The vow came as environmentalists described the proposals – which would spell the end of the Seaforth Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest – as a “huge loss”.

Under plans to transform the Port of Liverpool and Manchester Ship Canal unveiled yesterday, marshland that currently forms the Seaforth reserve is proposed to be reclaimed for business use.

This will mean that the reserve – which is home to thousands of wintering wading birds, sea birds and breeding terns – will possibly be moved to another site.

Gary Hodgson, managing director of Mersey Ports, said: “We know this is emotive. That is why we are doing this consultation process. We need the land back but there are always mitigations.

“We want to talk to people about what is the best way of doing it. We are not going to turn up one day and tarmac the thing. We will look for mitigation. Whether we move it 100 miles or 10 miles. That is why we want environmentalists in the tent talking to us.”

But Steve White, of Lancashire Wildlife Trust, who has been based at Seaforth Nature Reserve for 20 years, said: “It would be a huge loss for wildlife. The north west coast is the most important area in the UK for sea birds.

“It’s not just a case of picking up a lagoon and putting it on the back of a truck. You can’t move a habitat. But can it be recreated somewhere else? Maybe, in theory, yes. But in practise? That’s an open question. I just don’t know. It wouldn’t be easy. And it certainly wouldn’t be cheap.”

Situated at the north end of the Liverpool/Bootle docks system the reserve consists of two pools, one freshwater and the other saltwater.

Councillors held a site visit there on Friday last. In the short term, Rainfords are supposed to be blocking access to motor bikes, according to a letter today from Sefton Council Planning’s Team Leader for Development Control North, P Hardwicke:

“There’s no finite timescale for the completion of the reinstatement works by Rainfords … The Council is working … to ensure this takes place as soon as is practicable.

In the meantime … Rainfords have agreed to plug the gap in the mound where the haul road exits the site … I have also requested the RSPB to put some publicity material in the main hide to indicate their future proposals for the area.

The outer marsh, sandwinning haul road and former compound together with other land seaward of Marine Drive is (sic) likely to be almagamated into the RSPB’s current lease and the reserve extended. This was agreed by Cabinet in November 2005 subject to a satisfactory management plan for the area being prepared. The RSPB have been requested to carry out a further consultation. Further progress on this is likely to take place in September 2009 when a report is prepared by the Coast and Countryside Manager.”

So hopefully there’ll be some info in the near future.

An intriguing report related to a possible Least Tern at Seaforth LWT (Merseyside), but only until midday. The bird, which has a grey rump and central tail, was first seen on 2nd June, but did not reappear at the well-watched site until today. The BOU currently consider Least Tern to be conspecific with Little Tern, but given that this form has only been identified once in Britain (the famous male that returned to Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex, from 1983-1992) then it will no doubt prove to be a popular attraction if it reappears and the identification is confirmed.

The guy who found it is not claiming it’s an RFF – he mentioned it as a possbility. He’s not seen it through bins but says the jizz is wrong for a Kestrel and definitely not a Hobby Peregrine or Merlin.
Birders were looking for the bird Above and behind the town hall.