Nature Reserves
The Sefton Coast has some of the best wildlife sites in the North West — from RSPB managed lagoons to internationally designated sand dunes. Here's where to go and what to see.
RSPB · Free entry · Southport
Marshside RSPB Reserve
80,000+ Pink-footed Geese in winter. Free entry. Managed lagoons and breeding Avocets. The best single wildlife site on the Sefton Coast.
Natural England · Free entry · Ainsdale
Ainsdale Sand Dunes NNR
Natterjack toads, sand lizards and rare dune plants on one of Europe's most important dune systems. Almost nobody comes here. That's the point.
WWT · Entry charge · Burscough
WWT Martin Mere
Up to 1,000 whooper swans arrive from Iceland in November. Flamingos, otters, and a proper day out any time of year.
Wildlife Trust · Free entry · Crosby
Seaforth Nature Reserve
Mediterranean Gulls breeding, Little Terns nesting, and autumn rarities — squeezed between a container terminal and the suburbs of Liverpool.
Overview
The Sefton Coast
Geography, habitats and how all the reserves fit together along the 22-mile Sefton Coast.
Guide
Birdwatching guide
Best spots, seasons and kit for the Sefton Coast.
Guide
Seasonal guides
Pink-footed geese, waders, migration and what to see when.