Spoonbill seen again today - hope it survives the last few days of harsh weather!
paul brady said
Wed Jan 13 11:44 AM, 2010
Spoonbill has been reported the past two days - count of over 30 brambling on Monday too.
Don't let the weather put you off!
More than 30 brambling again today.
2 water pipits feeding in small thawed areas at the back of No 2
5 Water Rail and 1 woodcock in the board walk arae.
Dennis atherton said
Mon Jan 11 6:04 PM, 2010
Also if you go it is worth having a walk down along burton marsh just about five mins walk away out of the reserve and furthur down the road, great place for owls and harriers, the guide at the reserve will guide you on where you can walk
John Barber said
Sun Jan 10 7:48 PM, 2010
A great reserve, hope you manage to find it ok ( it's closed on Tuesday's )
Watched three foxes skating around on the frozen ponds today - marvellous sight.
Also, look out for Bramblings on the path down to the hide. There were a couple around today.
paul brady said
Sun Jan 10 12:17 PM, 2010
steve ashworth wrote:
hi everyone could any of you very helpfull people point me in the right direction of inner marsh farm .many thanks steve
www.rspb.org.uk/innermarshfarm
simples
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Jan 10 8:10 AM, 2010
steve ashworth wrote:
hi everyone could any of you very helpfull people point me in the right direction of inner marsh farm .many thanks steve
best to go to the rspb site and get directions from there
steve ashworth said
Sun Jan 10 7:13 AM, 2010
hi everyone could any of you very helpfull people point me in the right direction of inner marsh farm .many thanks steve
Dennis atherton said
Tue Jan 5 11:03 AM, 2010
no signs of bittern today, 4th, a couple of foxes on the prowl and some good veiws of siskins in the woods half way down to hide, also a few linnets and stonechats in the fields with a few fieldfare and redwing,
later in afternoon great veiws over parkgate of hen harrier, marsh harrier, barn owl and two short eared owls.
paul brady said
Sun Jan 3 12:54 PM, 2010
2nd Jan - BITTERN!
Was seen from the hide walking across toward the border pool before disappearing into a ditch. Seems to be a bit of an influx at the moment...
Brambling present in the crop field.
Pool toady frozen so good chance of it being seen again as water rails sightings are regular (almost can't walk down to the hide w/o coming across one!)
stuartherring said
Wed Dec 30 8:35 PM, 2009
saw 50 plus teal,3 pintailand a pair of shoveler,1 buzzard and 1 water rail on the stream at the back of the hide also plenty of lapwings in the farmers fields along with afew redshank and 3 fieldfare on monday
paul brady said
Wed Dec 30 12:35 PM, 2009
Pools fully thawed out now - ducks starting to return
Scaup and Common SCoter have been reported on the nearby Shotwick boating lake recently too
paul brady said
Wed Dec 23 2:25 PM, 2009
For anybody interested the good old "Birdwatcher's Diary" has been relaunched thanks to Wirral Rangers and the RSPB.
To get a copy email - wirralcountrypark@wirral.gov.uk
This "Wingspan" cover the 1st 3 months bird watching events around the Dee Estuary and includes some useful phone numbers and web addresses.
It only comes in email format - so if you don't have an email .... hang on we're online now!!!
paul brady said
Mon Dec 21 4:20 PM, 2009
Pools still frozen but this may mean you come across a water rail in an unexpected place ....
PLus 400 ish lapwing roosting on No 1 pool.
paul brady said
Mon Dec 7 5:15 PM, 2009
Quiet on the hide pool (No 2)
Ringtail Hen Harrier doing a circuit 2 Peregrines resting on "mounds" over at IMF2
paul brady said
Wed Dec 2 3:34 PM, 2009
Cracking Female Sparrowhawk sat on the feeders near the car park today - a bigy too!
Green Woodpecker again seen in and around the car park area.
Female merlin has been seen from the hide hunting over the pools and fields.
Large flocks of linnet roam the arable field on the track down to hide - look for them in the trees along the path as you return from the hide.
More preparation for the new wetland "IMF 2" has taken place today and will continue tomorrow - ther may be some disturbance to the birds on No. 1 pool
paul brady said
Sat Nov 21 9:33 AM, 2009
A bit quiet of late but the water rail have been showing well in front of the hide.
A male green woodpecker was foraging on the car park wall !!!
Gary Gorner said
Sun Oct 25 5:57 PM, 2009
quick visit on the way home from holiday on anglesey saw 1 vernon and 1 pat full winter plumage 2 marsh harriers females 1 spoonbill 1 ruff 1 snipe a dozen pink feet baracle in with canada geese 2 buzzards 1 water rail redshanks,blacktailed godwits and all the usual wildfowl. didnt get to Parkgate the wifes washing machine was calling
-- Edited by Gary Gorner on Sunday 25th of October 2009 05:59:18 PM
Gary Gorner said
Sat Oct 17 10:54 PM, 2009
me and vernon spent the morning at the reserve and then onto parkgate and had much the same as you guys 2 dowitchers ,115 golden plover,merlin,water rail showed very well for a change 2 buzzard,a couple of female hen harriers ,3 short eared owl, several kestre,cracking close views of a barn owll and quite a few stonechat. a somewhat short report for me as im a little depressed after losing my camera at the end of the day the camera i can replace but the photos could take me years to get again
Pete Welch said
Sat Oct 17 6:58 PM, 2009
Hour and a half til dusk today saw excellent views of water rails in front of the hide, golden plovers in with the lapwing, sizeable flocks of shoveler and egrets and also good views of the female merlin - both over the pool and back along the walk to the hide.
Ian Campbell said
Sat Oct 17 1:53 PM, 2009
This a.m. 2 Long Billed Dowichers,British tick for me.1 Curlew Sandpiper, also Black Tailed Godwits, Golden Plovers, Redshank with all the usual Ducks. Then at Burton marsh, 2 Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 4 Little Egret and 6 Raven. Cheers Ian
paul brady said
Thu Oct 15 9:14 AM, 2009
Yes indeed 2 long-billed dowithchers are still present this morning and a bonus SPOONBILL!
sid ashton said
Wed Oct 14 9:19 PM, 2009
Yes Phil "Deeestuary" web site reports that two were there this evening.
Phil Owen said
Wed Oct 14 8:22 PM, 2009
I've heard that one of the Dowitchers was seen back at Inner marsh again this evening.
paul brady said
Wed Oct 14 11:46 AM, 2009
A quick update - no long-billed dowitchers since Saturday
22 fieldfare
1 brambling
Passing through last night
Phil Owen said
Mon Oct 5 5:27 PM, 2009
Quick visit this afternoon for the 2 Long-Billed Dowitchers still present and showing well.
Also Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Greenshank and Golden Plover amongst others.
Water Rail also gave some great views in front of the hide.
A Female Hen Harrier and a Sparrowhawk passed through with an eye on the waders.
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Oct 4 4:13 PM, 2009
A good afternoon's action with a female Merlin putting everything up. When the birds settled, one Dowitcher re-appeared - both having been flushed this morning and they had dropped out of sight for several hours.
Then a female Hen Harrier put everything up again.
Several Water Rails ran around in front of the hide.
Also 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Ruff and a Stoat.
Mark Rigby said
Fri Oct 2 7:29 PM, 2009
The 2 Long-billed Dowitchers still present today till 1000am at least with Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 5 Dunlin, 3 Ruff, 2 Golden Plover, 300+Lapwing, 31 Black-tailed Godwit and Water Rail.
They were later reported still present at 1200hrs by another Mancy birder, TV Comedian and all round "top man", who still to this day claims he has given up on his 2009 yearlist (yeah right) who claims he was passing on his way to IKEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pete Welch said
Tue Sep 29 8:14 PM, 2009
Long-billed Dowitchers still present 18:00 to 18:20 along with some friendly birders who put me onto the birds and didn't laugh too much when I said - "the bill length is very distinct..." or something similarly daft! Also Ruff, Godwit, Dunlin, Teal and lots of Lapwing. The best thing was watching the Dowitcher feeding action - I can see why people say they're like sewing machines now! Peter
sid ashton said
Tue Sep 29 7:13 PM, 2009
Nice to catch up with the Long-billed Dowitchers, haven't seen one for a couple of years - also present Stonechat, Dunlin (2), Curlew Sand (1), Ruff (6) Greenshank (4), Kingfisher (1), Water Rail (1), Pintail (2), Knot (1) plus Redshank, Teal, Blackwits and Lapwing and on the marsh later Little Egret, Ring tail Hen Harrier, Kestrel, Buzzard and Peregrine.
paul brady said
Mon Sep 28 5:05 PM, 2009
Good News:
The reserve will be open tomorrow due to the continued presence of the 2 long billed dowitchers. However, due to essential maintenance/conservation work being carried out at the back of No. 1 pool there may be some disruptions. We will do our best to ensure that as few birds as possible are disturbed.
paul brady said
Mon Sep 28 10:48 AM, 2009
Presuming some of you know but the 2 Long Billed Dowitchers are currrently in front of the hide!
Other birds include:
A Ross's Goose and 2 Barnacles Continuing the theme a female Mandarin has been reported
Merlin (Female) - made another kill, those poor snipe.
Buzzard landing wher the Merlin kill was and looking for scraps.
Good News - The other night a record 315 little egrets were counted coming into the roost!!!
Pete Welch said
Sun Sep 13 9:09 PM, 2009
Been trying to find time to get to IMF for a week - finally got there this evening to find it quite busy due to two Pec Sands... good views but not as good as the ones at Hope Carr earlier this year!
Also a lifer in the form of a Water Rail - right in front of the hide for all of about fifteen seconds - pictures as well.
Others:
Golden Plover Black Tailed Godwit Green Sand Redshank Greenshank Lapwings - large flocks Teal everywhere 15 plus egret Blackcap Ruff [at least twelve]
Fantastic evening light and friendly birders - I did feel sorry for those that ran down the hill just as the Pec Sands were spooked and flew off to the west.
-- Edited by Pete Welch on Sunday 13th of September 2009 09:10:19 PM
stuartherring said
Thu Sep 10 6:37 PM, 2009
first visit to the reserve today curlew and wood sandpipers, lappys galore redshank,snipe,buzzards,kestrels,and a female merlin that sat on the island in front of the hide eating an unfortunate snipe ,briliant reserve and can only get better maybe next time i will get the hobbys
paul brady said
Thu Sep 10 3:48 PM, 2009
W/O being biased the reserve does look brilliant at the moment:
2 Curlew Sandpipers 1 Wood Sandpiper 8 Ruff (varying ages and sex) 12 visible snipe Handful of Black-tailed godwits 2 Marsh harrier Merlin Hen Harrier
paul brady said
Wed Sep 9 3:20 PM, 2009
A wood sandpiper has popped up in front of hide now
paul brady said
Wed Sep 9 2:47 PM, 2009
2 Curlew Sandpiper 6 Ruff Loadsa Lappy's and the odd Blackwit Ringtail Hen Harrier
paul brady said
Mon Sep 7 11:28 AM, 2009
UPDATE - Curlew Sandpiper right in front of hide - 11am
One juvenile was also seen yesterday at the Decca Pools compound
paul brady said
Sun Sep 6 4:37 PM, 2009
Tony Coatsworth wrote:
Raptor fest today with up to 3 Buzzards at once, 2 Hobbies , female Marsh Harrier, couple of Kestrels and Sparrowhawks.
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Saturday 5th of September 2009 05:06:06 PM
Much of the same today - 5 buzzards, 2 hobbies, kestrel, peregrine and sparrowhawk!
Tony Coatsworth said
Sat Sep 5 5:05 PM, 2009
Raptor fest today with up to 3 Buzzards at once, 2 Hobbies , female Marsh Harrier, couple of Kestrels and Sparrowhawks.
Made up for the earlier big dip on the Wirral missing 2 Sabines Gulls and a Wilsons Petrel
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Saturday 5th of September 2009 05:06:06 PM
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Aug 16 1:47 PM, 2009
Again pretty quiet today (if you can count 200+ Canada Geese quiet)
20 Black-tailed Godwit were the only waders on show. 1 Common Gull.
A few juvenile Stonechats perched up on the Bullrushes
sid ashton said
Sat Aug 8 7:32 PM, 2009
A good raptor afternoon with Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk on the marsh and Buzzard and Marsh Harrier (juv) on the reserve. Also of note on the reserve 5 Ruff, 10 Teal, 18 Little Egret, 3 Dunlin and lots of Black-tailed Godwits.
paul brady said
Fri Aug 7 1:00 PM, 2009
Amongst other things - a solitary bar-tailed godwit - worth comparing with the 100+ Black-tails!
6 ruff in total have been spotted - 2 juv/females 6 green sandpiper last night too a few dunlin 1 spotted redshank a handfull of Little ringed plover
BONUS - A good amount of work has been carried out in front of the hide now and views of the resident water rails have gone up exponentially
Gary Gorner said
Sat Aug 1 7:25 PM, 2009
1/08/09 raptors 1 buzzard 1 kestrel
waders 4 green sandpipers 4 little ring plover 50 ish lapwings 3 ruff 6 black tailed godwits 5 dunlin little egrets
other birds included whitethrote reed warbler wheatear goldfinch pied wagtail
paul brady said
Fri Jul 24 2:46 PM, 2009
Yes has been too quiet recently...
Blackwits varying numbers up to about 150 (look for colour ringed ones and let me know) Lapwings up to about 100 Sedge warbler right in front of hide singing its head off Silly numbers of whitethroat about on path to hide especiallly in the crop field Little egrets to-ing and fro-ing solitary ruff knocking about
Recent birds include avocet, green sandpiper, yellow wagtail
Butterfly activity is high when the sun comes out!
But other than that it has been quiet....maybe this recent spate of big tides and bad weather will bring something in???
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Jul 12 12:18 PM, 2009
Very quiet today - 1 scruffy Spotted Redshank, 2 Common Redshank, 40+ Blackwit and a few Oystercatchers.
Don't let the weather put you off!
More than 30 brambling again today.
2 water pipits feeding in small thawed areas at the back of No 2
5 Water Rail and 1 woodcock in the board walk arae.
Watched three foxes skating around on the frozen ponds today - marvellous sight.
Also, look out for Bramblings on the path down to the hide. There were a couple around today.
www.rspb.org.uk/innermarshfarm
simples
best to go to the rspb site and get directions from there
later in afternoon great veiws over parkgate of hen harrier, marsh harrier, barn owl and two short eared owls.
Was seen from the hide walking across toward the border pool before disappearing into a ditch. Seems to be a bit of an influx at the moment...
Brambling present in the crop field.
Pool toady frozen so good chance of it being seen again as water rails sightings are regular (almost can't walk down to the hide w/o coming across one!)
Scaup and Common SCoter have been reported on the nearby Shotwick boating lake recently too
To get a copy email - wirralcountrypark@wirral.gov.uk
This "Wingspan" cover the 1st 3 months bird watching events around the Dee Estuary and includes some useful phone numbers and web addresses.
It only comes in email format - so if you don't have an email .... hang on we're online now!!!
PLus 400 ish lapwing roosting on No 1 pool.
Ringtail Hen Harrier doing a circuit
2 Peregrines resting on "mounds" over at IMF2
Green Woodpecker again seen in and around the car park area.
Female merlin has been seen from the hide hunting over the pools and fields.
Large flocks of linnet roam the arable field on the track down to hide - look for them in the trees along the path as you return from the hide.
More preparation for the new wetland "IMF 2" has taken place today and will continue tomorrow - ther may be some disturbance to the birds on No. 1 pool
A male green woodpecker was foraging on the car park wall !!!
2 marsh harriers females
1 spoonbill
1 ruff
1 snipe
a dozen pink feet
baracle in with canada geese
2 buzzards
1 water rail
redshanks,blacktailed godwits and all the usual wildfowl.
didnt get to Parkgate the wifes washing machine was calling
-- Edited by Gary Gorner on Sunday 25th of October 2009 05:59:18 PM
a somewhat short report for me as im a little depressed after losing my camera at the end of the day
2 Long Billed Dowichers
Then at Burton marsh, 2 Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 4 Little Egret and 6 Raven.
Cheers Ian
Yes indeed 2 long-billed dowithchers are still present this morning and a bonus SPOONBILL!
22 fieldfare
1 brambling
Passing through last night
Also Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Greenshank and Golden Plover amongst others.
Water Rail also gave some great views in front of the hide.
A Female Hen Harrier and a Sparrowhawk passed through with an eye on the waders.
When the birds settled, one Dowitcher re-appeared - both having been flushed this morning and they had dropped out of sight for several hours.
Then a female Hen Harrier put everything up again.
Several Water Rails ran around in front of the hide.
Also 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Ruff and a Stoat.
They were later reported still present at 1200hrs by another Mancy birder, TV Comedian and all round "top man", who still to this day claims he has given up on his 2009 yearlist (yeah right
The reserve will be open tomorrow due to the continued presence of the 2 long billed dowitchers. However, due to essential maintenance/conservation work being carried out at the back of No. 1 pool there may be some disruptions. We will do our best to ensure that as few birds as possible are disturbed.
Other birds include:
A Ross's Goose and 2 Barnacles
Continuing the theme a female Mandarin has been reported
A Garganey has also been seen.
Look our for raptors too!
Greenshank x4
Ruff x6
Dunlin x1
Goldeb Plover x6
Black Tailed Godwits x20ish
Snipe
Water Rail
Merlin (Female) - made another kill, those poor snipe.
Buzzard landing wher the Merlin kill was and looking for scraps.
Good News - The other night a record 315 little egrets were counted coming into the roost!!!
Also a lifer in the form of a Water Rail - right in front of the hide for all of about fifteen seconds - pictures as well.
Others:
Golden Plover
Black Tailed Godwit
Green Sand
Redshank
Greenshank
Lapwings - large flocks
Teal everywhere
15 plus egret
Blackcap
Ruff [at least twelve]
Fantastic evening light and friendly birders - I did feel sorry for those that ran down the hill just as the Pec Sands were spooked and flew off to the west.
-- Edited by Pete Welch on Sunday 13th of September 2009 09:10:19 PM
2 Curlew Sandpipers
1 Wood Sandpiper
8 Ruff (varying ages and sex)
12 visible snipe
Handful of Black-tailed godwits
2 Marsh harrier
Merlin
Hen Harrier
6 Ruff
Loadsa Lappy's and the odd Blackwit
Ringtail Hen Harrier
One juvenile was also seen yesterday at the Decca Pools compound
Much of the same today - 5 buzzards, 2 hobbies, kestrel, peregrine and sparrowhawk!
Made up for the earlier big dip on the Wirral missing 2 Sabines Gulls and a Wilsons Petrel
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Saturday 5th of September 2009 05:06:06 PM
20 Black-tailed Godwit were the only waders on show.
1 Common Gull.
A few juvenile Stonechats perched up on the Bullrushes
6 ruff in total have been spotted - 2 juv/females
6 green sandpiper last night too
a few dunlin
1 spotted redshank
a handfull of Little ringed plover
BONUS - A good amount of work has been carried out in front of the hide now and views of the resident water rails have gone up exponentially
raptors
1 buzzard
1 kestrel
waders
4 green sandpipers
4 little ring plover
50 ish lapwings
3 ruff
6 black tailed godwits
5 dunlin
little egrets
wildfowl
2 canadas
several+ teal
shovelers
malards
other birds included
whitethrote
reed warbler
wheatear
goldfinch
pied wagtail
Blackwits varying numbers up to about 150 (look for colour ringed ones and let me know)
Lapwings up to about 100
Sedge warbler right in front of hide singing its head off
Silly numbers of whitethroat about on path to hide especiallly in the crop field
Little egrets to-ing and fro-ing
solitary ruff knocking about
Recent birds include avocet, green sandpiper, yellow wagtail
Butterfly activity is high when the sun comes out!
But other than that it has been quiet....maybe this recent spate of big tides and bad weather will bring something in???
Also 20+ Little Egret on the back pool
2 redshank
2 spotted redshank
blackwits
lapwings
peregrine
buzzards
spoonbill
egrets galore
herons
teal
mallard
blackcap
whitethroat
chiffchaff
willow warbler
sedge warbler
reed bunting
swifts
swallows
house martins
plus yer usuals
ADDED BONUS: a water rail scurrying in front of the hide between gaps in the veg.
Green Sandpiper and taht Ruff were showing nicely on No1 pool last night.
Hobby
Male ruff (black variant - is that the word?) - has appeared on the new feeds as grey plover...
1 spotted redshank
1 greenshank
1 green sandpiper
2 spoonbills
3 little ringed plover
1500 lapwing
100's black-tailed godwits
and for the "bless isn't that great news" factor - young little egrets out and about
Check out the facebook page too for photos, news, videos. (some cracking spoonbill action)