Spotted Crakes at Burton Mere Wetlands : 30th July 2014

Spotted Crakes at Burton Mere Wetlands : 30th July 2014

On the 30th of July we went to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands in search of the Spotted Crakes that have been seen there recently. We asked at the reception hide whether they had been seen (It seems that there are two pairs with chick/s there) but no one had seen them recently. From the hide we got nice views of a Little Grebe carrying a pair of chicks on its back. There was a single Dunlin and a few Snipe as well as the usual Black-tailed Godwits and Greylag and Canada Geese. A few Ruff were also present but we could not see Spotted Crake anywhere. It was a bit of an outside chance because they are usually more likely to be seen at dusk apparently so we felt we still had a chance.

Because the glass windows at the reception hide are so awful we walked out onto the decking on the left side of the hide but there were so many birders there, all looking for the Crakes, we couldn’t find any room so we walked on to the open viewpoint further along which was empty except for one other person. Ironically we had just got set up and sorted when all the birders we had just passed piled in behind us. Apparently someone had seen the bird and a chick but they had disappeared from view so they had all come round to where we were to get a clearer view. With all those eyes available it wasn’t long before we sack a small, long-legged ball of black feathers pecking around at the far side of the water. It wasn’t long before one of the parents appeared and we got splendid views of my first Spotted Crake – and with a chick. Although quite distant the distinguishing features were quite clear through the scope and I even managed to get a little bit of phone-scoped video of the birds.

We spent a very long time there as the birds came and went out of the reed bed. At one point it disappeared and a Moorhen took its place which was a bit confusing until the Spotted Crake ran out from the reeds and circled in front of it giving a good idea of the relative sizes of the birds. Unfortunately the Moorhen chased it off but we had had really good views so no one was complaining.

Whilst I had been getting my fill of the Spotted Crake, Anne had walked in the direction of the old barn where we had been told a Little Owl was roosting. We saw this bird a few weeks earlier but I still fancied a look so Anne showed me where she had seen it. Unfortunately it had flown which was a shame but you can’t have everything.

We headed back to reception and then out the other side of the hide to take the walk to the Marsh Cover Hide. In the woods there were plenty of Crows and Jackdaws, lots of Swallows over the marsh and the usual Tits and Finches.

As we walked along the path we met a couple who told us that they had just seen a Green Woodpecker but it must have been passing through as we neither heard it nor saw it – disappointingly. At the Marsh Covert Hide it was pretty quiet. A Green Sandpiper showed briefly before half hiding itself behind some reeds and settling down to roost, head on back. There was also a Little Egret.

We walked down the path to Inner Marsh Farm but there was nothing surprising on the reeds or on the newly exposed ponds. At Inner Marsh Farm there were a lot of people and there was some talk of Greenshank and Spotted Redshank but I couldn’t see them. The light was quite harsh and perhaps they were there amongst the large numbers of Black-tailed Godwit but not for me. There was an Avocet and a few Shelduck and lots of Swallows and Starlings but really it was quite quiet and we only stayed for about half an hour.

As we got back near the reception there was a bit of a hubbub as one of the staff had located another Spotted Crake a bit further along the reeds than the first one we had seen. The chick was also a little larger and this made us conclude that this was part of the second Spotted Crake family that were present. There was so much interest that viewing space between the trees was very limited so after a quick look I left to make space for others to get a view.

Perhaps the day was a little disappointing in some respects but it was a lovely day and more than worthwhile going for a life tick and not just a tick but great views and some nice behaviour from the birds also.

Bird Sightings : Burton Mere Wetlands : Reception Hide

Species	Count
Greylag Goose	20
Canada Goose	20
Mallard	20
Common Teal	20
Tufted Duck	3
Little Grebe	3
Spotted Crake	4
Eurasian Common Moorhen	6
Common Coot	10
Northern Lapwing	30
Black-tailed Godwit	40
Dunlin	1
Ruff	3
Common Snipe	3
Black-headed Gull	20
Common Wood Pigeon	10
Eurasian Jackdaw	30
Carrion Crow	20
Barn Swallow	20
Great Tit	6
Common Blue Tit	8
Pied Wagtail	4
European Goldfinch	6

Bird Sightings : Burton Mere Wetlands : Marsh Covert Hide

Species	Count
Little Egret	1
Green Sandpiper	1

Bird Sightings : Burton Mere Wetlands : Inner Marsh Farm

Species	Count
Common Shelduck	10
Mallard	20
Common Teal	20
Pied Avocet	1
Black-tailed Godwit	40
Common Starling	20