When it’s a fine winter’s day, perhaps chilly but clear, a trip to an RSPB reserve makes a great day out. RSPB Marshside, as the name suggests, is a wetland site just north of central Southport.
How to get to Marshside
The nearest train station to Marshside is Southport’s station on Chapel Street. The number 44 bus route can drop you off 200 metres from the reserve, at the Elswick Road junction. The National Cycle Network’s traffic-free route passes right through the reserve, or by car the reserve can be reached by following the coast road north. The reserve is approximately 1.5 miles from Southport Pier.
Reserve facilities
The reserve has a car park, visitor centre and toilets, including accessible ones. There are nature trails, guided walks and a viewing point too.
What you might see
Marshside’s “star species” include widgeon, whose numbers peak in midwinter. There are also many pink-footed geese to be seen between September and March, and during autumn flocks of black-trailed godwits arrive at the wetland site, staying until late spring when they migrate. There are also colonies of avocets inhabiting the tiny islands, as well as nesting lapwings.
During winter, you can expect to see a range of species at Marshside, including teals and shovelers as well as widgeons. The site is also home to knots, golden plovers, dunlins, oystercatchers, ruffs, redshanks and curlews. Birds of prey you might well spot – their presence causing flocks of smaller birds to scatter – include peregrines, kestrels, sparrowhawks and merlins, all tucking into wild bird food at the reserve.
