well done Hope you enjoyed the Hols:)

Thanks Mike,yes we had a great holiday.......despite a planned romantic cruise down Ulswater to celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary being scuppered as the sailings were all cancelled while police looked for a body that had gone overboard!

I got 2 lifers (Dotterel & Whimbrel) during the week and an additional 20 birds for my year list and on top of that it didn't rain all week!!!!!

[PeterB]

Sounds like you had a good time. Nice pics, I like the linnet, I don't think I've ever seen one. (and known what it is!)

[alanjns]

despite a planned romantic cruise down Ulswater to celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary being scuppered as the sailings were all cancelled while police looked for a body that had gone overboard!

Oh dear, they weren't filming an episode of Corrie were they!

Congrats on 28 years Ruth & Hubby.

Hesketh looks a great place Ruth. It's a bit of a trek for us pedestrians from Marshside, but I might give it a go if they put in some more sheltered hides! I wouldn't fancy being stuck out there in a storm and only reliant on shanksies pony - as you say, it is very exposed.

Love the female Wheater pic and congrats on the Dotterel and Whimbrel

[JONNY74]

Congrats on your wedding anniversary Ruth. Sounds like you had a really good week and made me jealous, as I've been stuck in work while you've been watching Dotterel

[Twitcheruth]

Thanks Peter,Alan and Jonny.......the Dotterel was a long way off and just wouldn't keep still (as you can see by the dreadful pic below!) but it was a stunning bird,a male......tho in this species the roles are reversed and the female is the showy one!

We were so lucky with the weather......mind Judith is in Dumfries & Galloway this week and she hasn't had any rain either......yet!