Burton Mere Wetlands and Parkgate High Tide 2nd March 2025
With a high tide at 12:52 on the Wirral, it made sense that we stop off at Burton Mere Wetlands for an hour or so to see if we could catch the first Avocets f the year and see what else was around before heading off to Parkgate for the high tide.
As far as we could see there were only two Avocets on the scrape, and they were eventually flushed by a substantial influx of Canada Geese coming in from the surrounding fields. There was just a single Black-tailed Godwit on the scrape, but I imagine there were a lot more elsewhere. Without much time we stayed around the reception hide, the barn and the (closed) café. The Avocets were the only real attraction, but we got a nice Jay before we left. AS we drove down the path leaving the site, we got a Jay.
We got down to Parkgate just in time to catch one fo the few remaining parking spots at the far end of the car park. As it happened, it was quite handy as it was near a low wall overlooking the marsh with four benches immediately behind. We would normally prefer to be higher up but we had to settle for this which at least allowed us a seat from time to time.
The first main attraction was a pair of what the chap next to me thought were Ring-tailed Hen Harriers and I thought so at first but then started thinking there was just a bit too much white on the rump for them to be Hen Harriers. By way of consolation there were at least five Marsh Harriers in flight at the same time over the marsh showing very well.
The tide didn’t really come in far but it was enough to get the Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Stonechats out and there were still a large number of Pink-Footed Geese. There were at least six Great Egrets – at least as many as Little Egrets which shows just how much more common they have become in recent years.
A nice lunchtime at Parkgate was followed by a quick visit to the Harp Inn at Denhall Quay at Little Neston for a pint of Landlord. The water was quite a way up there and the lower car park area was flooded. If it wasn’t for the constant flow of dog walkers there, now, it would be a nice spot to watch the tide come in from.
Bird Sightings : Burton Mere Wetlands 2 March 2025
| Species | No |
|---|---|
| Avocet | 2 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 3 |
| Blackbird | 2 |
| Blue Tit | 4 |
| Canada Goose | 150 |
| Chaffinch | 1 |
| Coot | 2 |
| Gadwall | 4 |
| Great Tit | 4 |
| Greylag Goose | 8 |
| Jay | 1 |
| Lapwing | 14 |
| Mallard | 20 |
| Pink-footed Goose | 60 |
| Robin | 2 |
| Shelduck | 4 |
| Shoveler | 6 |
| Teal | 30 |
| Woodpigeon | 2 |
Bird Sightings : Parkgate 2 March 2025
| Species | No |
|---|---|
| Black-headed Gull | 40 |
| Canada Goose | 60 |
| Curlew | 1 |
| Goldfinch | 12 |
| Great Black-backed Gull | 4 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 1 |
| Great White Egret | 6 |
| Grey Heron | 1 |
| Herring Gull | 6 |
| Little Egret | 4 |
| Magpie | 6 |
| Marsh Harrier | 5 |
| Meadow Pipit | 4 |
| Pheasant | 5 |
| Pink-footed Goose | 200 |
| Robin | 2 |
| Shelduck | 20 |
| Skylark | 4 |
| Song Thrush | 1 |
| Starling | 20 |
| Stonechat | 1 |
| Teal | 60 |
| Woodpigeon | 8 |