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.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/?saved=1

It’s at SJ574867. It’s very close to Moore NR, but to get good gull views you need to be on the other side of the river!

http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=SJ574867

Better still ~

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?ar=n&x=357400&y=386700&z=4

On that link, note the position of Fiddler’s Ferry and especially the PH (the Ferry Inn pub) as that’s a good way to get to good viewing points. Then click the + sign to enlarge the map once more, and you’ll see Richmond Bank named.

I was at scanning the outer for an hour or so either side of high tide. Marsh Harrier, nice ring-tailed Hen Harrier, great views of a Peregrine, 3 Merlins, a very pale Common Buzzard (I wonder if this was the bird reported as a Rough Legged Buzzard by RBA?) a Kestrel, and vast numbers of Little Egrets, a couple of Rock Pipits over the Sandplant …

Frank

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/