The high tide in December was accompanied by atrocious weather high winds and rain and alot of the wirral coastline sustained damage. Parkgate promenade was submerged, cars were carried away, and many creatures were drowned hopefully it won't be a repeat performance on the weather front.
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| Water rail |
Enjoy a date with nature at Parkgate this weekend and
join the RSPB toexperience one of the best wildlife spectacles in the
region.Many local people are familiar with the phenomenon of the
high spring
tides flooding the vast saltmarsh of the estuary, but few
have been there to witness it and the activity that follows.
In a bid to encourage people to experience the wildlife
spectacle forthemselves, free events will be held by the team from
RSPB Dee Estuary nature reserves from Friday 31 Jan to Monday 3
Feb with telescopes and binoculars available for public use.
Dan Trotman, Visitor Development Officer at RSPB Dee
Estuary reserves,said: The high
tides in early December and January were some of the biggest and sadly most destructive in many years. Seeing
the incoming tide reach the sea wall at Parkgate is unimaginable on a
normal day due to the extent of the marsh, but in December the tide even
came over the wall onto the promenade.
These infrequent natural events are something we like to
celebrate because it is a chance for people to see this part of our
nature reserve on the estuary at its most impressive. The Dees
saltmarsh is home to hundreds of small mammals which are flushed from
their homes by the incoming tide, attracting magnificent birds of prey
including short-eared owls and hen harriers to feed.
With thousands of wetland birds trying to keep on the
edge of the water, large flocks can be seen shifting around trying to
find drier ground. Other predators take advantage too foxes will be more than happy to snatch an easy meal, whilst even herons and
gulls have been seen helping themselves to voles and small birds.
It’s not easy watching the voles desperately fleeing for
their lives in December dozens were scrambling up the sea wall and
running across the road but it s
a great reminder of how much wildlife is thriving on the marsh and the value of the RSPB protecting such a
vast wilderness.
The RSPB will be hosting the free events at Parkgates Old
Baths car park and at the Donkey Stand on the four days of upcoming
high tides; Friday 31 January, Saturday 1, Sunday 2 and Monday 3
February.
Dan added: The
extent of the spectacle is dependent on the weather conditions on the day low pressure and a strong northwesterly
wind are the best to drive the tide in fully, which is quite
likely with the weather we’ve had so far this winter. Obviously thats
something we won’t know for definite until closer to the time; it’s a
case of keeping an eye on the weather forecast, but we’ll keep
our fingers crossed and be present at Parkgate regardless.
Car parking is limited on Parkgate promenade and at the
Old Baths car park, but the RSPB has arranged for extra free parking to
be available for visitors at Marsh Nurseries on Boathouse Lane (CH64
6RD) and the
Wirral Country Park car park on Station Road (CH64 6QJ).
The events are fully supported by Cheshire West and
Chester council and are part of the Wild Wirral Date with Nature , which is showcasing the outstanding wildlife of the Wirral Peninsula and its
coastline through
a series of events in partnership with Wirral Borough
Council this winter. Full details and dates of further events can be
found on the RSPB website, here: www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/327690-wild-wirral-
For more information on the RSPB Dee Estuary reserves and
activities,please call the reserve on 0151 353 8478, or check out
the website.
**** Liverpool RSPB Event Sunday 02/02/14 The Wirral Wander
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| Stormy Wirral |
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