Burton Mere Wetlands and Parkgate 25th May 2021
With both vaccinations completed and reserves starting to open their hides up again, we headed off to Burton Mere Wetlands. When we got there we discovered that the larger than usual numbers of cars was due to the presence of a Glossy Ibis on the reserve. Naturally we were interested so we hot-footed it down to the Bunker Hide where it had been seen from.
When we got there is was a bit too full of people, not very socially distanced. In fact, one of the female staff popped in to berate all the blokes for their bas behaviour and a few of them left the hide a little sheepishly. Naturally, the bird had flown the coop and, although it was to be seen by the odd person during the day, we did not manage to get it. Nor did we see the Spoonbills that had also been flying about!
All was not lost, however. We had a look at the scrape from the Bunker Hide but it is all a bit unsatisfactory; bins and scopes steam up as a result of obligatory mask-wearing and the experience is pretty uncomfortable. The outlook platform has been closed off since the start of the breeding season so views of the scrape are very restricted and you have to work at covering it all from various, not very good, locations around the site.
We did the walk down to the new hide that replaces the old Inner Marsh Farm Hide. The replacement has been called the Border Hide for some reason and it is quite a good replacement with much better views of the scrape and a seating area outside on a sort of veranda.
Such is the strangeness of the Covid period that our year ticks included Mute Swan, Wigeon, Moorhen and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Less odd were year tick Sedge Warbler and Swift. The best – and most surprising of all – was at the blind nearest the reception where people often look for Bearded Tit. We didn’t see any of those but as we were standing looking a big bird flew over our heads from behind, dropped its long legs and landed on the edge of the reeds before disappearing with amazing ease – a Bittern!
We checked back at reception and when I asked if they ever had reports of a Bittern at that location they said yes, half an hour ago. No Glossy Ibis – but at least we got a Bittern.
We dropped down to Parkgate for some lunch and added our first House Martins of the year and a nice Marsh Harrier.
Bird Sightings : Burton Mere Wetlands 25th May 2021
| Greylag Goose | 20 |
| Canada Goose | 30 |
| Mute Swan | 6 |
| Common Shelduck | 4 |
| Northern Shoveler | 8 |
| Gadwall | 6 |
| Eurasian Wigeon | 1 |
| Mallard | 4 |
| Tufted Duck | 4 |
| Common Pheasant | 1 |
| Feral Pigeon | 4 |
| Common Wood Pigeon | 4 |
| Common Swift | 6 |
| Common Moorhen | 2 |
| Common Coot | 2 |
| Pied Avocet | 20 |
| Eurasian Oystercatcher | 1 |
| Northern Lapwing | 30 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 30 |
| Common Redshank | 2 |
| Black-headed Gull | 40 |
| Great Bittern | 1 |
| Grey Heron | 2 |
| Great Egret | 1 |
| Little Egret | 2 |
| Common Buzzard | 1 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 1 |
| Eurasian Magpie | 1 |
| Eurasian Jackdaw | 14 |
| Carrion Crow | 6 |
| Eurasian Blue Tit | 2 |
| Great Tit | 2 |
| Sedge Warbler | 2 |
| Eurasian Reed Warbler | 2 |
| Willow Warbler | 1 |
| Common Chiffchaff | 1 |
| Cetti’s Warbler | 6 |
| Eurasian Blackbird | 1 |
| European Robin | 1 |
| Common Chaffinch | 1 |
| European Greenfinch | 1 |
| European Goldfinch | 2 |
Bird Sightings : Parkgate 25th May 2021
| Eurasian Marsh Harrier | 1 |
| Common House Martin | 6 |
| Common Starling | 12 |
| House Sparrow | 8 |