September Wildlife on the Sefton Coast: The Autumn Shift

9 September 2026

Waders at Marshside: The Season Building

Marshside RSPB is at its most dynamic in September. The scrapes hold a greater diversity and number of wading birds than at any other time of year. Post-breeding adults have already been moving south since July. September is when the juveniles from Arctic and subarctic breeding grounds arrive in significant numbers.

Dunlin dominate numerically. Flocks of hundreds are regular on the main scrape by mid-September. Watch for the variation in plumage within the flocks: some adults retain traces of the black belly patch from summer; juveniles have neat, scaly upperparts and a warm buff wash to the breast. Both can occur in the same flock.

Ringed Plover is a constant companion to Dunlin through September. They favour the edges of the scrape where the mud meets the water. The juvenile Ringed Plover in September has a warm buff wash to the breast band and scaly upperparts. Look carefully through Ringed Plover flocks for Little Ringed Plover, which is smaller, has a yellow eye-ring and lacks the white wing bar visible in flight.

Black-tailed Godwit numbers build through September. These are largely birds from Icelandic breeding grounds moving through to winter quarters further south. They favour deeper water than smaller waders and often feed in tight flocks, probing in water up to belly depth. Several hundred can be present on good days.

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) is the September highlight for wader enthusiasts. Juveniles in fresh plumage, with their clean scaly upperparts and peach-washed breast, occur regularly within Dunlin flocks. The decurved bill and, in flight, the white rump distinguish them from Dunlin. Numbers vary year to year depending on Arctic breeding success.

Pink-Footed Geese: The Arrivals Begin

The first pink-footed geese arrive on the Sefton Coast from late September. A few family groups appear before then, but the main influx starts mid-September and builds through October and November. Arriving from breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland, these birds use the Ribble Estuary and Marshside RSPB as a key wintering site.

In September, numbers are modest compared to the winter peak. Small skeins of 20-100 birds moving south-west at altitude are the most common sign. The dusk roost flights that define the October and November spectacle at Marshside are beginning to establish in September.

The Marshside car park on Marshside Road (PR9 9SP) is the best vantage point. Arrive an hour before sunset and watch the western sky. The distinctive 'wink-wink' calls of approaching geese often signal the birds before they are visible. As September progresses, the numbers coming in to roost grow from dozens to hundreds.

Passerine Migration Through the Dunes

September is one of the best months for passerine migration on the Sefton Coast. The dune systems at Formby and Ainsdale act as a leading line for migrants moving south-west along the coast. After overnight movement in light north-easterly winds, falls of migrants can ground out in the pinewoods and dune scrub.

Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is typically the most numerous autumn migrant through the open dune grassland. The white rump and upright posture make them immediately identifiable. They move through from August into October, using the open sandy areas and short dune turf.

Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher move through the pinewoods at Formby in September. These are birds heading from breeding grounds in northern Europe to African wintering areas. Early morning in the first week of September after a night of north-easterly wind is the most productive time to search the Formby pinewoods for these species.

Whinchat replaces Stonechat in the dune grassland edges in September. The supercilium (pale eyestripe) is the key to separating the two species. Whinchats are passage migrants; Stonechats are residents that stay through winter.

Dragonflies: The Season Closing

The dragonfly season at Marshside begins to close in September. Common Darter persists the longest of the resident species, often flying into October in warm years. Brown Hawker numbers drop off quickly from late September. The scrape margins at Marshside and the pool edges on the Nels Hide path are the best places to find late-season darters basking in autumn sun.

The first cold nights in September begin to reduce dragonfly activity significantly. Warm, sunny September mornings produce the best odonata activity. Overcast or cold days produce very little.

Where to Go in September

Marshside RSPB: the primary destination for September waders, Pink-footed Geese and wildfowl. The Stan and Peggy Scott hide overlooks the main scrape. The Nels Hide path offers the most varied habitat walk. Arrive at dawn for waders and late afternoon for geese movement.

Formby pinewoods: early morning after overnight north-easterly winds for passerine migrants. The squirrel trail and the woodland path between the car park and the beach are the most productive areas.

Formby Point: seawatching in any onshore wind. September produces Gannets, Manx Shearwater, skuas and terns moving south. The numbers increase through the month as the autumn migration builds.

Ainsdale dunes: Wheatear and other open-country migrants on the short dune turf. The beach approach path and the dune ridges are the right habitat.