Birding Group Visit to Parkgate, Riverbank Road and Denhall Quay – 17 February 2026

Our scheduled birding group visit to Parkgate on the 17^th February for a “high” tide of 9.1 metres at 10:58 am wasn’t very well attended with Anne and I and Richard the only people going there. Dave and Merryn decided to go to Frodsham instead (a previous visit there which was scheduled while we were on holiday in Lanzarote had not happened due to bad weather). We hadn’t made it to the birding group visit to Tatton Park on the 10^th so it was a shame there was just the three of us.

It was a rare dry day and the visibility was remarkable – possibly due to the fact that it was pretty cold. Nevertheless it wasn’t windy and that helped.

At Parkgate it was quite quiet; 9 metres isn’t very high so we weren’t expecting too much and rather wondered why it had been referred to as high tide in the schedule. Anyway, it was a nice day and we had a very good view of a male Merlin perched on a post. When it took off, we were still able to follow it a long way in our bins before it fell down on some unfortunate bird – probably a Meadow Pipit though there diet also sometimes includes small rodents, so a vole isn’t out of the question.

There were dramatic displays of skeins  of Lapwings – possible several hundreds – wheeling about in the sky. A Marsh Harrier also stirred up some panic in the Starlings that were well hidden in the marsh until danger got them up. There were a couple each of Great and Little Egrets and good numbers of Pink Footed Geese. The resident Kestrel hovered over the Boathouse and there were some Curlews in the field behind the old baths car park. Stonechats were easily seen.

When we judged that we had seen all we were likely to see, we headed off to Riverbank Road which was not very inundated. Again, lots of Pink foots and plenty of Shelduck out on the estuary but the only real addition to the day was a pair of Buzzards circling high above the harbour at Sheldrake’s.

We continued on to get lunch at the Harp Inn at Denhall Quay / Little Neston. It was just warm enough to sit outside so we got even better views of Lapwings flocking in huge skeins. There were also impressive skeins of Pink Footed Geese; are they just co-ordinating for when it is time for them all to leave? It seems a little early; surely they do this in April or early May? Perhaps it is more arriving? Or are they just socialising or moving from a roost to a feeding ground? Who knows, but it was impressive.

We saw a small flock of Linnets and a few Stonechats and Goldfinches. Small groups of Redshank flew by occasionally.

In summary, quite a nice day; brisk but clear and with great visibility. A nice toastie and a beer rounded the morning off.

Bird Sightings : Parkgate 17 Feb 2026

Species	No
Black-headed Gull	10
Blackbird	1
Canada Goose	100
Carrion Crow	6
Curlew	2
Great White Egret	2
Grey Heron	1
Jackdaw	12
Kestrel	1
Little Egret	2
Magpie	2
Mallard	20
Marsh Harrier	1
Merlin	1
Pink-footed Goose	300
Robin	1
Rook	30
Starling	200
Stonechat	1
Teal	40
Woodpigeon	4

Bird Sightings : Riverbank Road, Heswall 17 Feb 2026

Species	No
Buzzard	2
Pink-footed Goose	100
Shelduck	40

Bird Sightings : Neston Old Quay 17 Feb 2026

Species	No
Goldfinch	6
Lapwing	400
Linnet	10
Little Egret	2
Redshank	40
Stonechat	2