Inner Marsh Farm & Burton Wetlands RSPB

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

RE: Inner Marsh Farm RSPB

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Sid. I had the same quandry earlier this month at Traeth Dulas on Anglesey. I saw what i thought was a Wood Sandpiper and even reported it as such but after checking numerous books, video's, etc I was more convinced that I'd seen a Lesser Yellowlegs. As you said, the really vivid yellow legs where what changed my mind in the end.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Stirring up the subject of "ticking morality" there Sid!

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Ian McKerchar wrote:

Or was there actually a Marsh Sandpiper present yesterday

I think I should have taken those yellow legs more seriously and not listened to the chap who stated "far too early for Lesser Yellowlegs - end of August more likely"

Hope I wasn't premature in changing my tick.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Or was there actually a Marsh Sandpiper present yesterday

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Ian McKerchar wrote:

Lesser Yellowlegs present this morning...

I just changed my Marsh Sandpiper tick from yesterday to Lesser Yellowlegs

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

...and 3 Wood Sands!

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Lesser Yellowlegs present this morning...

sid ashton · Status: Offline

13.30 -18.00, Overcast and heavy rain later

I was at IMF this afternoon in the hope of seeing the reported Wood Sandpiper, I have seen one before but thought that it would be nice to see one again - arrived at around 1.30 and had to wait until about 3 for a single Green Sand to appear, almost immediately followed by "another" Sandpiper - immediate reaction was "oh good there's the Wood Sand" - but the more I looked at the bird - and it was present only for a few minutes before it flew off over to the area of the new scrape - the more I thought it was definitely not Wood Sand - a case of seeing what you were expecting to see originally. There were 8 or 9 others in the hide and between us we said definitely not Wood Sand. Only one of those had seen a Marsh Sand previously but we compared notes as to what we had seen and now that I have had a chance to confirm my field notes with ref books at home I am convinced that the bird was very probably a Marsh Sandpiper. I waited in the hide until 6 ish, by now it was heaving it down but the bird showed no sign of returning.

I have reported the above to Richard Harris at Deeestuary as had one of the other birders present. Richard in turn has passed on the information. Hope that someone else gets to see the bird over the weekend. Never did get to see the Wood Sand!!!!!

Other birds of interest present 3 Ruff, 6 Blackwits, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat.

P.S. apologies to Richard Smith (not Harris) Deeestuary.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 31st of July 2010 12:54:26 PM

paul brady · Status: Offline

Tony Coatsworth wrote:

A selection of diggers in the distance - presumably for developing the new scrape

That is what indeed they are for and have actually been working for 2 weeks. However, after the driest June on record for umpteen years the wet July weather has halted proceedings ever so slightly!

However, despite not being ready the birds don't seem to mind with all the usual suspects being recorded there - green sandpipers being perhaps the highlight.

Please remember that this part of the reserve is not open to the public yet but for a sneaky behind the scenes tour phone 0151 336 7681 and ask for the dates of the "Burton Mere" walks.

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

2 Ruff
2 Common Sandpiper
80+ Blackwits

Juv. Hobby

A selection of diggers in the distance - presumably for developing the new scrape

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Distant views of a Wood Sandpiper late afternoon on back pool with 3 Green Sandpipers. The Wood Sand was heard calling by another birder before being seen. A fourth Green Sandpiper to right of hide plus 37 Blackwits.

paul brady · Status: Offline

7 littled ringed plover and spotted flycatcher reported last night (Saturday)

1 whimbrel, 1 hobby reported today (Sunday)

Diggers begun creation of 5 ha scrape on Wednesday!

paul brady · Status: Offline

1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Peregrine, 1 Little Ringed Plover and 1 Hobby

paul brady · Status: Offline

Latest News:

29 native-breed Longhorn cows were delivered by Cheshire Wildlife Trusts Conservation Grazing Team to RSPB Inner Marsh Farm on Tuesday 29th June.

They can remove tough grasses allowing wildflowers to flourish and even eat trees keeping the wetland in prime condition for birds such as the lapwing.

The crack team of monster-munchers have a busy diary travelling from site to site across Cheshire and will become a vital cog in the management of IMF and the reserves upcoming extension...

Recent Bird Sightings:
4 spotted redshank (sum pl)
1 ruff
1 little ringed plover
1 greenshank (sum pl)
2 oystercatchers
1 curlew (heard)
150+ Black-tailed godwits
100+ lapwing
juv water rail
20+ juv little egrets
3 mute swans
female sparrowhawk
juv gt spot woodpecker

See you down there

paul brady · Status: Offline

Spotted flycatcher reported again
Gt Spot Woodpecker feeding young at feeding station
Lapwing
Black-tailed godwit
Buzzard

Linnet
Whitethroat
Sedgewarbler
Long-tailed tits
Blackcap
All above with young

paul brady · Status: Offline

Little Owl, 1 knot on Monday

paul brady · Status: Offline

Spotted Flycatcher reported yesterday.

NEW RSPB pin badges in stock including Merlin, Cuckoo Wrass and Orange Tip butterfly!

paul brady · Status: Offline

Ian McKerchar wrote:

In 2007, the breeding population for Dorset was 35-37 pairs and Hampshire 68-85 pairs. Devon in fact, had 92-95 pairs, Norfolk 129 pairs (!) and Northward Hill in Kent became Britain's largest colony with 93 pairs alone. By comparison Cheshire and Wirral had 15-20 pairs.

Impressive numbers - our breeding empire stands at about 25-30 breeding pairs (is there anywhere in the North that can beat this?) Numbers reach their peak in the late summer and last years total topped out at 315 individuals before it got too dark to count!

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

In 2007, the breeding population for Dorset was 35-37 pairs and Hampshire 68-85 pairs. Devon in fact, had 92-95 pairs, Norfolk 129 pairs (!) and Northward Hill in Kent became Britain's largest colony with 93 pairs alone. By comparison Cheshire and Wirral had 15-20 pairs.

paul brady · Status: Offline

Ian McKerchar wrote:

Anthony Dixon wrote:

Surely the best area of the UK to see these birds.

I think we've a little way to go yet before we better the likes of Dorset and Hampshire atleast Anthony

Out of interest what are the numbers of little egrets in these places?

Anthony Dixon · Status: Offline

Well yes Ian, but we're not doing too bad in this part of the world.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Anthony Dixon wrote:

Surely the best area of the UK to see these birds.

I think we've a little way to go yet before we better the likes of Dorset and Hampshire atleast Anthony

Anthony Dixon · Status: Offline

1 Peregrine
2 Avocet
22 Black-Tailed Godwit

Numbers of Little Egret could have been in double figures, but there was a lot of toing and froing between here and Burton Marsh...Where I counted 12 at one point!
Surely the best area of the UK to see these birds.

Anthony

paul brady · Status: Offline

Continuing the theme...

1 summer plumage sanderling this morning
250+ black-tailed godwit
1 peregrine

paul brady · Status: Offline

1 cuckoo seen and then heard
1 summer plumage ruff
1 avocet
141 black-tailed godwits
1 great crested grebe

Nice!

paul brady · Status: Offline

Nice little series of scarce waders going on at the moment, today's include:

1 summer plumage (white "ruff") ruff
1 common sandpiper

Also,
3 avocets
100+ Black-tailed godwits

paul brady · Status: Offline

I was away over the weekend but news from IMF states that 1 wood sandpiper and 1 curlew sandpiper have been present, along with 100+ blackwits and a couple of avocets.

2 spoonbills out on the marsh

paul brady · Status: Offline

Sorry 1 full summer plumage curlew sandpiper and 1 part way there !!!

BEST NEWS - they are present again today.

150+ Blackwits

paul brady · Status: Offline

2 summer plumage curlew sandpipers - stonking!

paul brady · Status: Offline

1 stunning female marsh harrier - great views from hide
2 common terns
1 avocet
7 blackwit

1 fox!!!

paul brady · Status: Offline

Grren Woodpecker calling near the car park - ask staff/vols for best viewing angle.

paul brady · Status: Offline

Swift
Swallow
House Martin

Grasshopper warbler reeling near to the hide

5 avocets now

And that pale-headed buzzard that at the wrong angle looks like an osprey!

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

I'd hardly call your post a rant Paul, it covers some important points and is, at the end of the day, like all the other contributions, a valuable point of view.

I knew what I wanted to do before this anyway but asking for opinions is always a valuable contribution to the thought process. As a result this thread will rightly stay. Inner Marsh Farm deserves it's own thead and as this forum becomes more and more important as a resource to those both within and outside the county, I'd like to see it used more. I personally visit just IMF on it's own and selfishly like the fact that it can often be quiet due to it's access and facilities etc. That said I completely understand the opinion of others who may well continue to combine their IMF sightings within the wirral thread and that's fine by me.

Either way let's just keep posting. There are few places to find so much useful information in one place and I genuinely appreciate all the contributions and input from everyone

.

paul brady · Status: Offline

Ok some specific IMF birds news:

22 mute swans
2 peregrines
1 marsh harrier
4 avocets
spotted redshanks

recent days have seen female redstart, cuckoo, swift

Oh and what would be the point of getting rid of this thread just to re-instate it at a later date? We are limited by certain means with regrads to advertising publically so all the info that we can get out there the better.

IMF knows its limits it has no toilets, limited parking, only 1 hide and the path can be a trek for some but lumping it in with the Wirral thread is pointless - do we want a thread for large areas only or are there smaller sights that deserve or can justify holding a thread of its own, I think so. The Wirral is a big place so threads splitting it up are bound to happen. Not all of us bird on a grand scale some tend to pick an exact site and spend the majority of the day there.

As mentioned IMF does know its limits but we have been fighting hard to secure funding and land to address these problems - work is ongoing, just ask me!

Also, should the thread disappear and we have one for the RSPB Dee Estuary Reserve? This would incorporate all sightings from the 6000+ ha and draw upon the North Wales, Wirral and other threads including sightings from the rifle ranges all the way to Heswall - how many of these are missed/not classed as being on the reserve???

PLUS - it doesn't take much of an effort to copy part of your Wirral post and include it in the IMF thread does it? And believe it or not some sightings do not get recorded into the log book into the hide nor are they reported to a volunteer or member of staff so sometimes the only way we find out about them is via specific threads on forums - this thread plays an important part in that process.

Rant over?

Sean Sweeney · Status: Offline

Hi Sid and all. I take your points, but thought the issue being discussed was the merits of the reserve for its own thread and not anything else. I just think that bulking it in with 'the wirral' is like putting penny flash in a thread for Wigan! Anyway, the forum is for bird talk so i'll send you a PM with anything further.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Sean I take your point about RSPB Inner Marsh Farm having a unique environment -what you forget, being a young chap is the walk to the hide being inaccessible to some older or less able-bodied folk, no public toilet facilities on site, viewing only from the hide unless you have a half decent scope and can look down from the bench area (I and others I know prefer the "big sky"), no official access before 0900 but not much use before that at certain times of the year because the sun would be shining towards the hide, limited parking. I am aware of the local constraints and yes indeed there are good points as well. I do always look to see if there is anything interesting about before I visit the Wirral and I have seen some really good birds there.

I am sure that when the new facility opens all of my moans will be addressed and then it should be entitled to its own thread as more folk would be visiting and more interest generated - until then I shall include IMF on the Wirral thread unless Mr Mc decrees otherwise or there is something of real interest to report

Sean Sweeney · Status: Offline

From my point of view, as I grew up in Chester and watched IMF mature into the great reserve it is I am always drawn to the postings for the site and would like to see it continue to be a single thread even if some of the sightings people make there are posted on the Wirral thread. It also has a pretty distinct set of habitats and bird assemblage that is unlike other areas on the Wirral in general. Hilbre is another area that I would also consider to be entitled to its own thread, as it is also harbours its own type of birds and birders and helps you pick out sightings from there rather than looking through more general Wirral sightings. Well, you did ask for thoughts!?

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Ian McKerchar wrote:

Considering that most birders visiting IMF combine it with other sites on the Wirral might it not be easier to post everything from the Wirral onto there?Just a thought, all opinions considered

Ian my opinion, for what it's worth would be to have just the Wirral thread - I go over there on a fairly regular basis and although Inner Marsh is usually on the programme most times it is either the start or finish of my Wirral wanderings during which I could visit several places and I wouldn't want to be adding to/starting separate threads for all of the other good locations over there. With the PM system on the forum folk can get in touch and discuss specific locations/issues if necessary.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

There seems to be a conflict of interests with this thread and the 'Wirral' thread sometimes, whereby quite a few items of interest for IMF get posted on the Wirral thread and not on here. It really doesn't worry me either way but would it be easier all round if one of these threads (perhaps the IMF thread) were to be closed. Considering that most birders visiting IMF combine it with other sites on the Wirral might it not be easier to post everything from the Wirral onto there?

Just a thought, all opinions considered

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Pete Hines wrote:

Just bringing this thread back to life

Pete out of curiosity how was this thread "dead" - there have been 4 postings prior to your own in the last 20 days

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

Just bringing this thread back to life

Late news for yesterday evening 22nd April

10 Spotted Redshank (9 flew in)
1 Redshank
2 Avocet
10 Black-tailed Godwit
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Common Whitethroat
24+ Skylark
3 Yellow Wagtail (2m 1f)
c12 Swift over the Dovecote Nursery

1 Fox patrolling the waters edges on the reserve, being mobbed by the Avocets

Rick Donkin · Status: Offline

Visit on Sat 10th April 13.30 to 17.30 produced this list:-
Buzzard - 5 soaring overhead and 3 additional sat on fence posts (1 was a very pale bird)
On and around the water:-
Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Shelduck, Tufties, Wigeon and Pintail (5m/3f)
Redshank (no spotted), Ruff (2) Little Egret (5), Spoonbill, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit (many), Coot , Moorhen, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Mute Swan (10), Cormorant, Greylags, Pink Foot (1), Canadas, BH Gull and LBB Gull.
Others:-
Rook, C Crow, Magpie, Reed Bunting (up to 12 at a time), Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler (many), Wren, Blackbird, Dunnock, Blue and Gt Tit, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Goldfinch.
Total 41 seen and heard GSW drumming in distance.
Rick.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

A couple of hours at the reserve today produced the following of interest:-

Green Pecker calling, Sandwich Tern over, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Song Thrush all in good voice on the way down to the hide. Don't know if it's because the water level seems quite high but there was a lack of waders with only singles of Common Sand and Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Avocet - sadly no Spotted Redshank. On the way back up the hill a "kettle" of 7 Common Buzzard circling above. Quite a nice change not to have to dress like an Eskimo to go birding

paul brady · Status: Offline

Spoonbill feeding furiously in the border pool yesterday 5pm.

If its spotted redshanks you want to see then IMF is the place with 11 counted on Monday and 9 on Wednesday.

willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap all presnt and singing.

circa 50 sand martins too.

paul brady · Status: Offline

Does anybody know of a report of a whitethroat at IMF that has found its way to the Dee Estuary website?

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

I fear I have to interject here Andy for my head hurts so much from banging it on the brick wall

One wonders why visitors to this Manchester Birding forum should have to see the relevant local group website when everything you need is and always has been on this Manchester Birding website. Why not just clik the 'BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING HOMEPAGE' link on this forum and then the 'clubs, societies and recording groups' page on the Manchester Birding website. Sorry to appear to be harping on about this on various threads but I seem to be forever wasting my time with the website

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

Anyone interested should note that Colin Wells, the warden of IMF, is at Stockport RSPB local group on Monday, 12th April when he will be talking about the history of and the future for the site.

Please see the local group website for further details. Visitors will be welcome.

paul brady · Status: Offline

Recent highlights:

4 avocets
1 spoonbill
2 little ringed plover
ruff
spotted redshanks
swallows
Chiffchaffs
Willow Warblers

Green woodpecker around car parking area

Distant tractors are preparing the area for new wetland creation - so don't panic!

stuartherring · Status: Offline

loads of teal,widgeon a few pintail,shelduck shoveler and mallard 8 mute swan,6 whooper(1 yellow legs) 4 buzzard,1 marsh harrier,3 little egrets,2 chiff chaff on way down to hide 1 wheater (m)