Seasonal guide · April – July
Breeding Birds of the Sefton Coast
Spring and summer bring a different Sefton Coast. The winter geese have gone back to Iceland, but in their place come breeding Avocets on the Marshside scrapes, Little Terns on the Ainsdale beach, Sedge Warblers in the reedbed edge and Skylarks above the dunes. It's less dramatic than October geese but it requires more attention — and some of the breeding species here are genuinely rare.
Avocets at Marshside
Avocets began breeding at Marshside in the early 2000s as the RSPB managed the scrapes specifically for them. The colony now holds 15–25 pairs in most years. They arrive in March and eggs are usually laid by late April. Chicks hatch in May and the adults are ferociously defensive of the colony through June.
The sweeping, upturned bill and pied plumage make Avocets unmistakable. Watch them feeding in the shallows — the characteristic side-to-side sweep of the bill through the water. They were extinct as a British breeding bird for over a century before returning to the east coast in 1947. Their presence at Marshside is a direct result of managed habitat.
Little Terns at Ainsdale
The Little Tern colony at Ainsdale is one of the most important in England — typically 80–120 pairs in a good year. Little Terns arrive from West Africa in late April and begin nesting on the open beach in May. The nests are just scrapes in the sand, barely visible.
RSPB wardens manage the colony through the breeding season — electric fences keep foxes out, and volunteers help monitor nest success and discourage disturbance. Do not enter the fenced area. The birds have flown 4,000 miles to nest here.
Watch from the dune edge. The terns are constantly active — small, fast, with a distinctive hovering before plunge-diving. Their call is a sharp, persistent 'kik-kik'.
Marshside in spring
Alongside the Avocets, Marshside holds breeding Lapwing, Redshank and Yellow Wagtail. Sedge Warblers arrive in April and can be heard from the hide — a rapid, scratchy, energetic song from the reedbed edge. Reed Buntings breed in the taller vegetation.
Marsh Harriers are now regular over the reserve from April — usually one or two birds hunting the marsh edges. They have bred close by in recent years.
The peak for seeing the most species simultaneously is late May — early June. Breeding activity is at its height, summer migrants have arrived, and the scrapes still hold a few late-passage waders.
Woodland and dune species
The Formby pinewoods hold Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Coal Tit and occasional Crossbill. Woodcock rods at dusk in April and May — walk the woodland edge at last light. Spotted Flycatcher arrives in May and breeds in the older pinewood sections.
Stonechats are resident on the scrub edge at Ainsdale. Linnets and Yellowhammers breed in the dune scrub — both have declined nationally and the Sefton Coast remains a relative stronghold for both.
Quick reference
Practical tips
- ▸Visit Marshside in May to see Avocets with chicks
- ▸Little Tern colony at Ainsdale: respect the wardened area, view from the dune edge
- ▸Dawn and dusk are best for breeding activity — less foot traffic and more song
- ▸Keep dogs on leads near nesting areas — a dog flushing a tern nest can destroy it
- ▸Sedge Warblers at Marshside: listen for the fast, scratchy song from the reedbed edge
- ▸April–early July is the season — after mid-July breeding activity winds down quickly
About the author
Ed
Ed has been walking the Sefton Coast since the 1980s. He keeps a yearly bird tally, owns more waterproof jackets than he'd care to admit, and has strong opinions about which hide has the best light in the morning. Retired geography teacher. Still gets up at five.