Highlights today:

Spotted Redshank 3
Whinchat 1f.
Great White Egret 1 flying over showing reddish tibia.
Redshank 2
Avocets
Cetti's/Sedge/Reed Warblers.
etc.etc.etc.

Spent all day here today 10.00 - 17.00.  Dry, warm, sunny, calm.  Avocets; Blackcap; Buzzard; Chaffinch; Coot; Tufted Duck; Dunnock; Little Egret; Black Tailed Godwit; Goldfinch; Canada Goose; Black Headed Gull; Grey Heron; Red Kite; Lapwing; Linnet; Moor Hen; Oystercatcher; Grey Partridge; Redshank; Spotted Redshank; Ruff; Shoveler; Mute Swan; Green Winged Teal; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Pied Wagtail; white Wagtail; Cettis Warbler; Sedge Warbler; Wood Warbler; Whimbrel.  

Highlights:

Great White Egret 1
Merlin 1
Marsh Harrier 2
Peregrine 2
Kestrel 1
Ruff 2
Goosander 1f.
Avocet 93...quoted by the staff.
Pintail 1m 1f.

etc.etc.etc.

Hi Rob, sorry for the late reply, I also had a message from another member of the forum so I can see this sighting might not be as straight-forward as it seemed at the time to the 4 of us who saw it! :) The bird caught our eye when flying directly and quite close by the reception hide and it had distinctive white on it's wing only really visible as it flew, 4 of us saw it and although we are regular birders for years we are certainly amateur/casual level so we did not know what it was, only that it was something none of us recognised so not one of the usuals. After consulting books whilst in the hide after it landed (and we could still see it but quite far in the distance now and none of us had a scope, only binos) we came to the conclusion definitely Velvet Scoter but we didn't realise how rare a sighting that would be so we didn't discuss with the staff there unfortunately. So whilst I can't think what else it would have been, now I see the interest in this mention of Velvet Scoter I am questioning if that was indeed what we saw. I've no idea what sex it was, obviously I better study the birdbooks a bit more ;)

A pair of Little Owls were in the crack in the second left tree from the barn looking down from the top of Puddington Lane today - sheltering from the freezing wind. Nothing much of interest at Burton Mere Wetlands other than 2 Marsh Harriers (a further 2-3 diwn on the marsh) but 5 Bewicks Swans on Burton Marsh scoped from the Hillfort and 2 further birds later with Steve Burke. Merlin, Peregrine and Raven too but no Hen Harriers on that part of the marsh. Strangely few Little Egrets and no Great White Egrets on Burton Marsh today

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 14th of January 2018 07:58:20 PM

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 14th of January 2018 08:05:49 PM

A very brief visit last Thursday but with a few species seen that folk may be interested in:

From the visitor centre I walked out to the left on the path over the bridge and past the 'bunker' hide. Not far after there looking back inland towards the farm there are two bare oak trees. The first one right of the farm has a good covering of ivy, in the next one to the right a Little Owl was sitting atop a vertical dead branch on the right had side of the tree. This has been a regular site for this bird over the past week, so worth having a look at this now scarce species in Cheshire. Just along from there towards the end of the path if you look over past the feeders towards the D-Barn and the harvested potato field there are usually a few Whooper Swans feeding there. I saw 4 adult birds which walked off out of sight behind the barn, so if they are not on view then persevere and they may come out. On reception lagoon a good array of waterfowl included a nice drake Pintail.

 

Reception hide:
Cattle Egret 1
Greylag Goose c350

IMF hide:
Greenshank 6+4
Wood Sandpiper 1
Marsh Harrier 1
Kingfisher 1
A single Golden Plover and a couple of Redshank in the Lapwing flock

Uncounted Teal, Wigeon and other waterfowl.

Cheers John

A visit to the Dee Marshes was delayed on Saturday by horrible weather (see other thread) so I decided the hides at Burton Mere Wetlands would make a good stop off to wait. The Cattle Egret was still on Reception Lagoon (as it always seems to be now!), so a quick look at that and I headed round to Inner Marsh Farm Hide. Here I joined local patcher, Tony, who was also sitting out the weather and checked out the lagoon. I counted at least 7 Little Stints (9 were reported as a max.)and 2 Curlew Sandpipers. A few Ruff were still on the scrape and lots of Snipe, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits. Tony is expecting the first Jack Snipe back any time soon as Snipe numbers are very high. Again a Marsh Harrier quartered the reedbeds but a Buzzard low over the reception lagoon caused a few mis-IDs as a harrier until folk took a proper look!

As usual a great welcome by all here and sad to say the end of an era, as last Friday was Colin Wells's last day as 'official' Head RSPB Warden of the Dee Estuary inc. Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB. Colin has done a fabulous job, is a great birder and a nice guy, he will be very greatly missed. But the good news is, just like John Wilson at Leighton Moss, Colin can't drag himself away and will be doing some voluntary wardening at Burton Mere Wetlands in the future, so we'll be seeing him for some time to come 

11.30-15.30

1 Curlew Sandpiper was showing well on the pool in front of the reception area.

Also seen here were 12 Ruff, 1 Knot, 1f Marsh Harrier, 14 Snipe, 1 Cattle Egret and 2 Black Swans.

In front of the former IMF hide were : 1 Spotted Redshank, 40+ Snipe, 9 Golden Plovers, 2 Kestrels, 3 Ravens, 3 Little Grebes and 1 Little Egret.

There was a steady trickle of high flying Swallows above the reserve throughout, all appeared to be heading West.

A few hours at BMW and Burton point this morning gave good prolonged views of the juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper on the edges of the pool in front of reception. Other species also seen there included:- Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Black Swan, Spotted Redshank, a Cattle Egret and a female Marsh Harrier in dispute with three Buzzards.

Down at Burton point:- a gathering of Swallows, Stonechat, Wheatear, Little Egret, Pied and Yellow Wagtails and several Goldfinches.

10.00-14.30

1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Spoonbill, 1 adult + 1juv Cattle Egret, 7 Redshanks, 2 Buzzards and 1 Kestrel.

Masses of newly fledged Black Headed Gulls, and several large broods of Mallard appear to indicate low predation. Avocets and Little Egrets also appear to be flourishing, with 40+ of the latter on the marsh in front of the Covert Hide throughout.

-- Edited by John Williams on Saturday 1st of July 2017 08:28:06 PM

Three Egret species were seen at BMW this morning; in addition to the plentiful Little Egrets there were two Great Whites present.

Also the Cattle Egret and chick were seen from the newly created viewing area at the end of the track to the Marsh Covert hide, giving closer views than from the IMF hide.

Also present of interest Mediterranean Gull, Common Tern and Spoonbill.

RSPB announce breeding Cattle Egrets, viewable at nest distantly from IMF hide

https://twitter.com/rspb_burtonmere?lang=en

In addition to Buff Breasted Sandpiper & Cattle Egret
Mediterranean Gull - adult & an immature
Spotted Flycatcher - 2 in small copse on the way to IMF hide
Great White Egret - on far pool

Being halfway from home towrds Burton Mere RSPB whilst at work yesterday, I couldn't resist popping down after work yesterday. I had been sending customers to see it all day so thought that I may as well go and see it too. I'm glad I did, as having seen double figures in the UK before, being one of the commoner US igrant waders to the UK, but mainly in the SE, I had never seen a Spring bird. This was the brihtest coloured one that I have ever seen and with the most glowing legs too - something I mentioned to Colin Wells, the finder, and he said that was what had struck him when he found it as well As John says not the best photo opportunity, especially looking into the low evening sun as we all were. I say all, but there were only 3 folk in the hide when I arrived, different from the hordes earlier in the day so I was told by RSPB vols and Colin too.

A great bird and still there today as John says, first UK record this Spring and well worth anyone going to see it, especially if you haven't seen the species before.

Buff-Breasted Sandpiper
At work this morning the call came through that a Buff Breasted Sandpiper had arrived at Burton Mere Wetlands on the Wirrall.Having all my gear in the car and the choice between the 21 Miles to Pennington and only 15 Miles to Burton the choice was quickley made and by 12 pm I was heading down to the Gorse covert hide to see this stonking little American Beauty,and soon located it,but as with the Pallid Harrier the other week ,pictures were never going to do it Justice ,it was an absolute cracker and full frame views through my scope are what I bought it for,and it was superb.It was always a bit distant ,so only record shots were ever gained,but it was worth every second taken to see it,and was still showing well when I left at 4pm.
Picture Buff-Breasted Sandpiper Burton Mere Wetlands-19.05.2017

 

Three hours on the reserve this morning from 10am. Weather cool and dry in the main although there was a bit of rain for twenty minutes or so. Amongst others :-

Little Grebe
Little Egret
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Shelduck
Widgeon
Gadwall
Teal
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Marsh Harrier (1f)
Sparrowhawk (1)
Oystercatcher
Avocet
Lapwing
Dunlin (1)
Black-tailed Godwit (c.175)
Spotted Redshank (3)
Common Sandpiper (1)
Common Tern (2)
Great spotted Woodpecker (1)
Cetti's Warbler (1)
Grasshopper Warbler (1)
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Whitethroat
Jay

With an afternoon off I headed to the bottom of The Wirral to have a mooch around my favourite local RSPB reserve and catch up with old friends as is always the case here

On arriving in the visitor centre many Avocets were roosting on the main lagoon, not doing a lot, mainly sleeping with heads on backs, but it was a new bird for me for 2017 and one I wouldn't expect in a long time at my patch, Newchurch Common, given its lack of wader habitat! Next I walked along to Bridge Pool and viewed the water there from the screen, and immediately picked up the small, tern-like first-winter Little Gull, which was feeding over the pool and occasionally alighting on it. A pair of Pintail were alos on this pool, it is always a lovely duck to watch, so graceful and elegant. A Cetti's Warbler called from cover here, but never showed itself. Walking back I came across a group of mates and joined them to see a gorgeous Merlin perched on one of the fenceposts not far out on the marsh. Also present were a group of Ruff, already colouring up and starting to display. The skies then went from blue to a dark yellow caste and the rain started. I retreated back to my car as the heavens opened, so I decided to call it a day.

Morning visit, Highlights

Green Woodpecker
Ruff 5
Spotted Redshank 5
Avocet 40+
Pintail
Chiffchaff several singing

Miserable weather but nice to get out for a while & reasonably rewarding on Burton Reserve with

Great White Egret
Avocets x 27
Marsh Harrier, female
Chiffchaff
Cettis Warbler
Goldfinch x 40
Goldcrest x 3
plus usual waterfowl & waders

Visit to Denhall area later with good views of
Marsh Harrier, Female x 2
Peregrine Falcon, male
Buzzard x 2
Kestrel, pair
Stonechat, pair
White Wagtails x 2 among a group of 10 Pied Wagtails
Linnets x 50

Lots of birds at Burton Mere Wetlands on a drizzly day. Dropped in for a short while this morning. The highlights were a couple of Golden Plovers that dropped in on Reception Lagoon island with a large flock of Lapwings. About 20 Dunlin were also loafing amongst this flock too. Two Ruff showed well on the floods from Marsh Covert Hide but no pipits were seen at all much to the disappointment of most folk in the hide. Lots of Siskins were still in the alders around the house area. A female Marsh Harrier was mobbed by corvids as it quartered the reedbeds. Over 60 species in a short visit so not bad at all.

11am-2pm. Relatively quiet today with no sign of the recently reported lesser spotted woodpecker or green-winged teal. Highlights;
Marsh Harrier from reception hide
Short-eared Owl from Hill Fort (distant)
Great White Egret from Hill Fort
Cetti's Warbler heard
Stonechat (f), Linnets, Great spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper. A Green Woodpecker was reported by another birder.
Raven
Ruff (2), Black Tailed Godwit, Redshank, Golden Plover, and lots of Dunlin from Reception Hide
Pintail
Distant Mute, Whooper and Bewick Swans from Reception Hide.
Plus Usuals
Chris

14/01/17 Stockport Birdwatching Society trip to Parkgate and Burton Wetlands RSPB

Another good trip with highlights at Burton Wetlands RSPB being the male Green-winged Teal (record photo attached), 9 Bewick's Swan, Marsh Harrier and Cetti's Warbler.

10.30-15.30

RSPB Reserve

1m Hen Harrier, 4f Marsh Harriers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels and 2 Buzzards.

Also 1m Stonechat, 1 Water Rail, 4 Pintails, 40 Dunlin, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Ruff, 4 Snipe, 15 Curlew and 1 Kingfisher.

Saltmarsh (Viewed from the Hill Fort)

1f Hen Harrier, 50+ Pink Footed Geese, 8 Little Egrets and 100+ Canada Geese.

Around 70 swans were on pasture at Shotwick, they appeared to be a mixed flock of Mute and Whoopers, and I could'nt pick out and Bewicks amongst them.

The Water Rail was showing really well in the ditch by the barn, whilst 100+ Linnets perched on nearby bushes, something a Kestrel and a Buzzard showed a keen interest in.

Around 30 Common Gulls were in the roost in front of the reception centre, with lesser numbers of Black Headed and Herring Gulls.