ROCKCLIFFE MARSH
This is the largest single saltmarsh in Britain, growing at a rate of 100 acres a year, with so much sediment coming down the rivers Esk and Eden. The Old Boat House gives you an idea of what was here before – nothing – as this was the only way to get to Scotland, by boat! There were no bridges as the rivers were too wide and tidal. Now, of course, you have several roads, a motorway and rail link crossing slightly inland. This must rate as Britain’s most underrated bird site, as it is a 12-month, of the year location, but access is restricted by the owner, even though the site is leased to the Cumbrian Wildlife Trust, which issues the permits. Winter sees tens of thousands of geese, with more than 20,000 Barnacles making up the majority, but Pinkfeet can also be counted in the thousands with spring and autumn movements often numbering more than 10,000. A moulting flock of Greylags can be in excess of 1,000 geese, and, of course, there have been many records of other species like Richardson’s Cackling, Todd’s Canada, Greenland and European White-fronted, dark and pale-bellied Brent, both Beans, Snow, Ross’s and Red-breasted Geese. This is a big breeding wader site with Lapwing, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover all here. Losses have been Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff and Dunlin, as regular breeders, but Ruff was suggested in 2017, with both Avocet and Little Ringed Plover breeding on the new scrape just off the marsh by the Old Boat House. There is a great list of rarer waders in the autumn, with Buffbreasted and Pectoral Sandpipers (even I found three ‘Pecs’ here!), American Golden Plover, Dotterel, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Jack Snipe and Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits. Green Sandpipers winter using the many deep channels inside the marsh, while Golden Plover can often be counted in the thousands. Being at the end of the Solway, several seabirds have been recorded, including skuas, while a summering Sabine’s Gull was a shock in British waters. Look for birds of prey, Osprey and Twite.