Even more incredibly 21 SOEs were counted on Burton Marsh earlier in the week by the local wardens in one session. Yep your right about the Wirral that's where I have been doing most of my winter birding since I started.
Sid
blockquote>Henry Cook wrote:
Nice one Sid. The wirral has some excellent birding all year round but winter is when things 'hot up' there! An incredible count of 17 Short-eared Owls was reported from Burton Marsh yesterday at 3pm. Thanks. Henry.
Nice one Sid. The wirral has some excellent birding all year round but winter is when things 'hot up' there! An incredible count of 17 Short-eared Owls was reported from Burton Marsh yesterday at 3pm. Thanks. Henry.
For the second time this week I was on the Wirral this time to West Kirby - found the Great Northern Diver on the marine lake along with 2 Red breasted Merganser, a male Goldeneye and a Great Crested Grebe plus lots of Gulls of course. There was also a good selection of waders towards the southern end of the marina - Turnstone, Knot, Dunlin and Redshank included. Also met an Oldham birder - Paul Bowden - nice to meet you Paul. Hope that you found something worthwhile at Inner Marsh because my lucky birder status continued to be upheld with the discovery of 3 Snow Bunting on the Red Rocks reserve as well as Stonechat and Meadow Pipit. Over high tide there was a flock of 60+ Brent Geese off Middle Eye (the island next to Hilbre) and a single Bar-tailed Godwit with a small flock of Curlew.
A pleasnt afternoon at Parkgate old baths produced two Short Eared Owls, (probably)two separate ring tail Hen Harriers, a Merlin sitting up nicely on a post, a pair of Kestrels, a Barn owl, several Little Egret - all on the marsh and just as we were leaving a Tawny Owl in the woods behind the car park in the area where the Little Owl used to sit for those who remember.
What a cracking bird to see in North-west England, or at least I assume it must have been, as I arrived 15 minutes after it flew off high North (possibly North-west).
Rough-legged Buzzard for second day today - yesterday on Hilbre, then moved today to the golf course between Red Rocks and West Kirby and appeared to roost there.
Sunday 19th October, 10am 3pm, Connahs Quay Reserve Open Day. Join the Deeside Naturalists Society for some spectacular high-tide birdwatching. (HW: 29.5ft, 13.57). Location: From A548 take the Connahs Quay turn, and follow the Power Station signs. A member of the society will greet you at the reserve entrance. Further information: D.N.S. - 01244 537440. Free.
Went a couple of years ago and had an excellent day - good birding and excellent bacon butties and mugs of tea !!!!
Connah's Quay is a private site that has an open day once a year.
Hobby in full view at 20ft at IMF on the path near the little bridge over the stream. It then flew around our heads affording great views. Ringtail Hen Harrier immediately on entering hide, 3 Buzzard and 5 Greenshank then the action tailed off.
Ringtail Hen Harrier again on Burton Marsh along with Peregrine, Buzzard 2, Kestrel 3. Huge flocks of Starlings and Lapwings.
Another Buzzard and Little Egret 2 at Parkgate though otherwise pretty quiet here. the Little Owls tree has alrgely fallen down.
Also seen on the cruise a craig higson on official duties last last seen going to a photo shoot and free handouts of fudge bar i think seen by myself and a Mr Woosey
It was a Ripple Jimmy - far classier than a fudge.
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Also seen on the cruise a craig higson on official duties last last seen going to a photo shoot and free handouts of fudge bar i think seen by myself and a Mr Woosey
Little Ringed Plover Green Sandpiper Curlew Little Egret Kingfisher Water Rail (Excellent views just in front of hide) Black Tailed Godwit Ruff Peregrine Buzzard Kestrel Blackcap Greylag Geese Canada Geese Pied Wagtail Stock Dove
Had a mooch around Burton marsh and Parkgate this morning
1 Barn Owl - caught 2 voles between 9am and 9-30am 1 Marsh Harrier (juv/female) - mobbed by a Kestrel on Burton marsh nr the Decca pools 1 Hen Harrier - ringtail giving spectacular views nr Boathouse flash 4 Kestrels 19 Greenshank on Boathouse flash
If anyone is interested, the next good C10 metre tides are on 7th & 8th April roughly around 1 p.m. but check the weather on the day. Last year moderate easterlies kept one of the highest March tides off the marsh almost completely, while producing breakers on the Welsh side
a cracking day we had at parkgate high tide today the tide was up to the wall well before hightide as one person said its better than watching a cup final but not if you are a vole or a shrew as they got a right hammering off the predators what was waiting for them birds seen and there was so much to see you just didnt know were to look 1 peregrine 2 merlin 1 s e o but up to 5 seen marsh harrier buzzard jack snipe 10+ water rails 8+ snipe bl t godwits redshank 20 whoopers or bewicks to far out to id pink feet pintails teal 2 water pipits skylarks still singing and nowhere to land lots of others just an incredible sight with shrews and voles running about round your feet trying to find any cover whatsoever in the end you could have cried for the little things just wanting to find places to hide in but thats nature and its cruel at times but if you have never been to the hightide there its one you must put on your list but beware its not every time the tide comes so far up
Looks like half of Mcr debunked to the Wirral today! Good day all round despite the water not rising as high as expected. And a little reccie round Moore for future reference to round off. Anyone try to get into IMF?
we did see 1 rail make it! Seems like it was a works outing Anyone else go on to Gwydyr Forest for the Hoopoe? Showed well in its' natural habitat of high pasture . With Med gull and Greensandpiper at Moore this morning a good day out
minus a few Water Rails - watched a heron spend over 10 minutes handling (drowning & stabbing) and consuming one head first. Also a buzzard flew by with one in its talons. 15 + Little Egret from the boathouse car park and 20+ from The Ship pub. Blackwits Pink-feet Pintail etc
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went on the wirral 24/01/07 force 7 hooley and waves coming over the road at new brighton. cracking roost of redshank,dunlin,knot, sanderling,turnstone, 7 purple sandpiper on rafts on the marine lake at 12.00 high tide,purple sandpipers lifers for me hoylake,westkirby,birds very thin on the ground tide was so high. went onto inner marsh farm.cracking close up views of 2 foxes male and female .birdwise 6 spotted redshank,10 snipe,50 black tailed godwits and 1 bar tailed godwit quite rare for this site,green winged teal,4 heron,4 curlew,1 kestrel,shellducks,shovellers,teal,pintail and redshanks.great days birding always a pleasure.
went to the wirral today with local group all the usual stuff giving good close up views plus on west kirby marine lake red throated diver 2 r b mergansers
new brighton cracking views of 4 purple sandpipers
This Manchester birding site must be the dogs b******* of all, thanks to Ian Mck of course. No sooner than I request help-4.39. today than I get a reply; 4.50 p.m.(thanks Rob).
Aye - and that's despite your dodgy avatar! Build a bonfire....
Mike, totally understand why you like this part of the world, I did search the teal for a GWT but none seen by me anyway(this often means nothing!!!) Cheers Ian
Glad you enjoyed the Wirral. One of my favourite places in the world.
The marsh generally will only flood with a 10m+ tide and then it depends on the wind. I have stood at Parkgate for a 10.1m tide which didn't flood the marsh because the wind kept it off. I would guess it unlikely that the marsh will flood this weekend.
The marsh at Heswall floods easier and Riverbank Rd in Heswall is a good spot for birding - there is a car park there. I would still think a near 10m tide would be needed here and favourable wind.
Parkgate can still be good on a fine afternoon - Hen Harriers come to roost there and other raptors should be around.
IMF is superb - any sign of the usual Green-winged Teal?
Visited this morning with a friend from work. Probably chose the wrong place to visit for the high tide at 9.30 a.m. as we went to Burton Marsh and saw no sign of the tide!!!, Ill know better next time. Good place none the less, 2 peregrines and kestrels lots of little egrets, teal, wigeon, shellduck, mallard, lapwings, crows, fieldfare, meadow pipets, linnets redshank. Then went to Inner Marsh Farm. This is a fabulous place, although Im not supposed to say so as the vollunter there said they dont advertise. Hard to find and with parking for 12 cars only but if youve not been Id advise a visit. We saw lots of teal, wigeon, pintail, shovellor, shellduck, mallard, snipe, curlew, redshank, golden plover, lapwing. In the trees a large mixed flock of goldfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch, sisken and on the set aside a flock of 30+ twite. Brambling had also been seen, but not by us. Great weather, a half in the ship at Parkgate and a pint in the Harp at Neston made for a great day out of county. Cheers and thanks again to all who offered me advice
This Manchester birding site must be the dogs b******* of all, thanks to Ian Mck of course. No sooner than I request help-4.39. today than I get a reply; 4.50 p.m.(thanks Rob). Pete, the G.B.G. pub in Parkgate is the Ship Hotel, looking forard to a pint there on Friday!. Phil, the high tide is at 9.30a.m. this Friday(23rd). So many people out there willing to help, fabulous. Cheers all Ian
Ian, which Parkgate pub is in the GBG ?. I usually call in The Ship for scran ( a decent roast and scan the marshes ) a couple of mega ice-cream shops and the chippy is refuted to be best around, though my favourite pub is still The Harp at Little Neston.
Plenty of Little Egrets from all locations.
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If it is a really high tide there will be lots of people at Parkgate and extra eyes can help - but the locals reckon that Banks Lane nearer to West Kirby (check the Dee Estuary site for details) gives you better and closer views.
Parkgate Old Baths car park can be a bit busy for some people.
Just discovered that high tide on Friday is at 9.30 a.m., where of all the places mentioned is the VERY BEST place to be at this time??. I NEED HELP!!!!!!!!
Mike, Will certainly visit Parkgate as well, just seen that it also has a pub in the G.B.G. things just get better and better!!!. Thanks for info, cheers Ian.
You could also try Parkgate up the road (approx 15 mins drive). Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin and SEO regular on the marsh and there is a Little Owl often seen peeking from a hole in a tree at the side of the paddock behind the car park. The boathouse pools here also produce good waders.
Thanks David, just looked up the Harp Inn in the G.B.G. sounds good. Just the advice I was after. Any other help, birds or pubs gratefully accepted. Cheers Ian.
Down Denhall Lane, from Inner Marsh Farm you come to Burton Marsh. There are sometimes Short-eared Owls on the marsh here and a variety of wildfowl/waders can be seen regularly throughout the winter. A good walk north along the estuary from here towards Neston will usually produce a good selection of marshland birds. Even better, there is a pub called The Harp Inn after approximately one mile which serves real ale and has a seating area overlooking the marshes.
Ive got a day off work next Friday and have decided to visit RSPB Inner Marsh Farm. Ive never been before and wondered if anyone out there has any useful tips/advice on the area, other nearby places or maybe any good pubs!, I do have the CAMRA good beer guide, but its no substitute for first hand experience. Any help gratefully recieved, thanks in anticipation. Cheers Ian
On Sunday I visited the Wirral for a spot of birding.
Called in at Crosby early am - a lone adult Bar-tailed Godwit was the best find, plenty of Dunlin.
Driving down the M53 mid morning there were 10 Buzzards in the air together, 1m up road of J4. A Hobby was with them briefly. Buzzard 11 was on a fence post nearby and two more were in the air 1m down road from J4.
At Parkgate, female Marsh Harrier gave superb views from the Old Boathouse car park while being mobbed by two Crows.
11 Greenshank on Boathouse pools plus 2 Little Egret. Plenty of Hirundines.
Leasowe shore at lunch - approx 1400 Oystercatcher, 50+ Knot plus plenty of Curlew and Redshank and a couple of Ringed Plovers all on narrow sand bar.
Afternoon seawatching from Leasowe Gunsite produced a Guillemot, 3 Sandwich Terns, a Common Tern and a Great Crested Grebe.
Cracking day despite the lack of activitiy from the gunsite (didn't stay long enough for the Arctic Skuas).