12th January 2020


(New Brighton - J Wharton)


Weather:  Cloudy, mild
Members and friends:  33                      Driver: Glenn



Thirty-three members and friends set off from Stockport for our first trip of 2020 to our usual destination of the three sites on the Wirral. Our first stop was New Brighton and the coach dropped us off outside Morrisons as per normal. Those that didn’t head straight for the café walked over to the Marine Lake and were greeted by a large group of waders on the pontoon, under the colourful bottle sculpture. The 8m long sculpture is made of recycled plastic, titled “message in a bottle”. It was erected in 2018 to highlight the issue of plastic pollution. Apparently, it lights up at night!

Immediately we picked out a couple of Purple Sandpipers amongst the flock of Dunlin, Turnstone and Redshank on the pontoon. After a bit of searching from different angles eight birds were recorded. The lake held a couple of Cormorant and both Black-headed and Common Gulls. A walk over to the sea wall produced very little. The sea was rough, and the tide was in. Out in the Mersey mouth there were a handful of Cormorant and a Great Black-backed Gull.

(Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Redshank, Turnstone - T Kelso)

After a provisions visit to Morrisons we re-embarked on the coach and headed over to Parkgate. Alighting the coach, we were greeted by views of Great White Egret and Little Egret out on the saltmarsh. Two Marsh Harrier were in view and we quickly picked out a distant male Hen Harrier. A Kestrel hunted close by giving excellent views as it hovered literally over our heads.


Grey Heron, Mallard, Wigeon and Teal all were found on the adjacent pools and in the distance the group could see flocks of Pink-footed Geese moving around the saltmarsh. Redshank were also present with flocks of Lapwing that rose every time a Marsh Harrier was in the vicinity. We picked out a couple of distant Peregrines resting up on a log and a few of the group recorded Stonechat.

(Kestrel - J Wharton)

Walking down to the Old Baths we quickly connected with Black-tailed Godwit and Curlew. A flock of Pink-footed Geese came down to one of the nearer pools and gave good views as they drank and preened. Overhead Skylark moved out onto the saltmarsh and Shelduck could be seen distantly.

In the fields behind the Old Baths car park a large flock of Redwing was found. They were joined by the odd Song Thrush and Blackbird. Flitting between the field and the adjacent hedges was a large flock of Goldfinch with small numbers of Chaffinch, Greenfinch and at least two Linnet. At the back of the field a Jay was seen foraging in the long grass, with Moorhen, Wood Pigeon and Pheasant also recorded. A Buzzard passed overhead.

(Redwing - T Kelso)


We returned to the coach and made the very short journey to Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB Reserve. The wind had picked up and we drew a blank on woodland species as we made our way to the reserve carpark from Puddington Lane. Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush and Pied Wagtail were noted in the adjacent fields.

On accessing the reserve we quickly recorded Kestrel and Marsh Harrier. Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Black-tailed Godwit were all in the pool in front of the reception hide. A few of the group picked out two Spotted Redshank and we also recorded Dunlin and Ruff at this location.

(Black-tailed Godwit - A. Barrett)

A walk around the reserve added little to our day list. Pintail, Tufted Duck and a Nuthatch on the feeders were all new additions. As was very brief views of Cetti’s Warbler as it flashed through vegetation. A Peregrine came through the reserve, at low level, scattering duck and waders.


The adjacent shooting range was very active and along with the strong winds meant very little time was spent at the Hillfort viewing point looking over the saltmarsh. A pair of Mute Swan with a previous year’s offspring were noted along with a scattering of corvids.

A good day had produced 76 species identified by the society.

Mute Swan Oystercatcher Robin
Pink-footed Goose Lapwing Song Thrush
Greylag Goose Purple Sandpiper Redwing
Canada Goose Turnstone Mistle Thrush
Eygptian Goose Dunlin Blackbird
Shelduck Redshank Cetti's Warbler
Mallard Spotted Redshank Great Tit
Gadwall Black-tailed Godwit Coal Tit
Pintail Curlew Blue Tit
Shoveler Snipe Long-tailed Tit
Wigeon Ruff Nuthatch
Teal Black-headed Gull Magpie
Tufted Duck Common Gull Jay
Pheasant Herring Gull Jackdaw
Cormorant Great Black-backed Gull Rook
Little Egret Lesser Black-backed Gull Carrion Crow
Great White Egret Stock Dove Raven
Grey Heron Woodpigeon Starling
Marsh Harrier Collared Dove House Sparrow
Hen Harrier Great Spotted Woodpecker Chaffinch
Buzzard Skylark Linnet
Kestrel Meadow Pipit Goldfinch
Merlin Pied Wagtail Greenfinch
Peregrine Grey Wagtail Reed Bunting
Moorhen Dunnock  
Coot Stonechat  



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