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Haven Cala Gran
31st March - 04th April
My first visit to the area and, as enjoyable as it was, I didn't get to do half of my planned walks around the Wyre Estuary. The Ferry was out of commission so I was unable to cross the river and walk along the North side of the estuary. The walks I did manage were good because there was something new and different around every corner. It was also flat with good underfoot conditions. (I cannot understand why my knees and hips were hurting so much). There a quite a few quirky buildings to be seen in this area. Pharos Lighthouse cannot be missed; depending on your viewpoint.
Day 1) My first walk was from Cala Gran to Fleetwood Marsh Nature Reserve. My first Stonechat of the year was spotted as I entered the reserve, then a Reed Bunting, but no other surprises. Just the usual suspects. After walking around the reserve I headed to the sea front via the Dockside Path. A Cormorant was fishing in the river and a Redshank was feeding on the mudflats by the swing bridge. The tide was just going out so there were were no birds on the shore when I arrived at the Esplanade.
Day 2) I took the bus from the Holiday Park to Fleetwood Ferry then walked along the Esplanade to the Marine Gardens where I joined the Fleetwood Beach Path. My timing was wrong regarding the tide so I didn't see any shore birds until I was on the way back.
Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Oyster Catcher, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Turnstone. Some of the usual suspects were seen but not noted.
https://www.wyre.gov.uk/rossallpoint
Day 3) There is an old railway line that runs behind the Holiday Park so I thought I'd go and have a look at it. It was that overgrown I couldn't see anything, never mind walk along it!
I crossed the track and followed the Public Footpath towards the river and headed South. It's quite industrial along here but the walk past the factories is mostly tree-lined. Chiffchaffs were all over the place, singing their heads off. Saltmarsh on my left and, if the tide is right, mudflats with all kinds of wildfowl and waders. Or so it says in the book. I didn't see much myself and was glad I wasn't carrying my tripod and scope as I didn't need them. I carried on towards the Wyre Estuary Country Park because I'd seen on Google Map there was a Café there. The incoming tide had covered the mudflats and sandbanks so I decided to have a long, leisurely lunch then stroll back..
Day 4) I headed in the same direction as yesterday but set off two and a half hours later. I also intended to walk a bit further past the cafe and along the Stannah Tramper Trail to the big mudflats at ///arose.nets.worldwide
I made it to where I wanted to be but, unfortunately, the tide had other ideas. No surprise there this week! Fast forward to my destination and I could see saltmarsh and a very wide river. The mudflats seen on the map were under water. An hour later and the tide was starting to turn. I figured it would be at least a couple of hours before any birds turned up to feed.so I headed back to Base Camp Cala.
Over these two days, along the full length of the walks, I saw, (in no particular order), Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Gadwall, Little Egret, Oyster Catcher, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Redshank, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Teal, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Goldfinch and Robin. The only shore birds seen in numbers were seen on Tuesday and were the Dunlin, Oyster Catcher, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Turnstone noted earlier.
Assorted pollinating insects were on the wing, mostly unidentified, apart from Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood Butterflies.
Day 5) Check out 10:00
Cheap Uber to Blackpool North with a direct train to Crewe.