Swift
Friday 19th September 2003, 05:32
Pilling Marsh (Pilling Lane Ends)
One of the best birdwatching sites in the Fylde area, Pilling Marsh is situated at the mouth of the Lune estuary, at the southern side of Morecambe Bay.
The Pilling Lane Ends Amenity Area car park just off the A588 at SD414495 serves the area and the birds can be viewed from the car park or along the footpath to the west. Observers should take care not to disturb high tide wader roosts.
The site is best visited two to three hours before high water on tides exceeding nine metres.
The huge wader and wildfowl roosts hold large numbers of Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Knott, Dunlin, Curlew and Redshank with smaller flocks of Grey Plover, Golden Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit. Waterfowl include Pink-footed Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal and Wigeon with small numbers of Great Crested Grebe, Brent Goose, Pintail, Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser. The saltmarshes hold large flocks of finches, pipits and skylarks with occasional Twite and Snow Bunting. All these birds attract raptors and two or three Peregrines are often seen hunting the waders. Sparrowhawk and Merlin are often seen, with Short-eared Owl appearing in some winters. During very high tides the waders resort to the reclaimed marshes by the A588 and good views can be had from a car.
Spring and autumn migration periods bring varying numbers of Golden Plover, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper. Not surprisingly a number of rare waders have been recorded including Avocet, Dotterel, Pacific Golden Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Collared Pratincole.
The whole area, including the pools and planted areas around the car parks, attracts many migrants. The embankment is a good vantage point to observe visible migration particularly in autumn when large scale movements can be seen. The most frequent migrants are Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Whinchat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, larks and wagtails. Rarer species reported in recent years include Black Brant, American Wigeon, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Glossy Ibis, Richard's Pipit, Lapland Bunting and Long-tailed Skua.
One of the best birdwatching sites in the Fylde area, Pilling Marsh is situated at the mouth of the Lune estuary, at the southern side of Morecambe Bay.
The Pilling Lane Ends Amenity Area car park just off the A588 at SD414495 serves the area and the birds can be viewed from the car park or along the footpath to the west. Observers should take care not to disturb high tide wader roosts.
The site is best visited two to three hours before high water on tides exceeding nine metres.
The huge wader and wildfowl roosts hold large numbers of Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Knott, Dunlin, Curlew and Redshank with smaller flocks of Grey Plover, Golden Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit. Waterfowl include Pink-footed Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal and Wigeon with small numbers of Great Crested Grebe, Brent Goose, Pintail, Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser. The saltmarshes hold large flocks of finches, pipits and skylarks with occasional Twite and Snow Bunting. All these birds attract raptors and two or three Peregrines are often seen hunting the waders. Sparrowhawk and Merlin are often seen, with Short-eared Owl appearing in some winters. During very high tides the waders resort to the reclaimed marshes by the A588 and good views can be had from a car.
Spring and autumn migration periods bring varying numbers of Golden Plover, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper. Not surprisingly a number of rare waders have been recorded including Avocet, Dotterel, Pacific Golden Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Collared Pratincole.
The whole area, including the pools and planted areas around the car parks, attracts many migrants. The embankment is a good vantage point to observe visible migration particularly in autumn when large scale movements can be seen. The most frequent migrants are Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Whinchat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, larks and wagtails. Rarer species reported in recent years include Black Brant, American Wigeon, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Glossy Ibis, Richard's Pipit, Lapland Bunting and Long-tailed Skua.