Craig high tide is at about 11.30 tomorrow morning so the couple of hours before that may be productive. I think that you may well need waterproofs unless you do as Nick suggests and go to the Gunsite at Leasowe where you can use your car as a hide.
Craig Higson said
Sun Jun 23 5:22 AM, 2013
Thanks Sid. I'm just interested because of volume of Shearwaters that have been seen from Hoylake today, and its a bit of the Wirral I've not been to. The weather looks reasonable tomorrow too so thought I'd try for a bit of manxie passage.
sid ashton said
Sun Jun 23 3:42 AM, 2013
There is a really useful document on the the Dee Estuary site it's called "The Right Place at the Right Time". It's in the Site Index Section, under "Best time to go to the Estuary".
Wherever you go for seawatching on the Wirral you will need to be aware of the tide times - at low water the birds will be a long way out!!!!!
As John and Nick say Red Rocks/Kings Gap, the lifeboat station and the Gunsite can also be good. A little further around the area close to Wallesey lifeboat station and the stretch of sea front all the way to Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton is excellent for sea-watching, particularly during September and October when there is a bit of a blow.
Craig Higson said
Sun Jun 23 3:11 AM, 2013
Cheers for that!
Nick Isherwood said
Sun Jun 23 1:48 AM, 2013
Craig Higson wrote:
Anyone got any tips for where to park at Hoylake, and where the best spot for sea watching is? I've already looked on the dee estuary site and its a bit vague on these two points. Ta.
The best place in my mind is Leasowe Gunsite. You can park up right on the sea front in an elevated position and use the car as shelter. It's signposted as Wirral Country Park (I think) and its down Green Lane, Wallasey.
Craig Higson said
Sun Jun 23 1:14 AM, 2013
Anyone got any tips for where to park at Hoylake, and where the best spot for sea watching is? I've already looked on the dee estuary site and its a bit vague on these two points. Ta.
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Jun 22 6:24 PM, 2013
Craig Higson wrote:
Anyone got any tips for where to park at Hoylake, and where the best spot for sea watching is? I've already looked on the dee estuary site and its a bit vague on these two points. Ta.
Hoylake Red rocks set the tom tom for Red Rocks nursing home Stanley road CH47 1HZ and park along the road outside free parking ,no restrictions,50 yards to red rocks and the beach , which is the best point to watch the whole estuary from at high tide, Alternatively by Hoylake lifeboat station about half a mile further north. Cheers John
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 22nd of June 2013 06:28:21 PM
Doc Brewster said
Mon Jan 14 12:12 AM, 2013
Good advice Tony, I reckon that it is best to park outside & walk in now anyway as it gets so so busy. You could easily get blocked in. Another possibility would be to try another site nearby, I did Riverbank Road, Heswall this morning & the car park was empty & I was one of only 4 birders initially & at its max, 8 birders present. Oh and yes we got the same array of species as have been reported from Parkgate today plus several Brent Geese pretty close in & probably more waders. (report in appropriate thread).
Tony Darby said
Sun Jan 13 7:46 AM, 2013
On one of our visits to the Wirral last year, Tim Wilcox and I arrived at Parkgate between 10.00& 11.00am only to find the gate closed. Forced to park in the Boathouse car park, we walked to the old baths. As we did so, somebody in a car came out of the new house, unlocked the gate and drove off. So beware, the gate does get locked, although at what time I don't know and I don't think any of us would want to find out by getting locked in.
Collette Collier said
Sun Jan 13 7:28 AM, 2013
Thank you for your responses, doc Sid and Nick.
What a pain there's a high tide tomorrow and I have plans already and Will be in work Monday.
However all is not lost I will certainly check the tide times out (if I can make sense of the timetable though I'm hoping its not as complicated as my head is making out haha)
Thanks again guys you never let me down, I love this forum :0)
CC
Doc Brewster said
Sun Jan 13 6:08 AM, 2013
2 posts at the samr time - see it wasn't daft posting here, Collette!!
sid ashton said
Sun Jan 13 6:07 AM, 2013
Hi Collette if you go to the links section on the home page of Manchester Birding forum you will find a link to Dee Estuary Birds - tide times are given there.
There is really high tide of 10m both tomorrow at 12.00 and Monday 12.45 and with the forecast low pressure the water could come well up at Parkgate - might be a bit chilly though
If you are going for one of these events it's best to get there early to make sure that you can find somewhere to park also if there is going to be any action it usually takes place leading up to high water.
The 5pm close sign is still in place but the barrier was still up at 6pm yesterday evening - not sure that it's put down anyway as access appears to be needed to the new house at the end of the road near the car park. I meant to ask in the pub. Even so the guy who used to lock the barrier normally came round to chuck you out anyway
I had good selection of raptors yesterday afternoon well after high tide including a Barn Owl at dusk. See my report in the Wirral thread. I don't tend to bother with these high tides anymore but it's worth going at least once for the experience.
Once the sun starts going down photography would be difficult because of the position of the sun - as noted earlier in this thread.
Good luck if you go.
Collette Collier said
Sun Jan 13 4:40 AM, 2013
Feel a bit silly posting this but here goes apologies in advance to those with a whole heap of knowledge and experience.
I've been reading past posts re high tides flushing out small mammals out and creating a bit of a feeding frenzy for various raptors.
Can anyone advise where I find out when there will be a high tide and is it safe to be at the very far car park where the barrier closes at 5.? I think near the boathouse pub.? Or if anyone happens to no when there's a high tide date time.? It's sounds like an amazing time go and spot raptors ? And possibly photograph depending on light/time etc.?
Many thanks in anticipation of any responses. :0)
CC
Doc Brewster said
Sat Jan 12 10:07 PM, 2013
Hiya Collette
A good place to start is Dee Estuary Birds site run by Richard Smith the address is http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/lsight.htm
This gives you recent sightings, places to watch from & any special High Tide events - like the Hoylake ones this weekend.
Hope this helps
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 12th of January 2013 10:09:02 PM
Nick Isherwood said
Sat Jan 12 9:50 PM, 2013
Collette Collier wrote:
Feel a bit silly posting this but here goes apologies in advance to those with a whole heap of knowledge and experience.
I've been reading past posts re high tides flushing out small mammals out and creating a bit of a feeding frenzy for various raptors.
Can anyone advise where I find out when there will be a high tide and is it safe to be at the very far car park where the barrier closes at 5.? I think near the boathouse pub.? Or if anyone happens to no when there's a high tide date time.? It's sounds like an amazing time go and spot raptors ? And possibly photograph depending on light/time etc.?
Many thanks in anticipation of any responses. :0)
CC
Collette,
Visit this website. It has all the info you need for the raptor watches at Parkgate. There is also a link on there for the tide times for Liverpool. Basically Parkgate is usually best on any tide over 10 metres but this can also be dependent on pressure and wind direction too. Here's the website.
Treated myself to a day on the Dee today - managed quite a few spots over ten hours:
Inner Marsh Farm - avocet, a small group of whoopers flew in, LRP, egret, chiffchaff everywhere and all the normal stuff
North Wirral coast - turnstone, redshank and very disappointing time at Red Rocks for high tide - loads of gulls and that was about it
Parkgate - SEO perched 30m out on a post plus Kestrel and possible Merlin [need to study the photos]
Neston - Male Sparrowhawk chasing a goldfinch, Ring tail harrier, stonechats, more SEOs in the distance, hares in the adjoining fields
Parkgate [again!] for upto four SEOs displaying from 5pm No harriers but Little Owl and loads of egrets
-- Edited by Pete Welch on Monday 30th of March 2009 06:58:01 PM
sid ashton said
Sat Mar 21 9:08 PM, 2009
Pete
In the winter the sign on the barrier always says " Barrier Closed at 5pm" - and I too have been there after that time - but for most of the time during the winter you wouldn't want to be there much after 5 believe me!!! The good news is in the Summer time it closes much later, after the clocks go forward I think.
There are other car parks further along in Heswall, these are described on the Dee Estuary web site. You can however make it a pleasant stroll along to Heswall from Parkgate along the front of the golf course and back along the Wirral way if you wish - that should be fine for your other half
Sid A
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 21st of March 2009 09:11:15 PM
Pete Welch said
Sat Mar 21 8:30 PM, 2009
Literally drove through Parkgate after a family visit to Ness Gardens [packed with Crossbills see other post] - this evening, found the old baths car park, turned round and came back towards the pub when about 100m out in the marsh a male hen harrier meandered parallel with the road and settled on the marsh in front of the car park. And to think I'd been quite pleased to see an egret as I drove up the main promenade road...
Amazing sight for a 2 minute visit but raised a few questions:
Does the barrier between the pub and the car park really get locked at 5pm [twas still open at 5.15pm]?
Is there a further car park after the one opposite the big new house?
Other than that having see how extensive the marsh is I now realise why it attracts so many top BOP.
sid ashton said
Mon Mar 16 1:09 PM, 2009
Peter Welch wrote:
27 !!! I was amazed at the experience of seeing 3! I did loads of trips with an uncle who was quite into rarities when I was about ten - migrating ospreys in Midland park lakes, searching out crossbills etc but never remember anything being as good as the sight of the SEOs. Another beginners question - do they disperse soon - guess they'll have to with that sort of density? Cheers, Peter
Peter
The breeding grounds are generally upland areas so yes I guess they will move away soon.
Sid
Pete Welch said
Mon Mar 16 7:08 AM, 2009
sid ashton wrote:
Sid
P.S.
Just noticed that there were 27 SEOs reported at Burton Marsh this afternoon you can almost walk down there from IMF
-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 15th of March 2009 10:26:40 PM
27 !!! I was amazed at the experience of seeing 3! I did loads of trips with an uncle who was quite into rarities when I was about ten - migrating ospreys in Midland park lakes, searching out crossbills etc but never remember anything being as good as the sight of the SEOs. Another beginners question - do they disperse soon - guess they'll have to with that sort of density? Cheers, Peter
sid ashton said
Sun Mar 15 9:38 PM, 2009
Pete
A couple of other points to remember when you do eventually go to IMF- it is an RSPB reserve and you may be asked to show your membership card, they are closed on Tuesdays and digiscoping from the present hide early mornings may be problematic as the hide faces East and you would probably have the sun in your eyes. Rob is correct the sun does become a problem later on in the afternoon at Parkgate so you would have to get your timings right to "do" both places successfully on the same day with the camera.
Sid
P.S.
Just noticed that there were 27 SEOs reported at Burton Marsh this afternoon you can almost walk down there from IMF
-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 15th of March 2009 10:26:40 PM
Pete Welch said
Sun Mar 15 7:57 PM, 2009
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Digiscoping at Parkgate is tricky as in the afternoon you are looking staight in to the light.
I'd consider doing Inner Marsh Farm then Parkgate or Mere Sands and Marshside, you might find you are spreading yourself too thin to do all justice in a day.
Thanks Rob, I think you're right about doing too much - I prefer to spend a couple of hours to get a feel for what's about and I am really tempted to try for some more SEO watching at Marshside when I saw them a while back they were the highlight so far of my birding - but I haven't been to Inner March Farm yet so maybe I'll stay south of the Mersey for the day!
Cheers, Peter
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Mar 14 5:44 PM, 2009
Digiscoping at Parkgate is tricky as in the afternoon you are looking staight in to the light.
I'd consider doing Inner Marsh Farm then Parkgate or Mere Sands and Marshside, you might find you are spreading yourself too thin to do all justice in a day.
sid ashton said
Fri Mar 13 9:01 PM, 2009
Pete - high tide on 30th is at about 14.20 at Parkgate and the height is not bad at 9.3m. To make the most of the high tide you need to be there about two hours beforehand - so you'll have to get cracking if you are going to Meresands etc first
Sid A
Pete Welch said
Thu Mar 12 6:41 PM, 2009
Thanks for the pointers both, I've booked a day off for the 30th so I'll have to check the tides etc. I'm planning a kind of Mere Sands Wood, Marshside, possibly Martin Mere then through the tunnels to Parkgate kind of a day! Need to practise my digiscoping... cheers, Peter
Pete Welch said
Thu Mar 12 6:38 PM, 2009
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Yes the link works
Must be my dodgy PC or ISP then, apologies, Peter
sid ashton said
Thu Mar 12 8:07 AM, 2009
You can see the Harriers during the day at this time of year and the roost takes place in the evening. If you go to the Old Baths area, past the Boathouse pub you are in the correct spot. There is a fairly high tide today at about 12 o'clock but to get the best out of Parkgate you also need low atmospheric press and a decent westerly wind which I don't think we are due - still Parkgate is always worth a visit - look out for the Owls before they leave for the hills. The Harriers will be going off to breed soon as well.
Jimmy Meadows said
Thu Mar 12 8:07 AM, 2009
Hi Pete The Harrier roost is at dusk or thereabouts when its a high tide you get all the small mammals and anything that is skulking on the marsh being flushed out.
Last year was a good one as the tide came up to the wall with voles shrews mice running all over the place it is a bit gruesome when its like this but thats nature for you.
Bird wise it gets Water Rails Jack Snipe and last year we had Water Pipit
Good Luck if you go
Cheers Jimmy
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 12 7:59 AM, 2009
Yes the link works
Pete Welch said
Thu Mar 12 7:30 AM, 2009
Not sure if the link from here is working John but the site's at http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/index.html
I'm planning a day to include Parkgate and the Dee Estuary web site is excellent - the one question I still have is whether the Harrier roost that's talked about is an evening roost or a high tide roost - does anyone know cos it would be just my luck to turn up at high tide and be evening or vice versa! Probably too late but today [12th March] there's a guided walk/watch from Parkgate at around midday from memory - I couldn't fit in a days leave sadly!
-- Edited by Pete Welch at 08:30, 2009-03-12
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Mar 11 11:08 PM, 2009
Undoubtably my best advise John is to go to the links on the Manchester Birding website and check out the link to the Dee estuary birding site
John Lyon said
Wed Mar 11 10:48 PM, 2009
Hi all, planning a day out to Parkgate and the Dee Estuary. Where is the best place to aim for/stand and what are the best times of the day? Any info would be appreciated,
John.
Wherever you go for seawatching on the Wirral you will need to be aware of the tide times - at low water the birds will be a long way out!!!!!
As John and Nick say Red Rocks/Kings Gap, the lifeboat station and the Gunsite can also be good. A little further around the area close to Wallesey lifeboat station and the stretch of sea front all the way to Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton is excellent for sea-watching, particularly during September and October when there is a bit of a blow.
The best place in my mind is Leasowe Gunsite. You can park up right on the sea front in an elevated position and use the car as shelter. It's signposted as Wirral Country Park (I think) and its down Green Lane, Wallasey.
Hoylake
Red rocks
set the tom tom for Red Rocks nursing home Stanley road CH47 1HZ and park along the road outside free parking ,no restrictions,50 yards to red rocks and the beach , which is the best point to watch the whole estuary from at high tide, Alternatively by Hoylake lifeboat station about half a mile further north.
Cheers John
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 22nd of June 2013 06:28:21 PM
gate closed. Forced to park in the Boathouse car park, we walked to the old baths. As we did so, somebody in a car came
out of the new house, unlocked the gate and drove off.
So beware, the gate does get locked, although at what time I don't know and I don't think any of us would want to find out
by getting locked in.
What a pain there's a high tide tomorrow and I have plans already and Will be in work Monday.
However all is not lost I will certainly check the tide times out (if I can make sense of the timetable though I'm hoping its not as complicated as my head is making out haha)
Thanks again guys you never let me down, I love this forum :0)
CC
There is really high tide of 10m both tomorrow at 12.00 and Monday 12.45 and with the forecast low pressure the water could come well up at Parkgate - might be a bit chilly though
If you are going for one of these events it's best to get there early to make sure that you can find somewhere to park also if there is going to be any action it usually takes place leading up to high water.
The 5pm close sign is still in place but the barrier was still up at 6pm yesterday evening - not sure that it's put down anyway as access appears to be needed to the new house at the end of the road near the car park. I meant to ask in the pub. Even so the guy who used to lock the barrier normally came round to chuck you out anyway
I had good selection of raptors yesterday afternoon well after high tide including a Barn Owl at dusk. See my report in the Wirral thread. I don't tend to bother with these high tides anymore but it's worth going at least once for the experience.
Once the sun starts going down photography would be difficult because of the position of the sun - as noted earlier in this thread.
Good luck if you go.
I've been reading past posts re high tides flushing out small mammals out and creating a bit of a feeding frenzy for various raptors.
Can anyone advise where I find out when there will be a high tide and is it safe to be at the very far car park where the barrier closes at 5.? I think near the boathouse pub.? Or if anyone happens to no when there's a high tide date time.? It's sounds like an amazing time go and spot raptors ? And possibly photograph depending on light/time etc.?
Many thanks in anticipation of any responses. :0)
CC
A good place to start is Dee Estuary Birds site run by Richard Smith the address is http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/lsight.htm
This gives you recent sightings, places to watch from & any special High Tide events - like the Hoylake ones this weekend.
Hope this helps
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 12th of January 2013 10:09:02 PM
Collette,
Visit this website. It has all the info you need for the raptor watches at Parkgate. There is also a link on there for the tide times for Liverpool. Basically Parkgate is usually best on any tide over 10 metres but this can also be dependent on pressure and wind direction too. Here's the website.
www.deeestuary.co.uk
Inner Marsh Farm - avocet, a small group of whoopers flew in, LRP, egret, chiffchaff everywhere and all the normal stuff
North Wirral coast - turnstone, redshank and very disappointing time at Red Rocks for high tide - loads of gulls and that was about it
Parkgate - SEO perched 30m out on a post plus Kestrel and possible Merlin [need to study the photos]
Neston - Male Sparrowhawk chasing a goldfinch, Ring tail harrier, stonechats, more SEOs in the distance, hares in the adjoining fields
Parkgate [again!] for upto four SEOs displaying from 5pm No harriers but Little Owl and loads of egrets
-- Edited by Pete Welch on Monday 30th of March 2009 06:58:01 PM
In the winter the sign on the barrier always says " Barrier Closed at 5pm" - and I too have been there after that time - but for most of the time during the winter you wouldn't want to be there much after 5 believe me!!! The good news is in the Summer time it closes much later, after the clocks go forward I think.
There are other car parks further along in Heswall, these are described on the Dee Estuary web site. You can however make it a pleasant stroll along to Heswall from Parkgate along the front of the golf course and back along the Wirral way if you wish - that should be fine for your other half
Sid A
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 21st of March 2009 09:11:15 PM
Amazing sight for a 2 minute visit but raised a few questions:
Does the barrier between the pub and the car park really get locked at 5pm [twas still open at 5.15pm]?
Is there a further car park after the one opposite the big new house?
Other than that having see how extensive the marsh is I now realise why it attracts so many top BOP.
27 !!! I was amazed at the experience of seeing 3! I did loads of trips with an uncle who was quite into rarities when I was about ten - migrating ospreys in Midland park lakes, searching out crossbills etc but never remember anything being as good as the sight of the SEOs. Another beginners question - do they disperse soon - guess they'll have to with that sort of density? Cheers, Peter
Peter
The breeding grounds are generally upland areas so yes I guess they will move away soon.
Sid
27 !!! I was amazed at the experience of seeing 3! I did loads of trips with an uncle who was quite into rarities when I was about ten - migrating ospreys in Midland park lakes, searching out crossbills etc but never remember anything being as good as the sight of the SEOs. Another beginners question - do they disperse soon - guess they'll have to with that sort of density? Cheers, Peter
A couple of other points to remember when you do eventually go to IMF- it is an RSPB reserve and you may be asked to show your membership card, they are closed on Tuesdays and digiscoping from the present hide early mornings may be problematic as the hide faces East and you would probably have the sun in your eyes. Rob is correct the sun does become a problem later on in the afternoon at Parkgate so you would have to get your timings right to "do" both places successfully on the same day with the camera.
Sid
P.S.
Just noticed that there were 27 SEOs reported at Burton Marsh this afternoon you can almost walk down there from IMF
-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 15th of March 2009 10:26:40 PM
Thanks Rob, I think you're right about doing too much - I prefer to spend a couple of hours to get a feel for what's about and I am really tempted to try for some more SEO watching at Marshside when I saw them a while back they were the highlight so far of my birding - but I haven't been to Inner March Farm yet so maybe I'll stay south of the Mersey for the day!
Cheers, Peter
I'd consider doing Inner Marsh Farm then Parkgate or Mere Sands and Marshside, you might find you are spreading yourself too thin to do all justice in a day.
Sid A
Must be my dodgy PC or ISP then, apologies, Peter
The Harrier roost is at dusk or thereabouts when its a high tide you get all the small mammals and anything that is skulking on the marsh being flushed out.
Last year was a good one as the tide came up to the wall with voles shrews mice running all over the place it is a bit gruesome when its like this but thats nature for you.
Bird wise it gets Water Rails Jack Snipe and last year we had Water Pipit
Good Luck if you go
Cheers Jimmy
I'm planning a day to include Parkgate and the Dee Estuary web site is excellent - the one question I still have is whether the Harrier roost that's talked about is an evening roost or a high tide roost - does anyone know cos it would be just my luck to turn up at high tide and be evening or vice versa! Probably too late but today [12th March] there's a guided walk/watch from Parkgate at around midday from memory - I couldn't fit in a days leave sadly!
-- Edited by Pete Welch at 08:30, 2009-03-12