MANY people say that a sea watch during March and April is one of the most exciting events in the birdwatcher's calendar.

I agree, but you have to get to the sea when the tide is in during daylight.

Naturalists in the North West have an advantage because they do not have to wait for the tide. We have three wonderful marine lakes - at West Kirkby on the Wirral, Southport and Fleetwood. This week I went to Southport and what an exciting day I had.

The weather was bright and sunny with a chill breeze coming from the sea. Southport doesn't take kindly to the insult that the tide never comes in and during my visit it was lapping along the promenade. As the sea ebbed away the birds remained in the lake, sheltered from the wind. Black-headed gulls now have chocolate-coloured heads, which is their full breeding plumage. Far out on the lake there were wigeon, scamp, pink-footed geese, cormorants and a couple of red-throated divers. There were three whooper swans hidden away among hundreds of mute swans, which were already showing aggressive tendencies as the males (called cobs) were defending their females (called pens).

Feathers were flying everywhere. In the days before ballpoints, these feathers were collected and made into quill pens. The name pen comes from the female swan and the quills were sharpened using a quill penknife.

The Canada geese were also showing signs of spring and several pairs were already mated and others were displaying.

The bonus for marine lake watchers is that fresh water birds are present as well and I watched coot, tufted duck, pochard, moorhen and great crested grebe. Sunshine, wind and water are a perfect combination for both birds and birdwatchers. This day at Southport was the first sign that spring was at last with us. Perhaps next week, weather permitting, I will go on a wild flower hunt.

I just had time to add a few observations as a result of the weather over the last few days. I think I will wait for a day or two and carry on keeping my eyes open for winter birds. On March 13 I saw a peregrine falcon near Darwen and 12 goosanders at Foulridge.

Come on spring - wake up!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.