RSPB Marshside

Recently we went up to Cheshire and then on to RSPB Marshside for the afternoon. We were at my sister in laws house by the River Weaver and before heading off to Marshside this lovely Grey Wagtail presented itself:

So off to Marshide, just over an hour away, but on the way we drove past the entrance to Marsh Mere Wood NR of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, so we decided it would be rude not to drop in and see what was there. We didn't have long so we used the facilities and just went to the two hides nearest the car park. The first hide gave us plenty of Teal, Wigeon, Black-headed Gulls, a single Cormorant, some Canada Geese, a Little Grebe and a Grey Heron:

A couple of Buzzards flew over just before leaving the hide which was nice, also a Kingfisher made an appearance but Tina and myself missed it, but both Jo & Jimmy saw it.... so they tell us! At the next hide it wes very quiet until a flock of Canadas turned up......

So on to Marshside, we began our visit at the visitor centre (where coffee was had!) followed by a circuit of the reserve. So I'll start with some pics from the visitor centre:
Teal:

This Kestrel gave us a good show, pouncing and hovering:

A good number of Black-tailed Godwit were to the right of the hide:

along with plenty of Wigeon

After spending some time at the centre, we set out for as walk around the reserve, finding some Curlew in the scrub.

By late afternoon there were plenty of Pink-footed Geese flying in:

 the numbers whilst not of Norfolk standards were in the hundreds. So with some Sparrows, Coot, Moorhen, Gulls, Jackdaw, Crows,a Mute Swan, two Sparrowhawks and a Wigeon flying past

adding to the tally we finally arrived at the next hide for Tea!
From here there were good views of Lapwing,

more Teal, Wigeon and Godwit:

and a Little Egret on the prowl:

A nice find were two Ruff among the other waders:

Finally a Greylag turned up and wandered through the pools:

On the way back down to Winsford we decided to stop by Martin Mere arriving for the incoming Pink Foots, the reserve was already closed bu good views were had from the Car Park and neighbouring countryside when the staff threw us out of the Car Park!

So a lovely day out yet again!