While many associate the festive period with indoor gatherings, the Sefton Coast offers a remarkable outdoor escape, brimming with unexpected wildlife sightings and puzzling natural phenomena this winter.
Unseasonal Blooms and Active Insects Raise Climate Concerns
Despite the time of year, a strange spectacle is unfolding across the dunes and grasslands. A host of plants are flowering wildly out of season, a direct consequence of our warming climate. In recent weeks, observers have noted blooming Kidney Vetch, Mayweed, Groundsel, Evening Primrose, and even Common Whitlow Grass, which typically waits until March to flower.
This botanical disarray is accompanied by unusually active insects, with Peacock butterflies and a Common Field Grasshopper spotted in the dunes in mid-November. While surprising, this out-of-sync natural calendar sparks significant worry. The lifecycles of vital pollinators are now mismatched with the plants they rely on, threatening local ecosystems.
Marine Lakes Attract Rare Winter Visitors
The coast's large marine lakes become particularly valuable wildlife havens during the colder months. The borough boasts marine lakes at Crosby and Southport, with the smaller Sands Lake at Ainsdale in between. These brackish, relatively shallow bodies of water offer shelter from stormy seas, a respite from freezing inland wetlands, and quiet areas to feed even amidst water sports.
This winter, a young male Smew, a rare diving duck in this region, has been delighting birdwatchers at Southport Marine Lake. The drake has been seen diving for food close to the shore, providing excellent views. Its appearance follows last year's Christmas visitor to Crosby Marine Lake, a Black-throated Diver.
These sites are regularly frequented by species like Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Goldeneye, and Little and Great Crested Grebes, alongside the resident population of Mute Swans and gulls.
A Festive Invitation to Explore
John Dempsey of Green Sefton extends an invitation to residents and visitors seeking fresh air over the Christmas and New Year period. A walk around the marine lakes or across the vast, habitat-rich landscapes of the coast can yield wonderful and unexpected discoveries.
He also takes the opportunity to thank readers and the volunteers who work alongside core staff to manage this remarkable coastline. Green Sefton is the Sefton Council service that manages the coast, parks, and green spaces through a joined-up approach.
