Weather better than forecast, a pleasant 18c and some sunny intervals, tide 1.5 hours either side of high tide, a cafe on the doorstep, what more could we want.
Hest Bank Seashore. Photo K Goodings
The birds of course, the Swallows were flying around with much chattering about their upcoming long journey, and there were one or two other small birds but the interest was the other way. The vast expanse of Morecambe Bay was at our feet, near to the rocky shore, areas a bit raised and then the sand and mud banks first covered and then exposed by the tide.
It was fascinating watching the birds being moved by the tide and how each species knows its place. Turnstones and Ringed Plovers were amongst the rocky edges, Golden Plover a little higher on the drier rocks, Oyster Catchers, Redshanks, Curlews and Lapwings were nearer the water and mud. In amongst the waters edge were a few smaller busy waders with quite a bit of colouring which were eventually identified as juvenile Dunlin. Occasionally the flocks took flight whirled around and found another spot, nearby another glorious sight as the sun shone on their various colours.
Of course there were gulls of various ages but just three species Black Headed, Lesser Black Back and Herring Gulls. As the tide went out birds started to appear flowing down the retreating tide, Cormorants stopping off on the sandbanks to dry their wings and Eider Ducks in a great variety of black and white, an occasional one was easily identified but juveniles and those emerging from eclipse had posed more of a problem. No geese today but had been seen on a recce.
Warton Sands seashore. Photo K Goodings
Warton Sands lapwing. Photo K Goodings
Some of our group explored Warton Sands a little further north along with its industrial remnants. Warton sands offers wonderful views of the coastline of Morecambe Bay. Three of the group walked along the riverside towards the bay, on a good footpath through the Warton Crag Local Nature Reserve, which includes limestone grassland and onto a rocky outcrop overlooking the bay. Our bird sightings included a flock of Linnets, several Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron, Lesser Black-back Gull, Carrion Crow. Also, numerous waders feeding as the tide retreated including Redshank, Oystercatchers, Lapwings and many gulls, including Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gull.
It was a fabulous day out with around 25 species seen but quite big numbers of those species.
Josephine Drake
