In his monthly instalment of nature walks on the Fylde Coast, Stephen Dunstan demands an early start to get the best out of Marton Mere
For the second month running we are recommending an early start. To get the most out of this experience you may need to be at Staining Nook comfortably before 6am. On a calm and ideally sunny day it can be very well worth it, trees alive with birdsong before other species are heard in the reedbeds fringing Marton Mere.
Park in the layby on the left towards the end of The Nook* and follow the path towards the perimeter of Herons Reach Golf Course. Blackbirds and warblers including Chiffchaffs (pictured) and Blackcaps sing from the trees on your left. In a way it’s not about the individual players though, it’s the overall experience of listening to the orchestra.
At the south east corner of the outer golf course perimeter track take the path on to Marton Mere. Here there should be a perceptible shift in the soundscape as the reed and scrub warblers come to the fore. The loudest are the explosive Cetti’s Warblers, named for their forthright ‘cetti, cetti, cetti’ song.
This species used to be unheard of in these parts, and has spread north with climate change. The fishing reel like churr of the Grasshopper Warbler is also distinctive. Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers occur in good numbers in the reedbed, their songs are quite similar with scratchy and buzzy elements and it takes practice to learn the differences.
If you are short of time you could just walk the eastern embankment and retrace your steps. Should you carry on round the whole Mere there are a number of potential additions to your list. Several species of duck should still be around including Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal (pictured), Tufted Duck and Wigeon. If you’re lucky there could be a hunting Marsh Harrier, which move through at this time.
There are usually a few naturalised geese about adding to the soundscape. Greylag Geese and Canada Geese both breed. The Barnacle Goose (pictured, main image) flock that spends most of the day in Blackpool Zoo roost at Staining Nook or Marton Mere, and can often be seen in the east fields before they return to the zoo grounds later in the morning. They are increasingly scarce but there is a slim chance of a migrant Cuckoo too.
If you have a smartphone you could consider downloading the Merlin Bird ID app. It is free and evolving all the time and will tell you what birds you can see in real time. It’s important to say that it sometimes will suggest a rare bird which may be a mistake, but generally it’s extremely accurate and adds a new dimension to your walk.
* This assumes access to a car given the early time of day and limited public transport options. If you live in the area there are several other places you can walk onto the Mere from Blackpool rather than Staining, including from Lawson Road, the Village Hotel, Blackpool Zoo and Herons Reach. All give an opportunity to hear some woodland and parkland species similar to Staining Nook.
