Parkgate and Burton Mere Wetlands 14/01/17

Twenty eight members and friends took the relatively short journey to Parkgate, on the Wirral, arriving around 0830hrs. A look over Donkey Stand flash produced Little Grebe, Little Egret, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit.

A walk down to the Old Baths produced good views of Little Egret and up to four Great White Egret were found. Raptors were present with at least three Marsh Harrier, one ring tailed Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, a Buzzard and a fly past Merlin.

Out on the marsh a variety of waterfowl were identified with Pink footed Geese, Shelduck, Teal and Shoveler present. A pair of Stonechat was found in the grass at the front of the Old Baths car park. At the rear of the car park, in the paddock, there were a handful of Song Thrush, with Redwing and Fieldfare. A couple of Reed Bunting and Jay were also present. Overhead a small flock of Skylark moved north.

Moving on to Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB society members and friends spent a leisurely five hours exploring the reserve. This was the society’s first visit to this location although most members had visited it previously (some more than others!).

A walk to the viewpoints to the east of the visitor reception gave a good vantage point for scoping in the direction of Shotwick fields. Here distant herds of swans could be seen with Mute and Whooper quickly picked out. Three very obvious Black Swans (escapes) were also identified. It took a closer look and good optics to identify a pair of Bewick’s Swan in amongst the herd (some members were more fortunate when up to nine Bewick’s Swan flew onto the reserve in front of the visitor centre early afternoon).

Many members then took a walk around the old fisheries pools where a male Mandarin Duck was a delight. Its origins were unknown but it was certainly a very attractive bird. On the feeders close to the pools were Coal, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit. A couple of Nuthatch was also present. Finches were also in attendance with Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch seen.
Close to the Marsh Covert hide a Cetti’s Warbler was heard to call and, from the hide, good views of Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff and Snipe were had. There were many dabbling duck on display with Mallard, Teal, Pintail and Shoveler present. A couple of Marsh Harrier overhead sent most of the smaller duck into panic.

A walk out to the Hillfort trail produced lovely views over the Wirral estuary. The midday high tide had filled the channels and dykes and there were large congregations of birds out on the marsh. Large numbers of Canada Geese, smaller flocks of Pink-footed Goose and Shelduck were dotted over the landscape. Flocks of gulls were resting up, mainly Black-headed but the vast size of the occasional Great Black-backed could be made out.

The walk to the Inner Marsh Farm hide produced a nice flock of Siskin feeding in Alder and a Chiffchaff was found close to the hide. From the hide Golden Plover and Dunlin were watched and a pair of Stonechat entertained, chasing each other through the reeds.

Out on the water a mixed flock of Teal and Wigeon moved between resting Lapwing. One of the group was fortunate enough to pick out and identify a male Green-winged Teal amongst the duck. Its diagnostic white “braces” clearly standing out. 
Green-winged Teal (Nick Hilton)

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