From the woods and lakes of Brockholes to the coastal wildlife refuge of Middleton Nature Reserve, there was so much wildlife to see across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and North Merseyside.

Mere Sands Wood

Though the visitor centre and car park at Mere Sands Wood were closed throughout January, it was still great to see people making an effort to reach the reserve on foot. Visitors reported seeing little egrets, shovelers, gadwall and little grebes on the lakes, where the pace of life was tranquil and relaxed. One of our Conservation Operatives even watched a marsh harrier flying over the visitor centre whilst carrying out the work on the reserve’s entranceway. And we have some brilliant news – despite the distractions from marsh harriers, the visitor centre and car park are now open again! We can’t wait to welcome you all back to the reserve, which will soon have a much sturdier entrance bridge and some brand new ponds.

Brockholes

There were plenty of winter birds to spot at Brockholes last month, with two bitterns roosting on Meadow Lake; pochards, goldeneye, tufted ducks and pintails on Number One Pit; and a solitary whooper swan touching down briefly for a rest. Up to 20,000 starlings treated lucky visitors to an evening dance performance as they murmurated over Meadow Lake, and a group of three curlews were seen preening on our live Brockholes webcams. The in focus team, based in The Lookout hide, even spotted two bar-tailed godwits – a rarity at the reserve.

For all the winter birding highlights, January also brought some early signs of spring. Our Marketing Officer, Alice, saw a very keen toad relaxing on the footpath; the first redshank of the year returned to the lakes; and visitors spotted both male and female hazel catkins.

Lunt Meadows

The year started as it meant to go on at Lunt Meadows nature reserve in Maghull, Merseyside. A New Year’s Day count revealed:

• More than 200 teal
• 23 wigeon
• 62 tufted ducks
• 2 goldeneye
• 14 goosanders
• 2 Cetti’s warblers

And this was all alongside lapwings, snipe, a water rail, a short-eared owl, stonechats, and a ringtail hen harrier that has become a regular at Lunt Meadows over recent weeks.

Excitingly, the great crested grebes have started their spring courtship displays, and a flock of corn buntings has been seen near the reserve entrance, so don’t miss a trip to Lunt Meadows in the coming weeks!

Seaforth

Exciting things have been happening at Seaforth nature reserve! January saw the start of our work to improve the nature reserve for both people and wildlife, with improved breeding and roosting areas for waders and terns, and new paths for visitors.

There was still plenty to see despite the work going on around the reserve. Black-tailed godwits joined dunlin, curlews, water rails, and groups of knot numbering up to 4,000 birds! On the water, little grebes paddled amongst goldeneyes, pochards and teal; while a spotted redshank, and single Mediterranean and yellow-legged gulls hid sneakily amongst groups of common redshank on the saltwater pool.

A black restart was seen loitering around Hide C and on the warehouse roof near Hide A, but it proved elusive and didn’t stay in one place for very long.

Heysham harbour

Winter is a great time to watch knot and oystercatchers roosting on the heliport at Heysham harbour, and not just for the waders themselves. In January, they also attracted the occasional sparrowhawk and peregrine falcon hoping to snatch a meal.

On the saltmarsh, jack snipe fed alongside sanderling, rock pipits and up to 180 curlews. On Red Nab, pale-bellied Brent geese fed on gut weed, 200 wigeon foraged alongside shelducks, and the regular kingfisher was discovered to be two kingfishers – a male and a female. A black redstart was sighted at the power station, and a grey seal (not common here in the winter months) hunted in the harbour.