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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