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| A stormy day at Burton Mere |
Our now annual Christmas trip to RSPB Burton Mere wetlands saw
approx 2 dozen of the group arriving in a winter storm, and boy did it lash it
down, so severe we had to face the austerity of the visitor centre and the hardship
of observing the mere through its large picture windows, whilst sipping hot chocolate!
Ha
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| Warm and cosy visitor centre |
Needless to say the birds were making the best of it, backs to
the wind and driving rain until the squalls passed. Lots of wildfowl and waders on the water and
scrapes, teal, shelduck, widgeon, coot, moorhen, mallard, tufted duck,gadwall, shoveler, lapwing, black-
tailed godwit, pochard, redshank, dunlin, whooper swan, little egret, Canadian and greylag
geese
Buzzard on the fence was the first raptor seen, eventually
followed by a peregrine spooking the flocks, then a ring tailed hen harrier quartering the mere edge
visible from the visitor centre. Later a great view of a marsh harrier from the
marsh covert hide.
Target
bird for many was the cattle egret that has been on the reserve since September,
initially elusive, but good views were eventually
gained on our return to the visitor centre after our stroll around the reserve.
The egret was having fun running to a fro between the legs of the reserve’s cattle
herd.
Our merry, if slightly soggy band of birders then took
a stroll around the reserve, starting from
the visitor centre past the old fisheries pools (no kingy unfortunately) down the
boardwalk on the reed and fen trail to the Marsh Covert Hide.
From here the trial has been extended and becomes the farm and willow trail.
The trail runs alongside the mere and reed bed with 2 areas of wooden screens
to look through (usually a good place for water rails and closer views on wild
fowl)
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| Screen view looking towards Burton point |
The boardwalk path ends at this point as it climbs up towards the back of
the mere pools towards Burton point. Here a whole field is dedicated to feeding
birds, planted with wildflowers – one of Burton mere's giant meadow bird tables!
In summer this was alive with warbler song including the much sought grasshopper
warbler, today it was pretty quiet and people were focusing on negotiating the very
muddy path! This path eventually leads
to the old Inner marsh farm reserve path and Burton point. Along the way there’s
a spectacular view of the whole reserve stretching to the old barn and sailing
club in the distance.
The
car park woodland was the most productive for smaller birds, mainly around the
feeders. Chaffinch, blue, gt, coal tit, goldfinch, greenfinch, nuthatch, wren blackbird,
song thrush, robin, tree creeper and gt spotted woodpecker (shall I mention the
supreme foragers -rats!!)
We
returned to the visitor centre just ahead of yet another squall, which delayed us
temporarily from moving to our next venue the boathouse for Christmas dinner.
A
quick pic with Harry the mascot from August’s Hen Harrier day.
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| Laura and Harry |
http://liverpoolrspb.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/hen-harrier-day.html
Twenty-four
of us sat down to a 3 course Christmas dinner at the boathouse. Great stuff, well recommended - the
boozy Christmas pud to die for!
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| Happy revellers |
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| Hats on, Cheers! |
These are the days of our lives.
Merry
Christmas everybody.
Laura.
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