If anyone is interested, the next good C10 metre tides are on 7th & 8th April roughly around 1 p.m. but check the weather on the day. Last year moderate easterlies kept one of the highest March tides off the marsh almost completely, while producing breakers on the Welsh side
Jimmy Meadows said
Mon Mar 10 5:25 PM, 2008
a cracking day we had at parkgate high tide today the tide was up to the wall well before hightide as one person said its better than watching a cup final but not if you are a vole or a shrew as they got a right hammering off the predators what was waiting for them birds seen and there was so much to see you just didnt know were to look 1 peregrine 2 merlin 1 s e o but up to 5 seen marsh harrier buzzard jack snipe 10+ water rails 8+ snipe bl t godwits redshank 20 whoopers or bewicks to far out to id pink feet pintails teal 2 water pipits skylarks still singing and nowhere to land lots of others just an incredible sight with shrews and voles running about round your feet trying to find any cover whatsoever in the end you could have cried for the little things just wanting to find places to hide in but thats nature and its cruel at times but if you have never been to the hightide there its one you must put on your list but beware its not every time the tide comes so far up
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Mar 10 12:09 AM, 2008
Looks like half of Mcr debunked to the Wirral today! Good day all round despite the water not rising as high as expected. And a little reccie round Moore for future reference to round off. Anyone try to get into IMF?
Mike Chorley said
Sun Mar 9 10:01 PM, 2008
we did see 1 rail make it! Seems like it was a works outing Anyone else go on to Gwydyr Forest for the Hoopoe? Showed well in its' natural habitat of high pasture . With Med gull and Greensandpiper at Moore this morning a good day out
Pete Hines said
Sun Mar 9 8:57 PM, 2008
Also today at Pargate
minus a few Water Rails - watched a heron spend over 10 minutes handling (drowning & stabbing) and consuming one head first. Also a buzzard flew by with one in its talons. 15 + Little Egret from the boathouse car park and 20+ from The Ship pub. Blackwits Pink-feet Pintail etc
Mike Baron said
Sun Mar 9 4:48 PM, 2008
High tide at Parkgate
Tide didn't flood the marsh, however still a nice bit of birding:
3 Short-eared Owls 2 Merlins 1 Peregrine 2 Buzzards 2 Little Egrets 13 Red-breasted Mergansers 40+ Redwing in paddock behind car park
plus thousands of distant waders and Shelduck
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Jan 25 3:31 PM, 2008
Can't claim the credit - just passing the news on - I'm tied to my desk yet again!!
Gary Gorner said
Fri Jan 25 2:35 PM, 2008
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Cattle Egret today on Burton Marsh, NW fronm Denhall Lane - possibly not the Neston bird.
good spot ROB probably blown in yesterday
Gary Gorner said
Fri Jan 25 2:32 PM, 2008
went on the wirral 24/01/07 force 7 hooley and waves coming over the road at new brighton. cracking roost of redshank,dunlin,knot, sanderling,turnstone, 7 purple sandpiper on rafts on the marine lake at 12.00 high tide,purple sandpipers lifers for me hoylake,westkirby,birds very thin on the ground tide was so high. went onto inner marsh farm.cracking close up views of 2 foxes male and female .birdwise 6 spotted redshank,10 snipe,50 black tailed godwits and 1 bar tailed godwit quite rare for this site,green winged teal,4 heron,4 curlew,1 kestrel,shellducks,shovellers,teal,pintail and redshanks.great days birding always a pleasure.
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Jan 25 12:33 PM, 2008
Cattle Egret today on Burton Marsh, NW fronm Denhall Lane - possibly not the Neston bird.
Jimmy Meadows said
Sat Jan 12 6:04 PM, 2008
went to the wirral today with local group all the usual stuff giving good close up views plus on west kirby marine lake red throated diver 2 r b mergansers
new brighton cracking views of 4 purple sandpipers
Gary Gorner said
Wed Nov 28 9:18 AM, 2007
27/11/07 WEST KIRBY 8 GOLDENEYE 6 RED BRESTED MERGANSER 25 TURNSTONE 52 REDSHANK 6 GREY PLOVER SMALL FLOCKS OF DUNLIN ,KNOT, SANDERLING. 500+ OYSTERCATCHERS
HOYLAKE BEACH HIGH TIDE 2000+ KNOT 50+ GREY PLOVER 5 BARTAILED GODWITS 1 LITTLE EGRET 20+ BRENT GEESE OUT TOWARDS HILBRE 50+ SANDERLING
LEASOWE GOYNE PAST GOLF COURSE AWAY FROM CARPARK 100+ REDSHANK,OYSTERS,DUNLIN,KNOT, 2 GREATCRESTED GREBE 10 RINGED PLOVER 12 CORMERANT
Mike Chorley said
Sun Nov 25 1:01 PM, 2007
If you're at Parkgate "on spec" the post office sells tide timetables
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Nov 24 11:44 PM, 2007
Ian Campbell wrote:
This Manchester birding site must be the dogs b******* of all, thanks to Ian Mck of course. No sooner than I request help-4.39. today than I get a reply; 4.50 p.m.(thanks Rob).
Aye - and that's despite your dodgy avatar! Build a bonfire....
Ian Campbell said
Fri Nov 23 8:14 PM, 2007
Mike, totally understand why you like this part of the world, I did search the teal for a GWT but none seen by me anyway(this often means nothing!!!) Cheers Ian
Mike Baron said
Fri Nov 23 5:09 PM, 2007
Hi Ian
Glad you enjoyed the Wirral. One of my favourite places in the world.
The marsh generally will only flood with a 10m+ tide and then it depends on the wind. I have stood at Parkgate for a 10.1m tide which didn't flood the marsh because the wind kept it off. I would guess it unlikely that the marsh will flood this weekend.
The marsh at Heswall floods easier and Riverbank Rd in Heswall is a good spot for birding - there is a car park there. I would still think a near 10m tide would be needed here and favourable wind.
Parkgate can still be good on a fine afternoon - Hen Harriers come to roost there and other raptors should be around.
IMF is superb - any sign of the usual Green-winged Teal?
Mike
Ian Campbell said
Fri Nov 23 4:39 PM, 2007
Visited this morning with a friend from work. Probably chose the wrong place to visit for the high tide at 9.30 a.m. as we went to Burton Marsh and saw no sign of the tide!!!, Ill know better next time. Good place none the less, 2 peregrines and kestrels lots of little egrets, teal, wigeon, shellduck, mallard, lapwings, crows, fieldfare, meadow pipets, linnets redshank. Then went to Inner Marsh Farm. This is a fabulous place, although Im not supposed to say so as the vollunter there said they dont advertise. Hard to find and with parking for 12 cars only but if youve not been Id advise a visit. We saw lots of teal, wigeon, pintail, shovellor, shellduck, mallard, snipe, curlew, redshank, golden plover, lapwing. In the trees a large mixed flock of goldfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch, sisken and on the set aside a flock of 30+ twite. Brambling had also been seen, but not by us. Great weather, a half in the ship at Parkgate and a pint in the Harp at Neston made for a great day out of county. Cheers and thanks again to all who offered me advice
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Thu Nov 22 4:35 PM, 2007
Visit on 21/11/07.
West Kirby marine lake:
RB Merganser 4 m 1 f Goldeneye 8 f/imm 1 m
Hilbre Island for half hour visit; at low tide obviously. Part of a Wirral hike, so not much time allowed for birding.
Shelducks Cormorants Oystercatchers Redshanks Knot(s) Little Egret 1 Grey Heron 1 Curlews Grey Plover 1 Bar-T Godwit 1 Turnstones Purple Sandpipers 5+...a bloke said he had counted 15. Light-B Brent 30+ 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Robin and 1 wren on main island.
Also about 50+ Atlantic Grey Seals on Hoyle Bank.
A LS Woodpecker had been noted at the Thurstaston CP Visitor's Centre feeding station but I was not allowed time to sit and wait for it to return.
Phil Owen said
Tue Nov 20 7:24 PM, 2007
Oh No!!!
I'm off on the 30th and not 23rd, typical!!!
Thanks for that Ian.
PS) Nice to see you support such a great team!!!
Up the Blues!!!
Phil
Ian Campbell said
Tue Nov 20 7:12 PM, 2007
This Manchester birding site must be the dogs b******* of all, thanks to Ian Mck of course. No sooner than I request help-4.39. today than I get a reply; 4.50 p.m.(thanks Rob). Pete, the G.B.G. pub in Parkgate is the Ship Hotel, looking forard to a pint there on Friday!. Phil, the high tide is at 9.30a.m. this Friday(23rd). So many people out there willing to help, fabulous. Cheers all Ian
Phil Owen said
Tue Nov 20 6:43 PM, 2007
On what time and date is the High Tide??
Is it this Friday (23rd November) or the Friday after (30th November)???
Wondering if there is a Parkgate High Tide on any of those dates??
Always worth a trip so might give it a go if on the 30th.
Thanks
Phil
Pete Hines said
Tue Nov 20 6:10 PM, 2007
Ian, which Parkgate pub is in the GBG ?. I usually call in The Ship for scran ( a decent roast and scan the marshes ) a couple of mega ice-cream shops and the chippy is refuted to be best around, though my favourite pub is still The Harp at Little Neston.
Plenty of Little Egrets from all locations.
Rob Smallwood said
Tue Nov 20 4:50 PM, 2007
You can't really be sure.
If it is a really high tide there will be lots of people at Parkgate and extra eyes can help - but the locals reckon that Banks Lane nearer to West Kirby (check the Dee Estuary site for details) gives you better and closer views.
Parkgate Old Baths car park can be a bit busy for some people.
Ian Campbell said
Tue Nov 20 4:39 PM, 2007
Just discovered that high tide on Friday is at 9.30 a.m., where of all the places mentioned is the VERY BEST place to be at this time??. I NEED HELP!!!!!!!!
Tony Coatsworth said
Tue Nov 20 12:43 PM, 2007
The marsh out from the Harp has Rock, Meadow and Water Pipits - you also get the odd Ringtail Harrier overhead and SE Owl.
Ian Campbell said
Fri Nov 16 4:37 PM, 2007
Mike, Will certainly visit Parkgate as well, just seen that it also has a pub in the G.B.G. things just get better and better!!!. Thanks for info, cheers Ian.
Mike Baron said
Fri Nov 16 12:40 PM, 2007
Ian
You could also try Parkgate up the road (approx 15 mins drive). Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin and SEO regular on the marsh and there is a Little Owl often seen peeking from a hole in a tree at the side of the paddock behind the car park. The boathouse pools here also produce good waders.
Check out this website:
www.deeestuary.co.uk/
Mike
Ian Campbell said
Thu Nov 15 9:36 PM, 2007
Thanks David, just looked up the Harp Inn in the G.B.G. sounds good. Just the advice I was after. Any other help, birds or pubs gratefully accepted. Cheers Ian.
David Benson said
Thu Nov 15 8:05 PM, 2007
Down Denhall Lane, from Inner Marsh Farm you come to Burton Marsh. There are sometimes Short-eared Owls on the marsh here and a variety of wildfowl/waders can be seen regularly throughout the winter. A good walk north along the estuary from here towards Neston will usually produce a good selection of marshland birds. Even better, there is a pub called The Harp Inn after approximately one mile which serves real ale and has a seating area overlooking the marshes.
Ian Campbell said
Thu Nov 15 4:47 PM, 2007
Ive got a day off work next Friday and have decided to visit RSPB Inner Marsh Farm. Ive never been before and wondered if anyone out there has any useful tips/advice on the area, other nearby places or maybe any good pubs!, I do have the CAMRA good beer guide, but its no substitute for first hand experience. Any help gratefully recieved, thanks in anticipation. Cheers Ian
Gary Gorner said
Mon Nov 12 10:34 AM, 2007
LEASOWE 11/11/07
GREY PHALEROPE (LIFER) RED THROTED DIVER REDSHANK CURLEW CORMERANT KNOT DUNLIN TURNSTONE GREAT CRESTED GREBE 1000+GULLS
On Sunday I visited the Wirral for a spot of birding.
Called in at Crosby early am - a lone adult Bar-tailed Godwit was the best find, plenty of Dunlin.
Driving down the M53 mid morning there were 10 Buzzards in the air together, 1m up road of J4. A Hobby was with them briefly. Buzzard 11 was on a fence post nearby and two more were in the air 1m down road from J4.
At Parkgate, female Marsh Harrier gave superb views from the Old Boathouse car park while being mobbed by two Crows.
11 Greenshank on Boathouse pools plus 2 Little Egret. Plenty of Hirundines.
Leasowe shore at lunch - approx 1400 Oystercatcher, 50+ Knot plus plenty of Curlew and Redshank and a couple of Ringed Plovers all on narrow sand bar.
Afternoon seawatching from Leasowe Gunsite produced a Guillemot, 3 Sandwich Terns, a Common Tern and a Great Crested Grebe.
Cracking day despite the lack of activitiy from the gunsite (didn't stay long enough for the Arctic Skuas).
Mike
as one person said its better than watching a cup final but not if you are a vole or a shrew as they got a right hammering off the predators what was waiting for them
birds seen and there was so much to see you just didnt know were to look
1 peregrine
2 merlin
1 s e o but up to 5 seen
marsh harrier
buzzard
jack snipe 10+
water rails 8+
snipe
bl t godwits
redshank
20 whoopers or bewicks to far out to id
pink feet
pintails
teal
2 water pipits
skylarks still singing and nowhere to land
lots of others just an incredible sight with shrews and voles running about round your feet trying to find any cover whatsoever in the end you could have cried for the little things just wanting to find places to hide in but thats nature and its cruel at times
but if you have never been to the hightide there its one you must put on your list but beware its not every time the tide comes so far up
minus a few Water Rails - watched a heron spend over 10 minutes handling (drowning & stabbing) and consuming one head first. Also a buzzard flew by with one in its talons.
15 + Little Egret from the boathouse car park and 20+ from The Ship pub.
Blackwits
Pink-feet
Pintail etc
Tide didn't flood the marsh, however still a nice bit of birding:
3 Short-eared Owls
2 Merlins
1 Peregrine
2 Buzzards
2 Little Egrets
13 Red-breasted Mergansers
40+ Redwing in paddock behind car park
plus thousands of distant waders and Shelduck
good spot ROB probably blown in yesterday
hoylake,westkirby,birds very thin on the ground tide was so high. went onto inner marsh farm.cracking close up views of 2 foxes male and female .birdwise 6 spotted redshank,10 snipe,50 black tailed godwits and 1 bar tailed godwit quite rare for this site,green winged teal,4 heron,4 curlew,1 kestrel,shellducks,shovellers,teal,pintail and redshanks.great days birding always a pleasure.
plus on west kirby marine lake
red throated diver
2 r b mergansers
new brighton
cracking views of 4 purple sandpipers
WEST KIRBY
8 GOLDENEYE
6 RED BRESTED MERGANSER
25 TURNSTONE
52 REDSHANK
6 GREY PLOVER
SMALL FLOCKS OF DUNLIN ,KNOT, SANDERLING.
500+ OYSTERCATCHERS
HOYLAKE BEACH HIGH TIDE
2000+ KNOT
50+ GREY PLOVER
5 BARTAILED GODWITS
1 LITTLE EGRET
20+ BRENT GEESE OUT TOWARDS HILBRE
50+ SANDERLING
LEASOWE GOYNE PAST GOLF COURSE AWAY FROM CARPARK
100+ REDSHANK,OYSTERS,DUNLIN,KNOT,
2 GREATCRESTED GREBE
10 RINGED PLOVER
12 CORMERANT
Aye - and that's despite your dodgy avatar! Build a bonfire....
Cheers Ian
Glad you enjoyed the Wirral. One of my favourite places in the world.
The marsh generally will only flood with a 10m+ tide and then it depends on the wind. I have stood at Parkgate for a 10.1m tide which didn't flood the marsh because the wind kept it off. I would guess it unlikely that the marsh will flood this weekend.
The marsh at Heswall floods easier and Riverbank Rd in Heswall is a good spot for birding - there is a car park there. I would still think a near 10m tide would be needed here and favourable wind.
Parkgate can still be good on a fine afternoon - Hen Harriers come to roost there and other raptors should be around.
IMF is superb - any sign of the usual Green-winged Teal?
Mike
Then went to Inner Marsh Farm. This is a fabulous place, although Im not supposed to say so as the vollunter there said they dont advertise. Hard to find and with parking for 12 cars only but if youve not been Id advise a visit.
We saw lots of teal, wigeon, pintail, shovellor, shellduck, mallard, snipe, curlew, redshank, golden plover, lapwing. In the trees a large mixed flock of goldfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch, sisken and on the set aside a flock of 30+ twite. Brambling had also been seen, but not by us.
Great weather, a half in the ship at Parkgate and a pint in the Harp at Neston made for a great day out of county.
Cheers and thanks again to all who offered me advice
West Kirby marine lake:
RB Merganser 4 m 1 f
Goldeneye 8 f/imm 1 m
Hilbre Island for half hour visit; at low tide obviously. Part of a Wirral hike, so not much time allowed for birding.
Shelducks
Cormorants
Oystercatchers
Redshanks
Knot(s)
Little Egret 1
Grey Heron 1
Curlews
Grey Plover 1
Bar-T Godwit 1
Turnstones
Purple Sandpipers 5+...a bloke said he had counted 15.
Light-B Brent 30+
2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Robin and 1 wren on main island.
Also about 50+ Atlantic Grey Seals on Hoyle Bank.
A LS Woodpecker had been noted at the Thurstaston CP Visitor's Centre feeding station but I was not allowed time to sit and wait for it to return.
I'm off on the 30th and not 23rd, typical!!!
Thanks for that Ian.
PS) Nice to see you support such a great team!!!
Up the Blues!!!
Phil
Pete, the G.B.G. pub in Parkgate is the Ship Hotel, looking forard to a pint there on Friday!.
Phil, the high tide is at 9.30a.m. this Friday(23rd).
So many people out there willing to help, fabulous.
Cheers all Ian
Is it this Friday (23rd November) or the Friday after (30th November)???
Wondering if there is a Parkgate High Tide on any of those dates??
Always worth a trip so might give it a go if on the 30th.
Thanks
Phil
Plenty of Little Egrets from all locations.
If it is a really high tide there will be lots of people at Parkgate and extra eyes can help - but the locals reckon that Banks Lane nearer to West Kirby (check the Dee Estuary site for details) gives you better and closer views.
Parkgate Old Baths car park can be a bit busy for some people.
Will certainly visit Parkgate as well, just seen that it also has a pub in the G.B.G. things just get better and better!!!.
Thanks for info, cheers Ian.
You could also try Parkgate up the road (approx 15 mins drive). Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin and SEO regular on the marsh and there is a Little Owl often seen peeking from a hole in a tree at the side of the paddock behind the car park. The boathouse pools here also produce good waders.
Check out this website:
www.deeestuary.co.uk/
Mike
Cheers Ian.
Cheers Ian
GREY PHALEROPE (LIFER)
RED THROTED DIVER
REDSHANK
CURLEW
CORMERANT
KNOT
DUNLIN
TURNSTONE
GREAT CRESTED GREBE
1000+GULLS
WEST KIRBY
BARTAILED GODWITS
DUNLIN
KNOT
SANDERLING
ROCK PIPPIT
MEADOW PIPPIT
PIED WAGS