The old baths at Parkgate after I'd been to Llanfairfechan. 2 Marsh Harriers - both cream capped, a ring tailed Hen Harrier and a very distant Peregrine were the highlights of a couple of hours.
steven burke said
Sat Jan 28 9:12 PM, 2017
west Kirby marine lake & shore after high tide.
a nice mixture of thousands of waders just up from the marine lake included...
bar tailed godwits knot dunlin sanderling redshank curlew oystercatcher only 10 ringed plover & 4 grey plover 1 little egret 54 shelduck
4 red breasted mergansers just flown from the marine lake as I arrived & 89 brent geese flew past heading to hilbre island.
I made a short visit to new brighton but didn't arrive until about 1.30 so there were no waders on the pontoon, I had a look on the rocks just behind perch rock but could only find redshank, oystercatcher, dunlin & turnstone no purple sandpipers.
Mark Burgess said
Sat Jan 28 2:38 PM, 2017
New Brighton Marine Lake , Just after height tide 12.00ish
14/01/17 Stockport Birdwatching Society trip to Parkgate and Burton Wetlands RSPB
Another good trip with highlights at Parkgate (0830 - 1030) being 4 Great White Egret, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and 1 ringtail Hen Harrier.
Andy Voisey said
Sat Jan 14 7:41 PM, 2017
My wife and I popped up to the Wirral today for the high tide. RSPB Burton Marsh Had an hour on site picking up a few year ticks, nothing of note for me although one gentleman did disturb a woodcock
Denhall Quay - footpath north to Moorside Lane and return via Old Quay Lane.
We had intended to watch the tide in from the car outside the Harp pub, but the marshes at Little Neston were full of dog walkers clearing the area of wildlife.
We decided to walk up to Neston on the foreshore and return by Old Quay Lane to get 2 shots at the water pipits at the sewage works.
On the foreshore leg we saw a great white egret and a merlin, but no water pipits. At the water treatment end of Old Quay Lane we walked across the horse field to the sewage works where another bird watcher put us on a water pipit in a filtration tank.
I am ashamed to say it flew off when we arrived but it was soon spotted nearby in a puddle. We waited for it to return to the tank for about 30 mins and saw a couple of chiffchaff while we waited. We then decided to try Parkgate and get some fish and chips.
Parkgate
We got our fish and chips and drove up to the baths to eat them. A marsh harrier flew by while we ate and we saw 2 more later.
Finally a female hen harrier appeared and we decided to leave as the cold wind had frozen us to the core.
All in all it ended up not a bad day out, with 13 more year ticks and one lifer for us.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Jan 13 9:54 PM, 2017
Given a 9.8m tide today and high winds blowing down the River Dee it looked like a good day to go check out the high tide, and seeing as how I'm working tomorrow it was a no brainer really. I also bumped into Wirral Guru, Richard Smith, who runs the Dee Estuary Birds website, who had the same thoughts and reasoning as myself. However we were both surprised when the tide never really came in to the extent that we had expected. Later on I met several folk who ahd been down and the feeling was universal, it just ahdn't delivered
But you have always got to make the best of it, and from a point along the coastal path N.of Parkgate I had a reasonable watch albeit in winds that it was hard enough standing up in, never mind trying to use optics!! First good bird was a Merlin, maybe not surprising as I had noticed many pipits and Skylarks flying up out of the gutters as the water rose slightly. Also seen were 2 Peregrines, one huge female showing exceptionally well, both perched and buzzing the Oystercatcher flocks, although she didn't make ahit whilst I was watching. Three Marsh Harriers made light of the wind conditions, floating about over the marsh and dropping down, seemingly on prey, and at times giving great views when they were down on the ground. The best sighting was a Short-eared Owl, which was only up for about 30 seconds before dropping into a reedbed. Luckily I got the 2 birders who had joined me onto it, and this was the species they especially wanted to see. Reward was a quality street chocolate for me, gratefully received Chatting later to birders who had been either at Parkgate Old Baths or Riverbank Road confirmed what I thought, no-one had seen the owl from those vantage points. It was directly out from us - a case of right place, right time! A Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were also seen to complete the raptor list. Huge flocks of waders and wildfowl were far out along the waters edge but nothing else of not came in close enough for us to see, and no mammals were seen at all which is one thing I had gone hoping to see again.
I was told of atheory later that the very strong winds blowing directly along the river had actually blown water more 'inland' rather than allow it to spread out onto the saltmarsh and had in fact lessened the effect of the tide by half a metre. I can see how that may be true and the result certainly was what happened. So tomorrow with a 9.8m tide again, but lighter winds may be much better.
Simon Gough said
Sun Nov 20 7:10 PM, 2016
It might not be completely common knowledge, but a healthy roost of Marsh Harriers seems to have sprung up at Neston Reedbed this autumn. I saw 10 come in on the 5th but I wasn't sure it was OK to post it. Having spoken to RSPB people from Burton Mere in the meantime, they aren't concerned about it being posted, in fact they published an article on their website describing the roost and its location. So the birds we saw today were mostly heading in there to roost, with 1 out hunting the tideline. I wasn't really counting today and also the birds that have already dropped in can fly up again when another bird flies over, but there have evidently been 12 counted in to there in recent weeks, so it might have been 10+, but I'd have said 7-8 myself. But that is plenty by anyone's standards! Also interesting to see if the Hen Harriers will begin roosting with the Marshies. The male Hen headed that way before it got dark, and the ringtails I saw the other week were nowhere to be seen at the Old Baths.
The setting sun created some spectacularly attractive views across the marsh. What a great place to see out the afternoon.
- Water Rail and Tawny Owl heard from the Old Baths car park then a Tawny Owl seen in flight not far from Neston.
Mark Jarrett said
Wed Nov 16 7:30 PM, 2016
Just over three and a half hours on the estuary today from 11am, split between Denhall Lane and Quayside by the Harp Inn. Weather cool and windy but we managed to avoid any rain. High tide was a few minutes before midday.
Some great raptor activity and plenty of geese around too. Lots of toing and froing way out by the river, some of it too distant to identify. We were to have gone on to Parkgate to finish the afternoon but decided to pay a quick visit to Burton Mere Wetlands instead, after hearing the Long eared Owl had been showing. There was also the probability of adding Cattle Egret to the day list. Amongst others :-
Marsh Harrier (4-5) Hen Harrier r/t (2) Merlin (1) Peregrine (1) Kestrel (1) Buzzard (1) Short eared Owl (2) Long eared Owl (1) (BMW) Cattle Egret (6) (BMW) Little Egret (c.35) Great White Egret (1) Green Woodpecker (1) Ruff (3) Black tailed Godwit (c.25) Dunlin Brent Goose (150 min) Pink footed Goose (c.450)
Simon Gough said
Sat Nov 5 9:25 PM, 2016
1130-1530 at the Harp Inn
Hen Harrier 3 - including the sublime adult male bird, what a beauty! Marsh Harrier 3 at least Merlin 2 Short-eared Owl 2 Stonechat 2 Kingfisher 1 Hundreds of Pink-footed Geese
I've never seen a Kingfisher anywhere near the marsh before, but this bird was zipping along one of the saltmarsh channels. The male Hen Harrier showed 4 times in all, once when a Shortie provoked it into the air. I saw it catch a bird in flight at one point and then drop down to eat it; it came close enough that you could see its yellow eyes. This was a classic Dee Estuary day.
steven burke said
Sun Oct 30 9:23 PM, 2016
last hour of light at the harp inn...
4 short eared owls 3 hen harriers, 2 ringtails & stonking male constantly being harassed by a crow driving it further out towards the dee. 4 marsh harriers, again in one scope view 1 merlin 2 kestrel 1 stonechat 3 great white egret, distant lots of little egrets going to roost plus all the usuals
Mark Jarrett said
Wed Oct 19 7:32 PM, 2016
A good three hours on the estuary this afternoon, mainly Denhall Lane with a final hour at Parkgate, Old Baths car park. Weather sunny and quite pleasant.
Several hundred Canada Goose were seen out from Denhall Lane on the flooded marsh but the main players were two Peregrine, a minimum two Marsh Harrier and a ring tail Hen Harrier. A Great White Egret was noted and there was a Ringed Plover and two Ruff on Decca Pools.
At Parkgate, the star bird was a male Hen Harrier. Initially hidden, straight out from the car park, the bird emerged after a half hour wait to give superb views in the lovely light conditions. It quartered the marsh, first off to the right then moving far left, opposite the bottom end of the village, not before having a brief spat with a female Marsh Harrier. A Peregrine was also present, opposite the car park, preening on a branch sticking up out of the marsh.
steven burke said
Sat Oct 1 10:42 PM, 2016
after burton mere i spent around 45 mins at the harp inn...
1 hen harrier, ringtail. 4 marsh harriers, all in one scope view. 1 merlin 1 peregrine falcon 3 kestrel lots of little egrets going to roost.
Craig Higson said
Sat Oct 1 9:36 PM, 2016
Old gun site at Leasowe. 08:20 till 13:30ish. Lots of waders batting around at high tide including the usual suspects of Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Redshank and Oystercatchers. A cracking adult Arctic Skua was a great sight as was a Juvenile Red-throated Diver just off the beach. Loads and loads of Common Scoter, i.e. thousands in the distance. Also hundreds of Meadow Pipits streaming in across the sea. Several thousand in the time i was there. It was also nice to see the Sandwich Terns and a few Common Terns still knocking around.
Rob Creek said
Fri Sep 30 6:18 PM, 2016
Friday 30th September Leasowe Lighthouse sea front for high tide at approx 11am.
Firstly... 3 Sanderling and 1 Dunlin - all 4 very confiding birds to within feet of me on the sea defence blocks near the car park. The splashing waves eventually got too much for them.
Of note on / around the rocks to the west of the lighthouse. - Redshank c200 - Dunlin c25 - Oystercatcher 2 - Turnstone 7 - Ringed Plover 5 - Little Egret 8 - Grey Heron 1 - Common Gull 2
Out to sea. - Common Scoter, masses on the sea and flying around, I couldn't put a number on it. - Meadow Pipit, constantly flying in off the sea, couple 100 at least - Sandwich Tern 11 fishing - Curlew 1 over the sea
When the tide receded, 100's of Oystercatchers started appearing out on the salt flats, they must've roosted elsewhere at high tide.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 30th of September 2016 09:21:32 PM
steven burke said
Sun Aug 21 12:09 AM, 2016
Saturday 20th. 7.30pm donkey stand flash, parkgate.
1 little stint, showing well 7 dunlin 1 black tailed godwit 200+ redshank 4 marsh harriers, up in the air at once 3 kestrels lots of little egrets passing over going to roost.
Wet and windy conditions made worse by dog walkers and two Lifeboat tractors on the beach. Highlights were:- Sandwich Terns Common Terns Little Terns Knot Dunlin Sanderling Grey Plover Ringed Plover A few Bar-tailed Godwit and a scattering of Curlew Sandpiper in the Dunlin flocks
Nick Hilton said
Thu Jul 28 9:12 AM, 2016
27/07/16 Merlin through Parkgate at circa 1600.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Fri Jul 22 7:58 PM, 2016
Burton Marsh:
Short songs heard from a Sedge Warbler and a Grasshopper Warbler as we walked to Net's Café. Also a singing Reed Bunting, 10+ Swallows and 80+ House Martins near the café, with many juveniles.
Spoonbill 1 juvinile on Decca Pools towards Harp Inn end Avocet 4 Great White Egret Little Egret c20 Peregrine Sedge Warbler many singing
Ian Coote said
Sun Apr 17 8:48 AM, 2016
Single House Martin over New Brighton seafront yesterday afternoon
Simon Gough said
Sat Apr 9 8:29 PM, 2016
Over to Parkgate today for a 10m tide, which ended up hitting the seawall and doing a top job of flushing everything. Nothing too surprising, although I did pick up a pair of Eiders on the water as the tide was almost at it's peak. Watching from the Old Baths, first good bird for me was a Great White Egret. Then a Hen Harrier showed very well in front of us, I figured a female as it was very pale underneath and looked like all the pictures I've seen. Awesome to watch, not a bird you can get tired of.
When the tide was really up the Short-eared Owls started appearing, with 5 showing brilliantly in the end. At one point 4 landed about 100m out on a slightly raised bit of ground. They all lingered nicely until the water won the battle. Finally a couple of Water Rails appeared with assorted rodents, as the water kept on coming. I saw voles and shrews, as far as I could tell being no expert.
There was a smart adult Peregrine out there too, but I didn't manage any Merlin. Of note was the hundreds of Curlews, more than I have seen before, and many hundreds of Pink-footed Geese. I only saw a few Snipe and no Lapwings, which must be related to the time of year. It was also lovely to hear the constant soundtrack of Meadow Pipits singing, outvoicing Skylarks for once.
Great to see Alan and Beryl Turner, whom I had last seen at Ashton Moss in February. When we heard about the Green-winged Teal at Burton Mere they very kindly offered me a lift down there. I've posted on that thread for the birds seen down there
Chris Sutton said
Mon Apr 4 6:03 PM, 2016
Leasowe Lighthouse area - Monday 12-2:40. Ring Ouzel (1) - but another bird reported off Park lane Wheatear - (c 20) 10 in field behind the lighthouse, and 2 in the Horse paddocks, other along the sea wall - I overheard a local birder saying he had done a sweep of the area for wheatear and counted c. 75. White Wagtail - in field behind the light house with 2 pied. Another in paddock fields 2 sand martins over.
Dropped into Burton Reserve 3:15-4 Little Owl (1) - on the second oak tree to the right the farm which is on the left hand side of the path which runs left from the main hide Sparrowhawk (1) Marsh Harrier (1) Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martins
John Watson said
Mon Apr 4 8:20 AM, 2016
Leasowe Lighthouse area, Sun 3 April mid pm
1 Ring Ouzel (m) Langham Lane 1st field on left 1 obvious White Wagtail in paddocks with Pied Wagtails (m+f) 1 Wheatear (m) in paddocks sev Chiffchaff ~40 Linnet 3 Meadow Pipits 1 prob Blackcap (heard only)
-- Edited by John Watson on Monday 4th of April 2016 08:49:50 AM
Chris Sutton said
Wed Mar 23 6:16 PM, 2016
Neston Sewage Works - spent a couple of hours early afternoon to see if I could see the Water Pipit and/or the recently reported Firecrest. No Luck as very quiet - but .. Chiffchaff 1-2 Cetti's Warbler calling Meadow Pipit (c 30) - scanned many times ! Redwing (c 25) Goldcrest (very few)
Burton Mere - Highlights; Morning not fruitful but returned in the afternoon; Wheatear (1) Sand Martin (2) Apparently the Little Owl has been showing the last couple of days. Only a possible brief view for me but couldn't get it in the scope before it bobbed off. Apparently its not showing by the barns but is in the row of oaks at the top end of the field on the left hand side of the path as you walk out towards the barns (i.e. up towards the farm).
Chris
Doc Brewster said
Wed Mar 23 11:13 AM, 2016
just had an email that there is a Wheatear in the horse paddocks at Leasowe Lighthouse, so the season has started, a nice place for a day out over Easter if you can dodge the forecast showers on some days!!
Mark Burgess said
Sat Mar 19 1:14 PM, 2016
Denhall lane Merlin Peregrine Great White Egret 2 Little Egret 10+
Neston Sewarage Works Water Pipit - moulting into summer plumage with a grey head, thick white supercilium and a light pink flush visable on the flanks Meadow Pipit 5 Chiffchaff Goldcrest 2 Greenfinch Pied Wagtail 4 Sparrowhawk
steven burke said
Sat Mar 12 10:35 PM, 2016
I tried my luck with reports of a black redstart at quayside, the harp inn, but that soon faded shortly after I pulled up & I realised the high tide had just gone out & there was lots of activity going on out on the marsh. 5-6 short eared owl 1 ring tailed hen harrier lots of little egrets 1 great white egret teal curlew lapwing redshank meadow pipits skylarks 2 stonechat hundreds of pink-footed geese
neston sewage works..
at least 4 chiffchaff 1 water pipit, feeding with meadow pipits in the field next to the sewage works 2 cettis warbler, heard only 2 buzzard 1 kestrel
M Gannon said
Sat Mar 5 5:55 PM, 2016
Had a great half hour at parkgate this evening; a hen harrier put on a good show quite close in and 2 short eared owls had a brief dogfight. One flew off after about 30 seconds and disappeared, and the other dropped back to the ground, only to be mobbed by a kestrel for a while
steven burke said
Sun Feb 21 10:07 PM, 2016
new brighton at high tide.
10 purple sandpiper 300+ redshank 40+ turnstone 60+ dunlin all on the pontoon.
decca pools..
1 ringtail hen harrier 1 peregrine falcon 1 merlin wigeon teal lapwing, several golden plover amongst them. 40+ dunlin
quayside..
2 short eared owl 2 stonechat, with reports of a spoonbill not too far away I decided to stay late & watch the egrets come over to go to roost incase a spoonbill happened to join them but no luck, plenty of little egret & 2 great white egret.
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 21st of February 2016 11:04:11 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Feb 17 6:44 PM, 2016
Phil Woollen wrote:
Hi Rob.
Water Pipit is a major, major rarity on Hilbre and a description species in Cheshire! There are a couple of Rock Pipits overwintering. Could you have mistaken these for Water Pipits?
Did you stay over the high tide and see the Purple Sandpipers all together or as individuals? We've had a maximum count of 3 recently although your birds could have been displaced from New Brighton Marine lake.
Edit: there have been no previous records of Water Pipit on Hilbre in living memory.
-- Edited by Phil Woollen on Wednesday 17th of February 2016 03:26:15 PM
Originally posted today by Rob Smith:
Hi Phil
Thanks, my mistake Rock Pipits
Re Purple Sandpipers. I stayed as late as the tides would let me ca16.00. Two were initially present but were joined by the others in 1s & 2s as the tide rose?
Phil Woollen said
Wed Feb 17 12:32 PM, 2016
Hi Rob.
Water Pipit is a major, major rarity on Hilbre and a description species in Cheshire! There are a couple of Rock Pipits overwintering. Could you have mistaken these for Water Pipits?
Did you stay over the high tide and see the Purple Sandpipers all together or as individuals? We've had a maximum count of 3 recently although your birds could have been displaced from New Brighton Marine lake.
Edit: there have been no previous records of Water Pipit on Hilbre in living memory.
-- Edited by Phil Woollen on Wednesday 17th of February 2016 03:26:15 PM
Rob Smith said
Wed Feb 17 9:35 AM, 2016
A cool, bracing & blustery trip out to the Hilbre Island yesterday to catch up with what was around.
Brent Geese 160
Purple Sandpipers 10
Grey Plover 2
Knot 200 feeding on the rocks & then ca1000 flying across the sands on the way back
Common Scoter 1 on its own & close in to the island
Water Pipit 2
Shag 1 sadly freshly dead on the rocks
Also usual Turnstones; Curlew, Oystercatchers & Redshanks and around 30 Grey Seal on the sand bank
Doc Brewster said
Sun Feb 14 9:54 PM, 2016
Went for a Valentine's Day walk in the sun starting at Neston (luckily my wife is an avid birder too!!)
Met up with a local patcher who lives at Ness & we searched the old quay area where his patch insinct came in handy, spotting a pipit across the field in a tree. Just as I got the scope on it, it flew but not before I could see the pale underparts, clear wing-bars & bold supercilium, it had to be a Water Pipit. My wife followed its flight to the next field where we found it feeding in a damp hollow where it gave great scoped views to us all & comfirmed my first ID, winter plumaged Water Pipit A quick sacn of the marsh from the Old Quay revealed a distant but obviously large egret, which obligingly turned its head revealing its huge yellow beak, a Great White Egret. No raptors but a good start.
We then headed to Denhall Lane where we walked along the path towards Decca Pools. A pair of Stonechats were the first notable species right next to the path. More distant was a single Golden Plover amongst the Lapwings. Other waders included Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin & Redshank. Finally the scanning paid off with a ringtail Hen Harrier that even landed on a hummock & gave fab scoped views on the deck, something I rarely see Both male and female Merlins were seen on posts, showing really well and staying long enough for us to show lots of other birders these diminutive falcons through my scope. A second (probably since we hadn't seen the other fly back this way) Great White Egret was also seen out on Burton Marsh.
Over 50 species were seen in a relaxing stroll in warm sunshine which ended with a Valentine's Hot Chocolate & homemade slab of cake sat outside Nets Cafe looking out at Burton Marsh at the days end
stuart lewis-gough said
Sun Feb 14 8:16 AM, 2016
Trip to Parkgate yesterday produced stunning veiw of a Ringtail Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier showed briefly, plus two Great White Egrets showing well on the marsh, with one later seen flying off to roost. Plenty of wildfowl and Little Egrets around but sadly no Short eared Owls for me. All in all an enjoyable days birding, with no rain.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Feb 11 10:48 PM, 2016
Popped down & followed the tide in along the path down towards Parkgate Old Baths from the end of Cottage Lane.
The tide looked like it wasn't going to get very far in but in the last 15mins it raced in & was up the wall alongside the path. Highlights included 4 Short-eared Owls, a male & female Peregrine, a flushed (by the tide) Jack Snipe, a Brambling amongst lots of Chaffinches and a Great White Egret. The latter hadn't been reported out when I looked at my pager so dutifully (relating to another thread!!) I reported it to mates at the info services.
I know others who were there earlier saw harriers too but not for me this time.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Feb 10 10:44 AM, 2016
For information there are High Tide events on the Wirral today and tomorrow with 10m tides expected. The following is taken from Richard Smiths Dee Estuary Birding Website at http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/:
"Wednesday 10th February and Thursday 11th February -RSPB High Tide Birdwatch, Parkgate. Start 10.45hrs on 10th and 11.30hrs on 11th - It is recommended to arrive at least an hour before high tide which is: 12.15hrs on Feb 10th, 10.0m; 12.57hrs on Feb 11th, 10.0m.
The marsh at Parkgate is one of the best wetland habitats in the northwest, and when it is flooded by an incoming Spring high tide, the wildlife which lives here is pushed closer, potentially delivering an awe-inspiring spectacle. Join us at Parkgate's Old Baths car park and the Donkey Stand near Nicholl's ice cream shop, where we'll be set up with marquees and telescopes hoping for the right weather conditions to really push the tide in.
You can expect great views of the large numbers of wintering wildfowl and wading birds shifting around to avoid the rising water, whilst the small mammals living on the marsh are flushed from cover, offering a feeding frenzy for the resident kestrels and hopefully harriers and short-eared owls returning for the winter.
Car parking is limited on Parkgate promenade, but there is free public parking at the Old Baths car park (CH64 6RN) at the north end of The Parade, and the Wirral Country Park car park on Station Road (CH64 6QJ). There are public toilets at Mostyn Square in the middle of The Parade, and a number of pubs and cafes for refreshments.
Additional parking has also kindly been offered at Marsh Nurseries, Boathouse Lane (postcode CH64 6RD).
Please note: the height of the tide can be hugely affected by the weather conditions on the day. In the event of high pressure and calm conditions, the tide will cover much less of the marsh and not reach the sea wall, whilst low pressure and strong Westerly winds will help push the tide in and offer the greatest spectacle. We recommend you check the weather forecast on the day to know exactly what to expect."
Especially note the overspill parking available at Marsh Nurseries which will be very useful as these events get very busy and parking can be difficult to find
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 10th of February 2016 10:47:12 AM
Mark Burgess said
Sat Jan 30 4:50 PM, 2016
Burton Marsh along Denhall lane towards Neston, Highlights
Great White Egret 2, could be the same bird just moving around Little Egret 9 Merlin, female perched up low down on a gate Short eared Owl distant views across the marsh Whooper Swan 6
steven burke said
Sun Jan 24 8:56 PM, 2016
afternoon visit to denhall lane, quayside & neston sewage works.
1 possibly 2 ring tail hen harrier 2 possibly 3 short eared owl, 1 distant view from denhall lane, then 2 seen close in from the harp inn. 1 marsh harrier 1 merlin 1 great white egret plenty of little egret big numbers of pink footed geese
a look around neston sewage works for yesterdays firecrest but no signs. a nice mixed flock of starlings with redwings, several goldfinch & greenfinch amongst them. 13 pied wagtail 2 grey wagtail 1 chaffinch lots of corvids 61 collared dove sat in one tree.
M Gannon said
Sun Jan 24 5:11 PM, 2016
A look around Birkenhead docks this morning produced the hoped for 1st winter drake Scaup that has been present the past few days. The bird was mingling with a sizable flock of Great crested grebes in the area referred to as the east float, close to the clock tower. Best viewing point was Tower road. There was no sign of the Great northern diver that was spotted later on in the afternoon while I was there, but that was fine because I'd already been to West Kirby marine lake and saw the Diver that has been there for a while. The bird was hanging around the South end of the lake near the rocks were the waders roost. I saw the bird feed twice, and in the pictures I took it appears to be eating crabs, which other birders have noted previously. There were no waders on the wader roost rocks, but there were a few Turnstones and redshanks near the Jetty's at the north end, and a very showy Red breasted merganser was also seen.
David Walsh said
Sun Jan 24 1:30 AM, 2016
Paul Richardson wrote:
Greenfinch looking spectacular in the Morning light - a much underestimated beauty!
Well said, Paul. Some of our most common birds are the most beautiful. They are passed over merely because they are commonplace. Otherwise who would get excited at seeing a Twite?
Paul Richardson said
Sat Jan 23 10:47 PM, 2016
Managed to dip on both Long Eared Owl AND Water Pipit - but really enjoyed the quiet of a sunny early morning from Neston Old Quay to the sewage works stream.
Of note were
Stonechat Merlin Short Eared Owl Marsh Harrier Linnet in numbers Plentiful Curlew Reed Bunting Greenfinch looking spectacular in the Morning light - a much underestimated beauty!
Chris Sutton said
Tue Jan 19 6:00 PM, 2016
Spent an hour or so around Neston Old Quay after a morning at Burton Marsh / IMF dipping the Long Eared Owl. Of note; Water Pipit (1) - good views by the bridge over the stream that runs down from Neston sewage works Twite (1) - in same area as above - flew over calling and landed in tree giving good views. Short eared owl (1) Marsh Harrier (1)
Sean Sweeney said
Mon Jan 18 1:03 PM, 2016
Had a cracking day up and down the Wirral with my friend Paul Morris yesterday, starting at the crack of dawn at West Kirby and ending it at Burton before dusk. I wasn't on a bird race, we were simply pottering about ad-hoc and looking out for birds on the way as I visited some old haunts - but we ended the day with 80 species, several of which were notable, so a good day in the field. Pretty cold though and when I kitted up for the stroll over to Hilbre and realised my hat, snood and gloves were on the table at home it was chilly start, with some frozen fingers whilst sea watching for an hour on Hilbre!?
The following were notable sightings throughout the day:
West Kirby - Marina (08:30)
Great Northern Diver - 1
Red-breasted Merganser - 6
GC Grebe 8
Hilbre Island (09:30)
Scaup - 1 fem
Common Scoter - 30-40 distant
Purple Sandpiper - only 3
Sanderling - 1
Lots of Oystercatcher (1,000 +), some Dunlin (10+), Turnstone (50+), Redshank (100+) Grey Plover (5+), Bar-tailed godwit (50+), Curlew (200+), GC Grebe (20+), Little Egret (2), Pintail 1, Wigeon 8. What was notable was a complete lack of Brent Geese anywhere on three islands or Tansky rocks, perhaps taking a day trip to North Wales!? Either way it was a first for me not to encounter any Pale Bellies here!?
Thurstatson (11:30)
Pintail - 100+
Knot 5,000+
Dunlin 1,000+
Also plenty of Shelduck (50+), Redshank (200+), Curlew (200+), Lapwing (1,000+), Little Egret (2) and other waders/wildfowl.
Heswall (12:00)
Chiffchaff - 2
No sign of any Pallas's Leaf Warbler or even a Goldcrest, but was extremely cold down there!?!?
Gayton Sands (12:30)
Merlin - 1 (distant female/1st winter male)
Buzzard - 2
Little Egret - 8
Marsh Harrier - 2 (both female types)
Pink-footed Goose 500+
Parkgate 13:00
Marsh Harrier - 1 (both female types)
Hen Harrier - 2 (both ringtails)
Little Egret - 4
Raven - 1
Denhall Lane (or more towards the cyclists cafe - that is closed until the end of the month unfortunately) 13:30
Short-eared Owl - 2 (very close flying and perched)
Great White Egret - 1 (brief and poor view)
Marsh Harrier - 1 (female type)
Burton Mere Wetlands 14:00
Peregrine - 2 (1 male & 1 female)
Marsh Harrier - 1 (female type - perhaps we witnessed one individual multiple times flying from Gayton Sands to Burton, where it went in to roost??)
Long-eared Owl - 1
Kingfisher - 1
Water Rail - 1
Golden Plover 100+ (with Lapwing flocks)
Lapwing (distant flocks of several thousand)
Pink-footed Goose - 40+
Some distant swans - mostly a mixture of Whooper & Mute.
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Monday 18th of January 2016 01:11:42 PM
John Watson said
Sun Jan 17 9:16 PM, 2016
Neston Old Baths (wellies or properly waterproof boots needed - unlike mine). Cold enough to freeze a Chough's chuff
1 probably 2 Water Pipits, initially spooked by a male Merlin, eventually returned with 1 showing briefly on a bush. Very elusive; flight call very like Rock Pipit, mostly white underside, large super, decent double wing bars helped with identification - no chance of seeing leg colour.
Also, 2 ringtail Hen Harriers close up, 1 Great White Egret briefly, 2 Marsh Harriers (fem ad, fem near-ad ?) interacting nicely nearby, very distant Peregrine along tideline briefly
Sadly, no Short-Eared Owls on rising tide, though other birders had seen them earlier
steven burke said
Sun Jan 17 7:55 PM, 2016
parkgate... 3 possibly 4 marsh harrier, 2 ringtail hen harrier, 1 great white egret, 2 kestrel,
west Kirby marine lake... 1 great northern diver, 2 red breasted merganser, 1 great crested grebe, 30+ redshank, 1 oystercatcher.
new brighton... got here as the high tide was in hoping for lots of waders on the pontoons & nothing it was probably due to the boat that was water testing. best I could do was 60+ sanderling, 2 turnstone, 6 oystercatcher around perch rock & 2 teal on the sea.
Mark Jarrett said
Mon Jan 11 6:15 PM, 2016
Back over to the Wirral today, primarily to see the Pallas's Warbler which, after a wait of around one hour, showed extremely briefly at 1pm. I stayed for another 45 minutes to try and get better views but no luck. Also there Goldcrest (c.20) and Chiffchaff (c.6). I had started the day at West Kirby Marine Lake and after getting a view of the Pallas's Warbler continued down to Burton Marsh. Heavy rain at 3.30pm brought an end to the proceedings! Amongst others :-
West Kirby Marine Lake
Great northern Diver (1) Great crested Grebe (1) Goldeneye (1) Red breasted Merganser (15) Oystercatcher Grey Plover (2) Dunlin (1000) Turnstone (c.20)
Burton Marsh
Little Egret (c.20) Great white Egret (1) Mute Swan (48) Black Swan (2) Pink footed Goose (c.25) Marsh Harrier (1f Hen Harrier (1-2 r/t) Buzzard (1) Kestrel (1) Peregrine (1 juv) Short eared Owl (3)
A very enjoyable day and, hopefully, should have got some decent photos of the Great northern Diver which, at times, was quite confiding.
a nice mixture of thousands of waders just up from the marine lake included...
bar tailed godwits
knot
dunlin
sanderling
redshank
curlew
oystercatcher
only 10 ringed plover & 4 grey plover
1 little egret
54 shelduck
4 red breasted mergansers just flown from the marine lake as I arrived & 89 brent geese flew past heading to hilbre island.
I made a short visit to new brighton but didn't arrive until about 1.30 so there were no waders on the pontoon, I had a look on the rocks just behind perch rock but could only find redshank, oystercatcher, dunlin & turnstone no purple sandpipers.
Purple Sandpiper 5
Turnstone 21
Dunlin 36
Redshank 122
Bar tailed Godwit 32
Knot c200
Grey Plover c40
Dunlin c400
Sanderling c30
Oystercatcher c300
Curlew c30
Oddly no Ringed Plover present
-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Saturday 28th of January 2017 02:31:27 PM
Whooper Swan c20
Bewick's Swan 4
Mute Swan c40
Hen Harrier adult grey male
Marsh Harrier 2
Cettis Warbler 2 heard only
Waterail heard only
Stonechat 5
Raven 7
Pink footed Goose 500+
Barnacle Goose 1 in amongst Canada Geese
Great White Egret 2
Black Swan 2
Snow Goose 1st winter
Purple Sandpiper 10
Redshank 80+
Turnstone 200+
Knot 1
Dunlin 6
Another good trip with highlights at Parkgate (0830 - 1030) being 4 Great White Egret, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and 1 ringtail Hen Harrier.
RSPB Burton Marsh
Had an hour on site picking up a few year ticks, nothing of note for me although one gentleman did disturb a woodcock
Denhall Quay - footpath north to Moorside Lane and return via Old Quay Lane.
We had intended to watch the tide in from the car outside the Harp pub, but the marshes at Little Neston were full of dog walkers clearing the area of wildlife.
We decided to walk up to Neston on the foreshore and return by Old Quay Lane to get 2 shots at the water pipits at the sewage works.
On the foreshore leg we saw a great white egret and a merlin, but no water pipits. At the water treatment end of Old Quay Lane we walked across the horse field to the sewage works where another bird watcher put us on a water pipit in a filtration tank.
I am ashamed to say it flew off when we arrived but it was soon spotted nearby in a puddle. We waited for it to return to the tank for about 30 mins and saw a couple of chiffchaff while we waited. We then decided to try Parkgate and get some fish and chips.
Parkgate
We got our fish and chips and drove up to the baths to eat them. A marsh harrier flew by while we ate and we saw 2 more later.
Finally a female hen harrier appeared and we decided to leave as the cold wind had frozen us to the core.
All in all it ended up not a bad day out, with 13 more year ticks and one lifer for us.
Given a 9.8m tide today and high winds blowing down the River Dee it looked like a good day to go check out the high tide, and seeing as how I'm working tomorrow it was a no brainer really. I also bumped into Wirral Guru, Richard Smith, who runs the Dee Estuary Birds website, who had the same thoughts and reasoning as myself. However we were both surprised when the tide never really came in to the extent that we had expected. Later on I met several folk who ahd been down and the feeling was universal, it just ahdn't delivered
But you have always got to make the best of it, and from a point along the coastal path N.of Parkgate I had a reasonable watch albeit in winds that it was hard enough standing up in, never mind trying to use optics!! First good bird was a Merlin, maybe not surprising as I had noticed many pipits and Skylarks flying up out of the gutters as the water rose slightly. Also seen were 2 Peregrines, one huge female showing exceptionally well, both perched and buzzing the Oystercatcher flocks, although she didn't make ahit whilst I was watching. Three Marsh Harriers made light of the wind conditions, floating about over the marsh and dropping down, seemingly on prey, and at times giving great views when they were down on the ground. The best sighting was a Short-eared Owl, which was only up for about 30 seconds before dropping into a reedbed. Luckily I got the 2 birders who had joined me onto it, and this was the species they especially wanted to see. Reward was a quality street chocolate for me, gratefully received
Chatting later to birders who had been either at Parkgate Old Baths or Riverbank Road confirmed what I thought, no-one had seen the owl from those vantage points. It was directly out from us - a case of right place, right time! A Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were also seen to complete the raptor list. Huge flocks of waders and wildfowl were far out along the waters edge but nothing else of not came in close enough for us to see, and no mammals were seen at all which is one thing I had gone hoping to see again.
I was told of atheory later that the very strong winds blowing directly along the river had actually blown water more 'inland' rather than allow it to spread out onto the saltmarsh and had in fact lessened the effect of the tide by half a metre. I can see how that may be true and the result certainly was what happened. So tomorrow with a 9.8m tide again, but lighter winds may be much better.
The setting sun created some spectacularly attractive views across the marsh. What a great place to see out the afternoon.
Birds included...
- 1 cracking male Hen Harrier (seen twice)
- 10+ Marsh Harrier
- 1 Short-eared Owl
- 1 Merlin
- 2 Peregrine
- Water Rail and Tawny Owl heard from the Old Baths car park then a Tawny Owl seen in flight not far from Neston.
Some great raptor activity and plenty of geese around too. Lots of toing and froing way out by the river, some of it too distant to identify. We were to have gone on to Parkgate to finish the afternoon but decided to pay a quick visit to Burton Mere Wetlands instead, after hearing the Long eared Owl had been showing. There was also the probability of adding Cattle Egret to the day list. Amongst others :-
Marsh Harrier (4-5)
Hen Harrier r/t (2)
Merlin (1)
Peregrine (1)
Kestrel (1)
Buzzard (1)
Short eared Owl (2)
Long eared Owl (1) (BMW)
Cattle Egret (6) (BMW)
Little Egret (c.35)
Great White Egret (1)
Green Woodpecker (1)
Ruff (3)
Black tailed Godwit (c.25)
Dunlin
Brent Goose (150 min)
Pink footed Goose (c.450)
Hen Harrier 3 - including the sublime adult male bird, what a beauty!
Marsh Harrier 3 at least
Merlin 2
Short-eared Owl 2
Stonechat 2
Kingfisher 1
Hundreds of Pink-footed Geese
I've never seen a Kingfisher anywhere near the marsh before, but this bird was zipping along one of the saltmarsh channels. The male Hen Harrier showed 4 times in all, once when a Shortie provoked it into the air. I saw it catch a bird in flight at one point and then drop down to eat it; it came close enough that you could see its yellow eyes. This was a classic Dee Estuary day.
4 short eared owls
3 hen harriers, 2 ringtails & stonking male constantly being harassed by a crow driving it further out towards the dee.
4 marsh harriers, again in one scope view
1 merlin
2 kestrel
1 stonechat
3 great white egret, distant
lots of little egrets going to roost
plus all the usuals
Several hundred Canada Goose were seen out from Denhall Lane on the flooded marsh but the main players were two Peregrine, a minimum two Marsh Harrier and a ring tail Hen Harrier. A Great White Egret was noted and there was a Ringed Plover and two Ruff on Decca Pools.
At Parkgate, the star bird was a male Hen Harrier. Initially hidden, straight out from the car park, the bird emerged after a half hour wait to give superb views in the lovely light conditions. It quartered the marsh, first off to the right then moving far left, opposite the bottom end of the village, not before having a brief spat with a female Marsh Harrier. A Peregrine was also present, opposite the car park, preening on a branch sticking up out of the marsh.
1 hen harrier, ringtail.
4 marsh harriers, all in one scope view.
1 merlin
1 peregrine falcon
3 kestrel
lots of little egrets going to roost.
Leasowe Lighthouse sea front for high tide at approx 11am.
Firstly...
3 Sanderling and 1 Dunlin - all 4 very confiding birds to within feet of me on the sea defence blocks near the car park. The splashing waves eventually got too much for them.
Of note on / around the rocks to the west of the lighthouse.
- Redshank c200
- Dunlin c25
- Oystercatcher 2
- Turnstone 7
- Ringed Plover 5
- Little Egret 8
- Grey Heron 1
- Common Gull 2
Out to sea.
- Common Scoter, masses on the sea and flying around, I couldn't put a number on it.
- Meadow Pipit, constantly flying in off the sea, couple 100 at least
- Sandwich Tern 11 fishing
- Curlew 1 over the sea
When the tide receded, 100's of Oystercatchers started appearing out on the salt flats, they must've roosted elsewhere at high tide.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 30th of September 2016 09:21:32 PM
1 little stint, showing well
7 dunlin
1 black tailed godwit
200+ redshank
4 marsh harriers, up in the air at once
3 kestrels
lots of little egrets passing over going to roost.
Wet and windy conditions made worse by dog walkers and two Lifeboat tractors on the beach.
Highlights were:-
Sandwich Terns
Common Terns
Little Terns
Knot
Dunlin
Sanderling
Grey Plover
Ringed Plover
A few Bar-tailed Godwit
and a scattering of Curlew Sandpiper in the Dunlin flocks
Merlin through Parkgate at circa 1600.
Short songs heard from a Sedge Warbler and a Grasshopper Warbler as we walked to Net's Café.
Also a singing Reed Bunting, 10+ Swallows and 80+ House Martins near the café, with many juveniles.
Spoonbill 1 juvinile on Decca Pools towards Harp Inn end
Avocet 4
Great White Egret
Little Egret c20
Peregrine
Sedge Warbler many singing
Single House Martin over New Brighton seafront yesterday afternoon
When the tide was really up the Short-eared Owls started appearing, with 5 showing brilliantly in the end. At one point 4 landed about 100m out on a slightly raised bit of ground. They all lingered nicely until the water won the battle. Finally a couple of Water Rails appeared with assorted rodents, as the water kept on coming. I saw voles and shrews, as far as I could tell being no expert.
There was a smart adult Peregrine out there too, but I didn't manage any Merlin. Of note was the hundreds of Curlews, more than I have seen before, and many hundreds of Pink-footed Geese. I only saw a few Snipe and no Lapwings, which must be related to the time of year. It was also lovely to hear the constant soundtrack of Meadow Pipits singing, outvoicing Skylarks for once.
Great to see Alan and Beryl Turner, whom I had last seen at Ashton Moss in February. When we heard about the Green-winged Teal at Burton Mere they very kindly offered me a lift down there. I've posted on that thread for the birds seen down there
Ring Ouzel (1) - but another bird reported off Park lane
Wheatear - (c 20) 10 in field behind the lighthouse, and 2 in the Horse paddocks, other along the sea wall - I overheard a local birder saying he had done a sweep of the area for wheatear and counted c. 75.
White Wagtail - in field behind the light house with 2 pied. Another in paddock fields
2 sand martins over.
Dropped into Burton Reserve 3:15-4
Little Owl (1) - on the second oak tree to the right the farm which is on the left hand side of the path which runs left from the main hide
Sparrowhawk (1)
Marsh Harrier (1)
Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martins
1 Ring Ouzel (m) Langham Lane 1st field on left
1 obvious White Wagtail in paddocks with Pied Wagtails (m+f)
1 Wheatear (m) in paddocks
sev Chiffchaff
~40 Linnet
3 Meadow Pipits
1 prob Blackcap (heard only)
-- Edited by John Watson on Monday 4th of April 2016 08:49:50 AM
Chiffchaff 1-2
Cetti's Warbler calling
Meadow Pipit (c 30) - scanned many times !
Redwing (c 25)
Goldcrest (very few)
Burton Mere - Highlights;
Morning not fruitful but returned in the afternoon;
Wheatear (1)
Sand Martin (2)
Apparently the Little Owl has been showing the last couple of days. Only a possible brief view for me but couldn't get it in the scope before it bobbed off. Apparently its not showing by the barns but is in the row of oaks at the top end of the field on the left hand side of the path as you walk out towards the barns (i.e. up towards the farm).
Chris
just had an email that there is a Wheatear in the horse paddocks at Leasowe Lighthouse, so the season has started, a nice place for a day out over Easter if you can dodge the forecast showers on some days!!
Denhall lane
Merlin
Peregrine
Great White Egret 2
Little Egret 10+
Neston Sewarage Works
Water Pipit - moulting into summer plumage with a grey head, thick white supercilium and a light pink flush visable on the flanks
Meadow Pipit 5
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest 2
Greenfinch
Pied Wagtail 4
Sparrowhawk
5-6 short eared owl
1 ring tailed hen harrier
lots of little egrets
1 great white egret
teal
curlew
lapwing
redshank
meadow pipits
skylarks
2 stonechat
hundreds of pink-footed geese
neston sewage works..
at least 4 chiffchaff
1 water pipit, feeding with meadow pipits in the field next to the sewage works
2 cettis warbler, heard only
2 buzzard
1 kestrel
10 purple sandpiper
300+ redshank
40+ turnstone
60+ dunlin
all on the pontoon.
decca pools..
1 ringtail hen harrier
1 peregrine falcon
1 merlin
wigeon
teal
lapwing, several golden plover amongst them.
40+ dunlin
quayside..
2 short eared owl
2 stonechat, with reports of a spoonbill not too far away I decided to stay late & watch the egrets come over to go to roost incase a spoonbill happened to join them but no luck, plenty of little egret & 2 great white egret.
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 21st of February 2016 11:04:11 PM
Originally posted today by Rob Smith:
Hi Phil
Thanks, my mistake Rock Pipits
Re Purple Sandpipers. I stayed as late as the tides would let me ca16.00. Two were initially present but were joined by the others in 1s & 2s as the tide rose?
Hi Rob.
Water Pipit is a major, major rarity on Hilbre and a description species in Cheshire! There are a couple of Rock Pipits overwintering. Could you have mistaken these for Water Pipits?
Did you stay over the high tide and see the Purple Sandpipers all together or as individuals? We've had a maximum count of 3 recently although your birds could have been displaced from New Brighton Marine lake.
Edit: there have been no previous records of Water Pipit on Hilbre in living memory.
-- Edited by Phil Woollen on Wednesday 17th of February 2016 03:26:15 PM
Brent Geese 160
Purple Sandpipers 10
Grey Plover 2
Knot 200 feeding on the rocks & then ca1000 flying across the sands on the way back
Common Scoter 1 on its own & close in to the island
Water Pipit 2
Shag 1 sadly freshly dead on the rocks
Also usual Turnstones; Curlew, Oystercatchers & Redshanks and around 30 Grey Seal on the sand bank
Went for a Valentine's Day walk in the sun starting at Neston (luckily my wife is an avid birder too!!)
Met up with a local patcher who lives at Ness & we searched the old quay area where his patch insinct came in handy, spotting a pipit across the field in a tree. Just as I got the scope on it, it flew but not before I could see the pale underparts, clear wing-bars & bold supercilium, it had to be a Water Pipit. My wife followed its flight to the next field where we found it feeding in a damp hollow where it gave great scoped views to us all & comfirmed my first ID, winter plumaged Water Pipit
A quick sacn of the marsh from the Old Quay revealed a distant but obviously large egret, which obligingly turned its head revealing its huge yellow beak, a Great White Egret. No raptors but a good start.
We then headed to Denhall Lane where we walked along the path towards Decca Pools. A pair of Stonechats were the first notable species right next to the path. More distant was a single Golden Plover amongst the Lapwings. Other waders included Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin & Redshank. Finally the scanning paid off with a ringtail Hen Harrier that even landed on a hummock & gave fab scoped views on the deck, something I rarely see
Both male and female Merlins were seen on posts, showing really well and staying long enough for us to show lots of other birders these diminutive falcons through my scope. A second (probably since we hadn't seen the other fly back this way) Great White Egret was also seen out on Burton Marsh.
Over 50 species were seen in a relaxing stroll in warm sunshine which ended with a Valentine's Hot Chocolate & homemade slab of cake sat outside Nets Cafe looking out at Burton Marsh at the days end
Trip to Parkgate yesterday produced stunning veiw of a Ringtail Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier showed briefly, plus two Great White Egrets showing well on the marsh, with one later seen flying off to roost. Plenty of wildfowl and Little Egrets around but sadly no Short eared Owls for me. All in all an enjoyable days birding, with no rain.
Popped down & followed the tide in along the path down towards Parkgate Old Baths from the end of Cottage Lane.
The tide looked like it wasn't going to get very far in but in the last 15mins it raced in & was up the wall alongside the path. Highlights included 4 Short-eared Owls, a male & female Peregrine, a flushed (by the tide) Jack Snipe, a Brambling amongst lots of Chaffinches and a Great White Egret. The latter hadn't been reported out when I looked at my pager so dutifully (relating to another thread!!) I reported it to mates at the info services.
I know others who were there earlier saw harriers too but not for me this time.
For information there are High Tide events on the Wirral today and tomorrow with 10m tides expected. The following is taken from Richard Smiths Dee Estuary Birding Website at http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/:
"Wednesday 10th February and Thursday 11th February -RSPB High Tide Birdwatch, Parkgate.
Start 10.45hrs on 10th and 11.30hrs on 11th - It is recommended to arrive at least an hour before high tide which is: 12.15hrs on Feb 10th, 10.0m; 12.57hrs on Feb 11th, 10.0m.
The marsh at Parkgate is one of the best wetland habitats in the northwest, and when it is flooded by an incoming Spring high tide, the wildlife which lives here is pushed closer, potentially delivering an awe-inspiring spectacle. Join us at Parkgate's Old Baths car park and the Donkey Stand near Nicholl's ice cream shop, where we'll be set up with marquees and telescopes hoping for the right weather conditions to really push the tide in.
You can expect great views of the large numbers of wintering wildfowl and wading birds shifting around to avoid the rising water, whilst the small mammals living on the marsh are flushed from cover, offering a feeding frenzy for the resident kestrels and hopefully harriers and short-eared owls returning for the winter.
Car parking is limited on Parkgate promenade, but there is free public parking at the Old Baths car park (CH64 6RN) at the north end of The Parade, and the Wirral Country Park car park on Station Road (CH64 6QJ). There are public toilets at Mostyn Square in the middle of The Parade, and a number of pubs and cafes for refreshments.
Additional parking has also kindly been offered at Marsh Nurseries, Boathouse Lane (postcode CH64 6RD).
Please note: the height of the tide can be hugely affected by the weather conditions on the day. In the event of high pressure and calm conditions, the tide will cover much less of the marsh and not reach the sea wall, whilst low pressure and strong Westerly winds will help push the tide in and offer the greatest spectacle. We recommend you check the weather forecast on the day to know exactly what to expect."
Especially note the overspill parking available at Marsh Nurseries which will be very useful as these events get very busy and parking can be difficult to find
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 10th of February 2016 10:47:12 AM
Great White Egret 2, could be the same bird just moving around
Little Egret 9
Merlin, female perched up low down on a gate
Short eared Owl distant views across the marsh
Whooper Swan 6
1 possibly 2 ring tail hen harrier
2 possibly 3 short eared owl, 1 distant view from denhall lane, then 2 seen close in from the harp inn.
1 marsh harrier
1 merlin
1 great white egret
plenty of little egret
big numbers of pink footed geese
a look around neston sewage works for yesterdays firecrest but no signs.
a nice mixed flock of starlings with redwings, several goldfinch & greenfinch amongst them.
13 pied wagtail
2 grey wagtail
1 chaffinch
lots of corvids
61 collared dove sat in one tree.
Well said, Paul. Some of our most common birds are the most beautiful. They are passed over merely because they are commonplace. Otherwise who would get excited at seeing a Twite?
Of note were
Stonechat
Merlin
Short Eared Owl
Marsh Harrier
Linnet in numbers
Plentiful Curlew
Reed Bunting
Greenfinch looking spectacular in the Morning light - a much underestimated beauty!
Of note;
Water Pipit (1) - good views by the bridge over the stream that runs down from Neston sewage works
Twite (1) - in same area as above - flew over calling and landed in tree giving good views.
Short eared owl (1)
Marsh Harrier (1)
Had a cracking day up and down the Wirral with my friend Paul Morris yesterday, starting at the crack of dawn at West Kirby and ending it at Burton before dusk. I wasn't on a bird race, we were simply pottering about ad-hoc and looking out for birds on the way as I visited some old haunts - but we ended the day with 80 species, several of which were notable, so a good day in the field. Pretty cold though and when I kitted up for the stroll over to Hilbre and realised my hat, snood and gloves were on the table at home it was chilly start, with some frozen fingers whilst sea watching for an hour on Hilbre!?
The following were notable sightings throughout the day:
West Kirby - Marina (08:30)
Great Northern Diver - 1
Red-breasted Merganser - 6
GC Grebe 8
Hilbre Island (09:30)
Scaup - 1 fem
Common Scoter - 30-40 distant
Purple Sandpiper - only 3
Sanderling - 1
Lots of Oystercatcher (1,000 +), some Dunlin (10+), Turnstone (50+), Redshank (100+) Grey Plover (5+), Bar-tailed godwit (50+), Curlew (200+), GC Grebe (20+), Little Egret (2), Pintail 1, Wigeon 8. What was notable was a complete lack of Brent Geese anywhere on three islands or Tansky rocks, perhaps taking a day trip to North Wales!? Either way it was a first for me not to encounter any Pale Bellies here!?
Thurstatson (11:30)
Pintail - 100+
Knot 5,000+
Dunlin 1,000+
Also plenty of Shelduck (50+), Redshank (200+), Curlew (200+), Lapwing (1,000+), Little Egret (2) and other waders/wildfowl.
Heswall (12:00)
Chiffchaff - 2
No sign of any Pallas's Leaf Warbler or even a Goldcrest, but was extremely cold down there!?!?
Gayton Sands (12:30)
Merlin - 1 (distant female/1st winter male)
Buzzard - 2
Little Egret - 8
Marsh Harrier - 2 (both female types)
Pink-footed Goose 500+
Parkgate 13:00
Marsh Harrier - 1 (both female types)
Hen Harrier - 2 (both ringtails)
Little Egret - 4
Raven - 1
Denhall Lane (or more towards the cyclists cafe - that is closed until the end of the month unfortunately) 13:30
Short-eared Owl - 2 (very close flying and perched)
Great White Egret - 1 (brief and poor view)
Marsh Harrier - 1 (female type)
Burton Mere Wetlands 14:00
Peregrine - 2 (1 male & 1 female)
Marsh Harrier - 1 (female type - perhaps we witnessed one individual multiple times flying from Gayton Sands to Burton, where it went in to roost??)
Long-eared Owl - 1
Kingfisher - 1
Water Rail - 1
Golden Plover 100+ (with Lapwing flocks)
Lapwing (distant flocks of several thousand)
Pink-footed Goose - 40+
Some distant swans - mostly a mixture of Whooper & Mute.
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Monday 18th of January 2016 01:11:42 PM
1 probably 2 Water Pipits, initially spooked by a male Merlin, eventually returned with 1 showing briefly on a bush. Very elusive; flight call very like Rock Pipit, mostly white underside, large super, decent double wing bars helped with identification - no chance of seeing leg colour.
Also, 2 ringtail Hen Harriers close up, 1 Great White Egret briefly, 2 Marsh Harriers (fem ad, fem near-ad ?) interacting nicely nearby, very distant Peregrine along tideline briefly
Sadly, no Short-Eared Owls on rising tide, though other birders had seen them earlier
parkgate... 3 possibly 4 marsh harrier, 2 ringtail hen harrier, 1 great white egret, 2 kestrel,
west Kirby marine lake... 1 great northern diver, 2 red breasted merganser, 1 great crested grebe, 30+ redshank, 1 oystercatcher.
new brighton... got here as the high tide was in hoping for lots of waders on the pontoons & nothing
it was probably due to the boat that was water testing. best I could do was 60+ sanderling, 2 turnstone, 6 oystercatcher around perch rock & 2 teal on the sea.
West Kirby Marine Lake
Great northern Diver (1)
Great crested Grebe (1)
Goldeneye (1)
Red breasted Merganser (15)
Oystercatcher
Grey Plover (2)
Dunlin (1000)
Turnstone (c.20)
Burton Marsh
Little Egret (c.20)
Great white Egret (1)
Mute Swan (48)
Black Swan (2)
Pink footed Goose (c.25)
Marsh Harrier (1f
Hen Harrier (1-2 r/t)
Buzzard (1)
Kestrel (1)
Peregrine (1 juv)
Short eared Owl (3)
A very enjoyable day and, hopefully, should have got some decent photos of the Great northern Diver which, at times, was quite confiding.