Marshside is a wetland nature reserve operated by the RSPB in the Marshside area of Southport, Merseyside, England. It lies 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of the centre of Southport,[1] on the southern side of the Ribble estuary, and is part of the wider Ribble & Alt Estuaries Ramsar reserve.[2] and the Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve.[3]
| Marshside | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| Type | Wetland nature reserve |
| Location | Marshside |
| Nearest city | Southport |
| OS grid | SD353205 |
| Coordinates | 53°40′37″N 2°58′51″W / 53.676942°N 2.980933°W |
| Operated by | RSPB |
| Website | www |
The RSPB reserve has two bird hides, the northernmost - named "Sandgrousers' Hide" - serving as a visitor centre.[4] There are also three viewing screens.[4]
The reserve is used by large numbers of overwintering pink footed geese, from Iceland, and wigeon, from Siberia.[5][6] In summer, species such as avocets[7] and lapwing breed there.
in 2019, the RSPB acquired an adjacent area of wet grassland, Crossens Inner Marsh, in order to extend the reserve.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Marshside RSPB Birdwatching Site". BirdGuides. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Ribble & Alt Estuaries". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Funding secures exciting addition to RSPB Marshside". RSPB. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ a b "RSPB Marshside Reserve". Visit Sefton and West Lancs. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Marshside Nature Reserve, Merseyside". RSPB. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Lancashire's National Nature Reserves". Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "RSPB call for reserve volunteers". 25 April 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2019.