Grey Partridge by David Tolliday

The Sefton Coast is renowned as a haven for birdlife and here at Goose Meadow is no exception.

Only 5 miles from the coast, the farm is host to nearly 60 different species of birds. An RSPB survey in 2002, on 75 acres of the farm, found that several species which are under threat, such as Lapwing, skylark and grey partridge  were thriving. More recently a young pair of Red Kites made the farm their home for a few months at the end of 2002.

In addition to these, frequently sighted birds include buzzard, marsh harrier, hen harrier, peregrine, barn owl and long and short eared owl. We also have a pair of tawny owls who live on the farmstead and can be watched (and heard) in the trees and on the barn roofs.

During the winter months we also play host to thousands of pink foot geese and nothing can beat the sight or sound of them as they fly overhead.

The best vantage point for watching birds across the farm is only a couple of minutes walk away, but for the more energetic, local footpaths will take you right through the heart of the farm. As the regular local birdwatchers tell us, you only have to stand for half an hour and you will often see more birds here, than you will in a full day elsewhere.

Only half an hour away there is the renowned Wildlife and Wetlands Trust site at Martin Mere, as well as the RSPB reserve at Marshside, near Southport. For more information on various sites and the variety of species to be seen then visit the excellent site at www.visitsouthport.com/birding

Birds Spotted at Goose Meadow in alphabetical order

Barn owl, blackbird, blackcap, black headed gull, blue tit, buzzard, canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, collard dove, cuckoo, dunnock, feral pigeon, goldfinch, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, greenfinch, grey heron, grey partridge, hen harrier, house sparrow, jackdaw, kestrel, lapwing, lesser black headed gull, linnet, long eared owl, long tailed tit, magpie, mallard, marsh harrier, meadow pipit, moorhen, oystercatcher, peregrine falcon, pheasant, pink foot goose, red kite, red legged partridge, reed bunting, robin, sedge warbler, shelduck, short eared owl, skylark, snipe, songthrush, starling, stock dove, swallow, swift, tawny owl,  wheatear, whitethroat, willow warbler, wood pigeon, wren, yellow wagtail