Inner Marsh Farm & Burton Wetlands RSPB

M Gannon · Status: Offline

RE: Inner Marsh Farm & Burton Wetlands RSPB

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Called in here en route to Denall Lane area with news of yesterday's Pectoral Sandpiper. Apparently it had been seen first thing from the Reception Hide but then disappeared into the vegetation to the left of the bay. Consequently it wasn't seen by virtually all present, me included. Still around were a Little Stint (1), Ruff (1), Black tailed Godwit (c.25), Teal ('00s), Marsh Harrier (1), Raven (3) and Pink footed Goose (6) amongst others. Called back at the reserve mid afternoon for a second attempt for the Sandpiper but no luck.

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

After the high tide it was time for Steve Burke and I to try and add to the year-list with a reported Pectoral Sandpiper at Burton Mere. I'd almost forgotten there were other places to go birding after a first trip to Spurn this weekend, but the reserve ended up almost casually delivering some excellent birds.

On the Main Scrape were 2 Little Stint showing well, but no Pec Sand. Bah! We went to Inner Marsh to look for it and picked up a Great White Egret, which flew off a few minutes after arriving. What a stunner at that range! I spotted a Water Rail very briefly and there were 3 Snipe right in front of the hide, which were gorgeous. We'd seen a Jack Snipe at similar range the day before, it was a nice coincidence. Walking back round we heard a spritely Cetti's Warbler in the reeds. It sounded about 20 feet away but might as well have been on Mars for all the chance we had to see it!

When we got back round to the Main Scrape we were delighted to discover the Pectoral Sandpiper had been re-found, showing distantly and in unhelpful light, so we got no decent view of plumage other than simple tones of light and dark. Lucky the defining feature is a shallow V of dark against light then! They were tickable views as they say, but no better.

Looking around the scrape again with a bit more care we saw single Spotted Redshank and Greenshank as well as the usuals, plus a Marsh Harrier over the reeds at the back, which I suspect was the same juvenile bird as the one on the marsh.

So it was a cracking session in the end, all the more so as we met fellow Manchester Birder Chris Sutton and ended up covering the reserve with him. Great to meet you mate!

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

9.15-12.00pm Highlights

Little Stint at Inner Marsh Hide
Ruff 4
Snipe 6
Black Tailed Godwit
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Treecreeper
Raven 2

Still good numbers of Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff around

John Watson · Status: Offline

From IMF hide, well worth the walk:

1 Curlew Sandpiper
1 Little Stint (also one reported from reception at same time)
2 Spotted Redshank
3+ Snipe
13 Ruff
1+ Dunlin
2 Little Egret
1 Marsh Harrier (f, 2cy ?) upsetting everything
1 Kingfisher (heard only)
1 Green Woodpecker (heard only)
sev Buzzard
30+ Swallow
2+ House Martin
sev Black-Tailed Godwit
sev Chiffchaff calling but not seen
1 Kestrel

1 very long Common Lizard, usual place

Numerous Teal (worth checking for GW Teal ...)
Many Canada Geese, Greylag

-- Edited by John Watson on Sunday 13th of September 2015 07:06:58 PM

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Just to add to yesterday's sightings...

1 Canada Goose seen from viewing screen near the boardwalk. It had a pure white face and looked very unusual. Steve said a Barnacle Goose was reported yesterday in the sightings book and we wondered if that's what was seen?
Could've been a Barnacle Goose present but we didn't see one.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday afternoon with Steve B and Simon G.

- lots of usuals including masses of Ganada Geese
- few Cormorant
- Little Grebe - 1
- Lapwing
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Green Sandpiper - 2 flying around calling, seen numerous times
- Dunlin - 4 total
- Curlew Sandpiper - 1 juv at IMF Hide
- Ruff - 20+
- Common Snipe - at least 8
- Water Rail - 1 at IMF Hide
- Little Egret - 1
- Grey Heron - 4
- Kestrel - 2
- Common Buzzard
- few Stock Doves
- plenty of Swallows about
- some Linnets around

...and of note a couple of groups of smaller birds moving through the hedges.
1 group included a family of Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 2 Chiffchaff and what looked like a female Whitethroat.
The other group near IMF Hide included Blue Tits, Great Tits, at least 4 Chiffchaff including a very dull brown individual, 1 Willow Warbler, and Blackcaps including a male and presumably a female (or young male???)
Masses of Midge's around and they were all feeding well.

M Gannon · Status: Offline

Some nice birds at burton mere this afternoon, with the waders the stars of the show:

1 little stint
1 curlew sandpiper
6 greenshank
6 green sandpiper
18 ruff
4 Dunlin
15 black tailed godwit
16 snipe
2 water rail
4 buzzard
1 kestrel
1 greater spotted woodpecker
1 nuthatch

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Highlights from a visit Thursday, August 20th.

Little Stint 1
Ruff 15
Snipe 5+
Dunlin 1
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Treecreeper 2
Nuthatch 2
Swift 4...distant, over Wales.
Yellow Wagtail 1

M Gannon · Status: Offline

Today 11:30- 3:30

Hobby
Sparrowhawk
Common sandpiper
Ruff- 8
Whitethroat- 6
Mute swan with 4 cygnets
Little grebes with chick
Dunlin- 35
Snipe- 5
Black tailed godwit- 200

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

A late visit around 5pm yesterday with Steve and Simon.

Of note...
-usual Waterfowl
-Mute Swan
-Greylag Geese
-Canada Geese
-Pintail
-Teal
-Gadwall
-Black-tailed Godwit - lots around
-Little Ringed Plover - both young ones
-Lapwing
-Oystercatcher
-Dunlin - 1 then a small group behind
-Common Snipe - 5
-Ruff - few knocking about
-Redshank
-Water Rail - 1 juv showing on and off at reeds edge
-Common Buzzard - 2
-Stock Dove - quite a few around
-Woodpigeon
-Rooks
-Jackdaws
-Common Swift
-Swallows
-Sand Martin
-Treecreeper - 1 in car park
-Yellow Wagtail - 2
-Pied Wagtail - 1
-Linnet
-Goldfinch
-Chaffinch
-Greenfinch - heard only

A cracking day in all but Hilbre took the limelight out of Burton in my view!

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 3rd of August 2015 06:23:00 PM

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Oops. Also forgot 3 Ruff.

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

A good variety of wadery-type birds today.

Dunlin 7
Redshank 1
Golden Plover 1 juv.
Little Ringed Plover 4
Common Sandpiper 2
Green Sandpiper 1
Spotted Redshank 3 with 1 in summer plumage.
Black-tailed Godwit 150+
Snipe 1
Water Rail 1
Little Egret 47+
Avocet 1ad and 2 juv.
Common Tern 2ads and 1 juv.
Grey Heron 5+
Lapwings

etc.etc.etc.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Some of the post from yesterday's sightings didn't post!

-Lots of Swallows over the reserve including over the field towards the old barn behind reception.
One particular adult feeding its young with in-flight food passes to its well grown young, really good close up views.
-quite a few House Martins
-small number of Common Swift
-1 Nuthatch near the car park
-1 Reed Bunting
-yet again no luck with the Little Owl, and Steve made me laugh when he said 'I've never seen it here, yet!'

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday 12th July
A mid afternoon visit here with Steve Burke after the Red-footed Falcon in Staffordshire.

Birds of note...
-3 Spotted Redshank - a Lifer for me for summer plumage phase
(Also 1 infront of reception later on that could've been 1 of the 3)
-3 Avocet
-lots of Black-tailed Godwit
-2 Whimbrel over, their bill looked almost straight with curved end
-plenty of Redshank
-lots of Lapwing
-4 or 5 Little Ringed Plover
-5 or 6 Dunlin
-3 Ruff
-1 Common Sandpiper on far bank infront of reception
-1 pair of Wigeon which I didn't expect at all
-few Common Teal around too
-2 Northern Shoveler (also 2 flying through)
-Tufted Duck
-Gadwall
-lots of Little Egret trrrri including 46 in one of the roosting trees
-2 Grey Heron
-1 Common Tern that covered pretty much most of the reserve
-plenty of Sedge Warbler activity
-plenty of Whitethroat around too
-2 Chiffchaff
-1 Blackcap
-few Wrens around
-lots of Goldfinch
-young Chaffinches
-few Linnet
-1 Stock Dove
-2 Collared Dove
-lots of Woodpigeon
-1 Great Spotted Woodpecker on feeders
-Green Woodpecker heard only
-plenty of usual Corvids, Waterbirds, Garden Birds, and Gulls.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

No news so far John in fact it was reported to have flown off towards the estuary shortly after I left yesterday evening.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Any reports of the gull billed tern today?

sid ashton · Status: Offline

After spending an hour and a half on the car park known as the M56 arrived at BMW at 7pm. I was told by a mate in the IMF hide that the Gull-billed Tern was still present. On my way round to the hide another call - "it's flown" - as luck would have it the bird had joined in with some Gulls flying around the crop field to the right of the path up towards the old reception buildings. This gave myself and another birder excellent flight views as it circled before returning to the island in front of the hide were it remained until I left at about 8.30pm.

Other species of note:- Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Avocet and Green Woodpecker.

Tom Jones · Status: Offline

Hi Paul, the Gull-Billed Tern, arrived at the Inner Marsh Hide at 1400hrs to day, I thought it was a sandwich Tern, but was informed it was the gull billed tern. so a lifer for me with out knowing it.

It was still there when I left Burton at 1600hrs.

paul brady · Status: Offline

Not sure if everyone has heard but a gull-billed tern is/was present on the reception pool this afternoon. Spoke with staff who say the reserve will be open to c9pm

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Spent the day mostly at the reception and the little owl view point with my best pal, Elliot Montieth
Highlights were:
1 male yellow wagtail BRITISH LIFER (which landed in the field with cattle in it near the barn where the little owls are)
1 1st-2nd summer Mediterranean gull ( it was hard to tell because all I could see was half its head and half its wings.
2 common tern fishing on the meres
2 reed warblers singing in the reeds next to the feeders + one very vocal bird from bunker hide/screen which eluded us.
7 whitethroats (5 from the the little owl view point and two where the sand martin wall is.)
3 lapwing on nests with 2 young
2 redshank
300+ black tailed godwit
50+ avocets with 20+ young
little grebe at the very front of the hide
I was pretty certain I had seen a greenshank at the muddy bay at the back but before elliot could get onto it, it had wandering into a tall marshy reedy area.

While we were there someone said they had a silver studded blue butterfly but after checking all of the blues in the area it had been sighted minuted before we only found commons.

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

Burton Mere Wetlands 9.15 13.30 43 species seen highlights,

Little Owl
Avocet 50+
Ruff 2
Black Tailed Godwit c120, Many in summer breeding plumage
Swallow 15
Chiffchaff, many sing around the reserve
Green Woodpecker heard only

Neil McCall · Status: Offline

Saturday 28 February, 10.30-11.30

Long-Eared Owl visible in bramble bush just before IMF hide.

Hen Harrier (at a distance) from visitor centre, with Pintail close up.

Stonechat from Marsh Covert Hide.

Andrew Mitchell · Status: Offline

Long Eared Owl still roosting up to about 4:30. Only things I can add to other reports are some Redshank and Black-Tailed Godwits from Reception Hide, and a Song Thrush fully living up to its name quite close to the owl's roost site.

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

To add to Tony's report, single Spotted Redshank from IMF hide and a female Marsh Harrier just over Denhall Lane

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

Long-eared Owl showed well today.

Also ring-tailed Hen Harrier, Stonechats, and 28 Curlew behind the car park

M Gannon · Status: Offline

Finally got the chance to see the Long eared owl today. Showing well near IMF hide at 3pm

-- Edited by M Gannon on Saturday 14th of February 2015 08:51:19 PM

Geoff Walton · Status: Offline

We saw it today -Friday.

M Gannon · Status: Offline

Was the long eared owl seen today?

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

I noticed I used the wrong word for that, (loads of). my appologies for that as I didn't mean to confuse. its times like this I miss using a pencil and rubber. I blame it on the cold that my head has been suffering with for the last few days. So to help clear this up, I had 3 water rails in a space of 50 yards? on my last visits along the path in question. So I ment to imply that there seems to be a very healthy population of water rails in the area. But how many ezactly I cannot say. I hope this sounds better. Thanks for pointing this out too.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Richard Thew wrote:

..................... I know the area discribed well and there are loads of water rails in that area too and sometimes they will venture away from reeds to hide among trees and shrubs instead...........

Richard I was over at BMW today taking a look at the Long-eared Owl and mentioned your comment about "loads of Water Rails" to the RSPB folk - they wondered approximately how many you meant by loads.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Jonathan Platt wrote:

Rob Creek wrote:

Doc / Sid,

The Cetti's Warbler has been reported from the viewing screen up on the left. If you continue down towards IMF Hide and then bare round to the right following the path you come onto the boardwalk part of the path where you are in the middle of the reedbeds and almost at the junction to split off to the viewpoint or IMF. There is a small area in the middle of that marsh of smallish trees. The call we heard was coming from around the tree. It didn't sound like a Cetti's call, and it didn't sound anything like a Bullfinch either to be honest, it was more like what some people (and myself) described as a bird of prey like. That's not to say it isn't a Cetti's.
If anyone has the iBird UK 6.1 App and go to Marsh Harrier call, and it sounds pretty much like the call given in flight except this was not flying which is the confusing thing!

There are probably two Cetti's warblers at BMW. I've seen and heard one by the first screen but I've also heard one occasionally over several months at the far end of the boardwalk, as have several of the regular birders there. Could be the same bird roaming between the two areas of course. The bird you heard Rob sounds like it could be a Water Rail, which make a variety of calls, some of which sound somewhat raptor-like. Have a listen on Xeno-Canto.

...cheers Jonathan, I suggested Water Rail whilst we were there but the general feeling was it wasn't 'piglet-like' enough and I too steered away from it towards maybe Bird of Prey.
But it is a Water Rail. It's the 10th call on Xeno Canto and the 3rd call on Aves Vox.
Cheers

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 10th of February 2015 08:37:53 PM

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

I obviously wasn't there myself, but I would agree with Jonathan as before i read the possible candidates from the discriptions I instantly thought most likely water rail. These can sound like birds of prey easily, I know the area discribed well and there are loads of water rails in that area too and sometimes they will venture away from reeds to hide among trees and shrubs instead. I Hope this helps, maybe you could listen to some of their recorded calls on the web and see if any come close to comfirm?? I hope to visit there again soon...

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Rob Creek wrote:

Doc / Sid,

The Cetti's Warbler has been reported from the viewing screen up on the left. If you continue down towards IMF Hide and then bare round to the right following the path you come onto the boardwalk part of the path where you are in the middle of the reedbeds and almost at the junction to split off to the viewpoint or IMF. There is a small area in the middle of that marsh of smallish trees. The call we heard was coming from around the tree. It didn't sound like a Cetti's call, and it didn't sound anything like a Bullfinch either to be honest, it was more like what some people (and myself) described as a bird of prey like. That's not to say it isn't a Cetti's.
If anyone has the iBird UK 6.1 App and go to Marsh Harrier call, and it sounds pretty much like the call given in flight except this was not flying which is the confusing thing!

There are probably two Cetti's warblers at BMW. I've seen and heard one by the first screen but I've also heard one occasionally over several months at the far end of the boardwalk, as have several of the regular birders there. Could be the same bird roaming between the two areas of course. The bird you heard Rob sounds like it could be a Water Rail, which make a variety of calls, some of which sound somewhat raptor-like. Have a listen on Xeno-Canto.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Doc / Sid,

The Cetti's Warbler has been reported from the viewing screen up on the left. If you continue down towards IMF Hide and then bare round to the right following the path you come onto the boardwalk part of the path where you are in the middle of the reedbeds and almost at the junction to split off to the viewpoint or IMF. There is a small area in the middle of that marsh of smallish trees. The call we heard was coming from around the tree. It didn't sound like a Cetti's call, and it didn't sound anything like a Bullfinch either to be honest, it was more like what some people (and myself) described as a bird of prey like. That's not to say it isn't a Cetti's.
If anyone has the iBird UK 6.1 App and go to Marsh Harrier call, and it sounds pretty much like the call given in flight except this was not flying which is the confusing thing!

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

I agree, think Sid is spot on there, Rob, the Cetti's Warbler has been pretty vocal from that area & could be described as a Bullfinch with a megaphone biggrin

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Rob Creek wrote:

And I wonder if anyone managed to find out what the bird (or mammal) was that was calling from near the small trees in the middle of the reeds on way round to IMF Hide. Enough people stopped to listen but nobody could locate what was making the noise. One person suggested Bullfinch, must've had a megaphone!

Rob there has been a Cetti's Warbler knocking about the area you describe for a few weeks now, perhaps it was that you heard.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Finished the afternoon off with good views (albeit still a little obscured) of the Long Eared Owl.

A lot of people there, and some jostling for position and clanging of tripod legs, Laughable!

Other birds of note...
Plenty of Waterfowl
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Pink-footed Goose - lots of skeins drifting in
Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Tufted Duck
Teal
Shoveler (1m 1f)
We missed a White-fronted Goose by minutes, would've been a Lifer!

Little Egret
Grey Heron
Redshank
Lapwing - lots of them
Fieldfare - 25-30 mobile over fields near viewpoint
Robin - commonplace
Rooks and Jackdaws feeding in the field
1 Reed Bunting near viewing screen
Collared Dove and Woodpigeon
Usuals at feeders incl 1 Coal Tit
Missed the reported Willow Tit

Small group of birds over of Starling size but brown. Think they were Skylarks.
And I wonder if anyone managed to find out what the bird (or mammal) was that was calling from near the small trees in the middle of the reeds on way round to IMF Hide.
Enough people stopped to listen but nobody could locate what was making the noise. One person suggested Bullfinch, must've had a megaphone!

A cracking day all round.

David Wilson · Status: Offline

The only thing visible in the fog this morning was a roosting Long Eared Owl. A lifer for me so worth the walk. :)

David Wilson · Status: Offline

Yesterday afternoon, enjoyed a stroll to Burton point. Raven, 2 Buzzard and Kestrel. Also Stonechat, small flock of Fieldfare and the odd Redwing. Then onto Burton Mere Rspb for a coffee and to defrost. Good views of Ringtail Hen Harrier over the barn area. Close views of Shoveler and Teal. Plenty other birds on the scrape but too difficult to identify as the sun made them all sillouettes.

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Late post for yesterday - Cattle Egret showing well (lifer) Stonechat, and Marsh Harrier hunting main reserve

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Cattle Egret 1 still here spending most of the time with it's friends, the cattle.
Hen Harrier 1 ringtail.
Kestrel 1
Buzzard 1
Dunlin 4
Redshank 11
Black-tailed Godwit 8
Common Gull 70+
Pinkfeet Geese 100+
Chiffchaff 1
Water Rail 1
Little Grebe 1
Teal/Wigeon/Shovelers.
etc.

Little Egrets, Curlew, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and pair of Stonechats on Burton Marsh.

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

Inner Marsh Farm area highlights

Cattle Egret, Close views as it feed amongst the grazing Sheep
Hen Harrier, Ring tail passed through quartering low over the reed beds lost to view as it headed over the rail line to Burton Marsh
Marsh Harrier 2
Merlin female, initially close views as it perched on a fence post, then took flight chasing prey low over the reeds
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk 2
Buzzard 2

Great raptor day..!!

Andrew Mitchell · Status: Offline

A couple of afternoon hours after High tide at Hoylake in the morning. Highlights were a flock of Golden Plover on the scrape and some excellent close views of Little Grebe, Linnet and Goldcrest.

Plenty of Lapwing, Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwit, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallard. Water Rails calling from a couple of the hides, but no sign for me, and the Cattle Egret is still around but also proved elusive.

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Just realised it should have read Ringtail or is it Ring-tail Harrier.

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Tuesday 4/11/14 am:

Cattle Egret 1 still around.
Hen Harrier 1 ringed-tail.
Merlin 1f.
Kestrel 1m.
Buzzard 1
Water Rail 1 giving good views in front of centre plus 1 heard near middle hide.
Curlew 1
Ruff 2
Snipe 40+
Skylarks
Wigeon/Teal/Shoveler/Shelduck.
Black-tailed Godwits.
etc.etc.

Down Station Road to Burton Marsh and walk to Nett's Cafe:

Stonechat 2m 2f.
Grey Wagtail 1
Chiffchaff 1
Little Egret 6+
Redshanks
Linnets
Meadow Pipits
etc.etc.

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

An interesting day out. First thing I got good views of the long staying cattle egret feeding with the cows at the back. There was also 9 greenshanks, 1 spotted redshank, 1 ruff, 2 water rails several times from the inner marsh hide and a curlew sandpiper of interest. By the afternoon the wind had picked up but the sun was out- all the cows were sat down and the cattle egret?? He was way closer having a rest and a play about with sticks amongst a flock of Canada geese. Fantastic!!! Ps. Its hit and miss asto when you can get good views of him, usually if he isn't about in the morning, chances are he will be about later as this is where he feeds. So I wish anyone wanting to find him all the best.

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Saturday 11th October From the Reception Hide: 2 Whooper Swans early morning 1Cattle Egret in with the Cattle before flying off 3 Ruff 1 Dunlin 1 Water Rail ever so briefly IMF hide: 30-40 Pintail Hundreds of Teal 6 Greenshank 5 Spotted Redshank 2 Stonechat (male & female) A good 3,000 Pink-footed geese over in several skeins. 1 Snipe A pretty good morning

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Called in at BMW on the way home from Hoylake - the Cattle Egret was showing really well on one of the small islands in front of the reception hide next to which was a snoozing Black Swan biggrin

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Paul Richardson wrote:

............and the Cattle Egret likewise not showing today.

A Cattle Egret is currently at Leighton Moss RSPB, maybe it's the BMW bird doing a tour of the NW RSPB reserves biggrin