RSPB Liverpool Group RSPB Burton Mere Trip and Boathouse Xmas Meal 7th December 2019

Peregrine hunting at Burton Mere - JBinks

And so we came to the group’s last field trip of 2019 – the annual visit to RSPB Burton Mere, followed by Christmas lunch at The Boathouse, Parkgate.

On a mild, grey day we started in the visitor centre (Reception Hide) overlooking the main scrape, scanning the water and islands for waders and ducks, and were rewarded with… a male peregrine, sitting on one of the islands, choosing lunch from the ‘menu’ of water birds around it. After a while, it took off, flying low over black-tailed godwits and wigeon, then, clearly still undecided, returned to its island. 

Marsh Harrier - J Binks

A marsh harrier seemingly perched on some reeds (obviously a post in amongst them) caught our attention then, and so some of us missed the peregrine, lunch choice now made, taking off again, selecting a black-tailed godwit and settling down with it. But no! Lunch wasn’t to be: a carrion crow had other ideas, and we watched in awe as the peregrine, thoroughly frustrated, chased one bird away, putting on a spectacular turn of speed, then flew off empty-taloned.

All the gang. -  Paul Wakelam

Speaking of Christmas, it was time for the group to split up. Some made the short journey to the Boathouse and a fine Christmas lunch attended by a male hen harrier, great and little egrets, and views of three marsh harriers in the skies at the same time over the marsh. One of our number lingered at Burton Mere, enjoying a pleasant wander through the crisp leaves along Gorse Covert woodland trail, with views of a sparrowhawk amongst the trees, and a final visit to Reception Hide, which produced two marsh harriers interacting in the sky over the reedbed.

Thanks to all group officials, volunteers and members for another great year. Don’t forget to get your year lists off to a good start with us on 11th January 2020.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Debs

Burton Mere day list

Blackbird, Black-headed gull, Black-tailed godwit, Blue tit, Canada geese, Carrion crow, Cetti’s warbler, Chaffinch, Coal tit, Common buzzard, Common redpoll, Common shelduck, Common teal, Coot, Curlew, Dunlin, Goldfinch, Great black-backed gull, Great tit, Great-spotted woodpecker, Greenfinch, Greylag geese, Herring gull,  Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh harrier, Mediterranean gull, Moorhen, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Peregrine, Pink-footed geese, Pintail, Raven, Redshank, Robin, Rook, Shoveler, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Stock dove, Wigeon, Wood pigeon

Parkgate – additional species

Great egret

Hen harrier (male)

Little egret

Reflections on an Autumn day

It was another beautiful autumnal day yesterday. A good day for planting some bulbs in the wildlife nature garden I thought. 

I decided to have a little stroll to Hale  light and the Withins first, such a pleasing light at that time of day, and the air full of the calls of curlew. Rob was on his ownsome by the last house on church road doing his migration count, wood pigeons leading the way but the count was low this morning compared to previous days; Rob has been doing this count for years and recording it on the trektellan web site, logging the changes and trends, It's interesting to compare years, have a look at these records, 12 years apart. https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/392/20191021   https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/392/20071021

It was cold morning, and there was evidence of an overnight in some of the shadier place, but  I was impressed to still see the cornfield annuals that the farmer had sown along the field edge were still  hanging on, and hopefully setting their seed will germinate for a repeat performance next year....which gets me to thinking we really must try and sort out our  cornfield meadow at the back of the visitor centre, the wonderful colourful displays of wildflowers across the Merseyside area have caught the public's interest and it would be great for our meadow to reach its full potential.  

  

  

Autumn going into winter is always good to observe the birds, not just the migrants heading in and out but also the more home birds feeding on the land, one of the farmers had spread slurry on a field, large gathering of gulls, curlews and starlings were rooting about looking for choice morsels. I was happily surprised, by a covey of nine grey partridge which erupted before me as I passed the hedge calling loudly with rapid scratchy voice. Speaking  of which the hedge and path , it was busy , full of smaller fare, dunnocks, blackbirds, wrens, song thrushes and robins .

I arrived at Pickering’s to see the usual dog walkers and joggers were already out and about. Carol has told me the tree was dropping its leave,  she was right, the garden under a blanket orange ,yellow blanket  and actually complimented the range of flower hues  that were still doing well.

I got to work, serenaded by a robin seeing his wistful autumn song, great and blue tits vocalising the arrival of fresh peanuts in the feeders.

The ground was soft so it didn't take long to push in 185 bulbs, snakes head fritillaries under the tree, allium sphaerocephalon in a side bed, wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus and crocus tommasinianus along the path and dotted about. As long as the local squirrels don't dig them out, we should have a little early spring colour and nectar for our wildlife.   It was good to see the hoverflies and bees were still visiting as the morning warmed a little, no butterflies though, perhaps if I’d tarried longer.  (https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/flighttimes_by_date.php)

Before I left I gathered a big bag of fallen leaves to take home with me, additional bedding option for any hedgehogs hibernating in my garden. 

http://www.thefriendsofpickeringspasture.org.uk/the-pickerings-wildlife-garden.html

Laura

RSPB RESERVE UPDATES

Funding secures exciting addition to RSPB Marshside

RSPB Marshside

Thanks to funding from Biffa Award, the RSPB is taking even more birds under its wing on the Ribble Estuary after recently purchasing Crossens Inner Marsh, a wet grassland area adjacent to their existing Marshside reserve in Southport.

The marsh, which is already home to over-wintering birds such as wigeons, pink-footed geese, black-tailed godwits and golden plovers, covers an area about the size of 38 football pitches.

Over £464,000 funding from Biffa Award enabled the RSPB to purchase the land and will also fund major improvements to the marsh, which will benefit rare and unusual wildlife including nesting lapwings, redshanks, and avocets - which are the emblem of the RSPB, along with brown hares. The habitat works, which will take place after the breeding season this summer, will also improve the control of water levels on the reserve helping to prevent prolonged flooding of the rare coastal grassland.

Tony Baker, Site Manager for the RSPB Ribble Reserves said: “Purchasing Crossens Inner Marsh is the final piece of the jigsaw for us, not only as an extension to our well known Marshside reserve, but also in the completion of the Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve (NNR). We’re working in partnership here with Natural England who oversee England’s NNRs, which enables us to do more for nature by creating opportunities for bigger, better and more joined-up management of these vital wild spaces.”

Much of the wider Ribble Estuary is managed as England’s third largest NNR and is one of the Top 10 most important wetlands in the UK for the numbers of water birds that live there.  Some have travelled thousands of miles from the north to spend the winter months, others choose the area in spring and summer to raise their families, whilst some live there all year round.

Tony added: “Our new site at Crossens Inner Marsh, and indeed the whole of the Ribble Estuary NNR, is home to a range of incredible creatures that thrive in this harsh environment. In addition to sheltering birds and mammals from human disturbance, the site is stuffed with mini-beasts, which provide a feast for wetland birds. The marsh also benefits people, by reducing the flood risk from the sea to homes and businesses. Sadly, much of the coastal grassland in this country has been lost to human developments and it is further threatened by rising sea levels caused by climate change, making this place crucial to protect. We’re so thankful to Biffa Award for the funding that has allowed us to purchase and improve Crossens Inner Marsh for nature and for people.”

Gillian French, Biffa Award Head of Grants, said: “It is really important that we continue to support projects like this which provide and enhance habitats for a wide range of species. We can’t wait to see even more birds using the site following the improvements.”

A quintet of herons makes the Dee feel like the Med

Spoonbills at RSPB BMW

An incredible five different species of heron, some more commonly seen in the Mediterranean, have arrived at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands nature reserve this spring and are showing positive signs of breeding, causing much excitement among visitors to the site near Neston on the Dee Estuary.

Burton Mere Wetlands is well-known for its grey heron and little egret breeding colonies, but this year, those two more regular types of heron have also been joined by a pair of cattle egrets, a pair of spoonbills and a pair of great white egrets too. These rare birds are all showing positive signs of breeding, having been seen carrying nesting material into the heron colony lately. If they are successful, it will only be the second time that cattle egrets have bred at the site and a first for both spoonbills and great white egrets.

Graham Jones, Site Manager at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands said: “It is absolutely staggering to see five different heron species making their home here. The grey herons nest here each year, but little egrets only colonised the UK in the late 1980s and have been breeding here since 2005. For them to now be joined by the much rarer cattle egrets, great white egrets and spoonbills is even more astonishing. They’re usually more at home breeding in the Mediterranean, so we’ve been dubbed the ‘Costa del Dee’ by some visitors, who are enjoying seeing the birds from a special watchpoint that we have created to allow for better views. If the birds all breed it will be extraordinary and cause for additional celebration in our anniversary year.”

The RSPB is celebrating their 40th anniversary on the Dee Estuary this year, having secured their first reserve at Parkgate back in 1979, creating a protected area for tens of thousands of birds. Since then, their land holdings have expanded significantly, to both sides of the border, with Burton Mere Wetlands being the most recent addition in 2011.

The whole area is over 6000 football pitches in size making the Dee Estuary nature reserve the 5th largest RSPB site in the country.

Graham added: “I grew up on the Wirral and started coming to Parkgate in the 1980s as a teenager to watch the birds thrive on the marsh. Back then it was inconceivable that little egrets would live here, let alone that we would be seeing even more unusual birds like cattle egrets, spoonbills and great white egrets. We’ve also got at least 10 pairs of Mediterranean gulls nesting too, so it truly is like being on holiday, and testament to the hard work and dedication carried out here for the last four decades.”

Over the past 40 years, the RSPB’s work on the Dee Estuary has created valuable spaces for birds and other wildlife, and they’ve undertaken extensive land management to support a variety of species to nest. Important conservation work by the charity further down the west coast at places like their Ham Wall reserve in Somerset, where creating the right conditions has seen cattle and great white egrets breeding in the past few years has also paved the way for these species to move northward and make their home on the Dee.

Rare bird breeding first at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands

Following recent excitement over the arrival of rare herons to the site,  RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands is now celebrating further, with confirmed breeding of rare bearded tits for the first time ever at the nature reserve near Neston.

Bearded tits are strikingly beautiful and rather comically named birds that rely on reedbeds to make their home. Once much more common throughout the UK, reedbeds are sadly now one of country’s rarest habitats as many have been drained for development or agriculture. In the North West, the only place where they have traditionally bred is at the RSPB’s Leighton Moss reserve in North Lancashire, but following the arrival of six birds to Burton Mere Wetlands last autumn, at least two pairs are now known to have bred for the first time on the Dee Estuary.

Graham Jones, Site Manager at Burton Mere Wetlands said: ‘In 2007 we were able to purchase land adjacent to our reserve from the Welsh Assembly. A three-year work programme began almost immediately to create a reedbed, into which volunteers’ hand-planted over 10,000 reed seedlings.  To have bearded tits now breeding in the very same reedbed this summer has been a wonderfully fitting culmination of all that hard work, and a fantastic way celebrate our 40^th anniversary”

The RSPB are marking four decades on the Dee Estuary this year, having secured their first reserve at Parkgate back in 1979, creating a protected area for tens of thousands of birds. Since then, their land holdings have expanded significantly, to both sides of the border, with Burton Mere Wetlands being the most recent addition eight years ago. The whole area is over 6000 football pitches in size making the Dee Estuary nature reserve the 5^th largest RSPB site in the country.

 

Bearded tits at RSPB Leighton Moss

Over this time, the RSPB’s work on the Dee has created valuable spaces for birds and other wildlife to thrive, and they’ve undertaken extensive land management to support a variety of species to nest. It is not known exactly where the bearded tits have come from, whether populations elsewhere in the UK or from Europe, but it’s hoped that this is the start of them breeding each year at Burton Mere Wetlands.

For further information on the rich variety of wildlife at the RSPB Dee Estuary as well as upcoming events, visit rspb.org.uk/burtonmerewetlands

Talk - Tim Dee, ‘The Seagull Has Landed – The Making of a Transgressive Bird’

English Seminar Series, Tim Dee, ‘The Seagull Has Landed – The Making of a Transgressive Bird’, Tuesday 21 May 5pm, SOTA library, 19 Abercromby Square, University of Liverpool. Free, but please book a place here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/english-seminar-series-21-may-tickets-60803404620

Tim Dee is a writer, BBC radio producer, birdwatcher and author of The Running Sky, Four Fields and Landfill, and the editor of Ground Work and, with Simon Armitage, The Poetry of Birds. His latest book, Landfill (Little Toller, 2018) is described below:

A groundbreaking new book […], Landfill confronts our waste-making species through the extraordinary and fascinating life of gulls, and the people who watch them. Original, compelling and unflinching, it is the nature book for our times.

We think of gulls as pests. They steal our chips and make newspaper headlines, these animals, often derided as ‘bin chickens’ are complex neighbours, making the most of our throw away species. In the anthropocene, they are a surprising success story. They've become intertwined with us, precisely because we are so good at making rubbish. Landfill is a book that avoids nostalgia and eulogy for nature and instead kicks beneath the littered surface to find stranger and more inspiring truths.

In Landfill, Tim Dee argues that rubbish tips can sustain life and offers an alternative view of how we should treat any animal that dares to live so closely with us.

Saltmarsh Celebration Day marks completion of RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh

To mark the creation of an important nature reserve - RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh at Hesketh Bank near Southport, adults and children alike are invited to join a day of family fun celebrations.

The incredible site, which is part of the Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve has undergone a transformation over the last decade from farmland back to saltmarsh. This rare and vital habitat ishome to a rich variety of unusual wildlife and has huge benefits for people too, by reducing flood risk and capturing carbon to help combat climate change.

Thanks to a partnership of the RSPB, the Environment Agency and Natural England, and generous support from WREN (granting funds donated by FCC Environment), this award-winning project to restore the land back to saltmarsh reached its final stages of completion in September 2017. Now, 18 months on, with the site looking its wild and wonderful best in spring, the public are invited to join in a day of celebrations.

Tony Baker, Site Manager of the RSPB Ribble Reserves said: “It has been a long journey to get to this point, first with the restoration of the West side of the site in 2008 and now with the completion of the final piece of the jigsaw on the East side of the reserve. Thanks to all the partners and funders involved, the site now attracts thousands of internationally important birds such as pink footed geese and wigeons in autumn and winter, to nesting wading birds such as avocets - the emblem of the RSPB, and the song of skylarks in spring and summer.

“Many locals have been enjoying visiting the site throughout its development but may not be aware of the significance of the habitat here. We’re hoping lots of people will come along to our ‘Saltmarsh Celebration’ event to discover more about the work that has gone into creating this special place and take part in our exciting activities to get closer to the wildlife that calls it home.”

The ‘Saltmarsh Celebration Day’ will take place on Saturday 18 May from 10am-4pm. A whole host of free, drop-in activities including behind the scenes saltmarsh safaris, mud dipping and more will allow the public to explore the site.

For further information on Hesketh Out Marsh, visit www.rspb.org.uk/heskethoutmarsh

Wildlife Report for 2018 sightings of Stadt Moers park.

Our Chris has been busy recording in his local park.

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Report for 2018 sightings of Stadt Moers park.

A number of species are regular but a few rarities and uncommon birds added. I was surprised by a lack of a number of species such as meadow pipit and sedge warbler. The changes in the mute swans was interesting considering everyone you speak to in the park tell you its the same birds all year.

This is a systematic list of birds, mammals, dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies seen or heard during my regular visits to the Tushingham quadrant of Stadt Moers Park during January to December 2018.

Canada Goose Branta Canadensis

Maximum of 7 adult birds counted on the lake, 2 pairs did breed (1^st pair 5 juv 25/4, 2^nd pair later 2 juv 4/6.) 1^st breeding pair male bird was dominate of all other geese. Other pair only bred after the first group were a good size. No birds recorded after the 3^rd October.

Greylag Goose Anser anser

2 flew over 9^th April

Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus

A number of flocks were seen on the 14^th October the biggest skein being 53. Over 100 birds seen on that day.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

Maximum of 4 birds counted but lots of changes. Adult and juv (4CJU blue) ringed 29/9/17 at Stadt Moers was joined 2/3/18 by a pair, 1 (CJB5 green) ringed as a second year male on 10-8-16 at Spike Island. These birds left and another 2 arrived by the end of March, one with a BTO ring. Single bird left 11/4/18. No birds from the 25/4 till 28/5 when single bird (4CJU blue) returned. No birds from 4/6 till 24/12 when single bird (4CYP blue) ringed 3/2/2018 as juv male at Firs Flash, Leigh, Greater Manchester. No breeding this year.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

2 birds flew around the wet meadows 21^st April, landed but took off 5 minutes later.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Resident on lake and did breed.

Teal Anas crecca

2 birds seen during the January and February visits.

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Maximum count of 8 birds on 1^st April 5 males 3 females. Birds recorded throughout the year but none breeding.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Adult bird seen on 1^st April only.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Maximum count of 2 birds. Single birds seen throughout the year.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

Maximum count 10 birds in January. 8 birds counted 14/3. No birds seen after 28^th April until 24^th December when a single bird flew over.

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

Birds seen throughout the year.

Buzzard Buteo buteo

Maximum count 5 birds on 14^th March. Birds seen throughout the year.

Water rail Rallus aquaticus

A single bird heard calling on 24^th December

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Birds recorded throughout the year. Breeding recorded 1^st juveniles 12^th May.

Coot Fulica atra

Birds recorded throughout the year. Breeding recorded 1^st juvenile seen 28^th April

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Single bird seen 28^th April on the wet meadow area.

Golden plover Pluvialis apricaria

Maximum of 8 birds counted on 2^nd March late afternoon. 3 birds left on the 3^rd March but flushed by dog walks and flew off. Birds on site due to cold weather movement (Beast from the East).

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola

Single birds recorded on the 8^th January in the old Quarry area. 17^th February single bird flushed off the wet meadow.

Jack snipe Lymnocryptes minimus

Maximum count of 4 birds on the wet meadow area during February and March.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Maximum count of 20 birds on the wet meadow area through January to March. 10 birds seen on the 24^th December.

Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Single birds seen on 22^nd April around the lake edge and on the 5^th May.

Black headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Birds seen throughout the year.

Mediterranean gull Larus melanocephalus

Single bird calling and flying over 17^th February.

Common gull Larus canus

Seen regular during Jan to March

Great black-backed gull Larus marinus

Single bird seen

Herring gull Larus argentatus

Seen regular through the year flying between Prescot reservoirs and Netherley sewage works and Huyton industrial estate.

Lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus

Seen regular through the year flying between Prescot reservoirs and Netherley sewage works and Huyton industrial estate.

Winter on the lake

Feral pigeon Columba livia

Seen regular through the year.

Stock dove Columba oenas

First bird seen 9^th April.

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus

Seen regular through the year.

Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto

Seen regular through the year.

Swift Apus apus

First birds seen on the 7^th May. Last bird seen on the 2^nd September.

Great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopus major

Seen regular through the year.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Seen regular through the year.

Jay Garrulus glandarius

Seen regular through the year.

Magpie Pica pica

Seen most days

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Seen regular through the year flying over.

Rook Corvus frugilegus

Single birds seen flying over

Carrion crow Corvus corone

Seen most days

Raven Corvus corax

2 birds seen displaying 24^th January over the quarry area.

Coal tit Peripaus ater

Seen most days in autumn and winter.

Blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus

Seen most days.

Great tit Parus major

Seen most days.

Skylark Alauda arvensis

An individual flying over 14^thMarch.

Sand martin Riparia riparia

First seen 14^thApril when 2 birds flew over. Last seen 2^nd September.

Swallow Hirundo rustica

First seen 8^thApril. Last seen 2^nd September when 12 birds flew through.

House martin Delichon urbicum

First seen 21^stMay.

Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus

Seen most days.

Willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

First heard and seen 8^thApril.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

First heard and seen 14^thMarch

Reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

First heard and seen 5^thApril

Grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia

First heard 28^thApril not heard again.

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

Male first seen 14^thApril female seen 21^stApril.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

First seen and heard 21^stApril

Goldcrest Regulus regulus

Seen regular through the year.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

Seen most days.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Single individual seen once on 18^th April.

Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

Seen regular through the year.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Seen regular through the year flying over.

Blackbird Turdus merula

Seen most days.

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

7 birds seen on 3^rd March

Redwing Turdus iliacus

Small numbers seen on 17^th February. Returning birds seen 14^th October.

Song thrush Turdus philomelos

Good numbers seen through the winter. A number of birds seen through the year.

Mistle thrush Turdus viscivorus

Seen regular through the year.

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Seen most days.

House sparrow Passer domesticus

Seen regular through the year.

Dunnock Prunella modularis

Seen most days.

Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea

First seen 25^thApril with a juvenile bird seen on the Logwood Mill brook. Adults recorded on other dates flying over.

Pied wagtail Motacilla alba

A fly over bird seen on the 27^thMarch with another fly over 14^th October.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Seen most days.

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla

A male bird was seen on 17^th February with a peak count of 2 birds in March.

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Birds seen or heard on site during the winter months.

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraystes

A single bird was seen on 8^th January and stayed around into February when a second bird was seen on 24^th February. Both birds left in March and were part of the hawfinch invasion that year.

Greenfinch Chloris chloris

Regularly seen through the year.

Linnet Linaria cannabina

First birds seen 21^st April and then seen collecting nesting material on 28^th April.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Seen most days.

Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

Seen throughout the year with best count of 3 males.

Total; 77 species.

Butterflies recorded

Peacock                               first seen 14/4

Small tortoiseshell           first seen 21/4

Orange tip                           first seen 7/5

Holly blue                            first seen 7/5

Small white                         first seen 7/5

Large white                        first seen 7/5

Speckled wood                 first seen 7/5

Common blue                   first seen 7/5

Large skipper                     first seen 5/6

Dragon and Damselflies recorded.

Dragonflies

4 spotted chaser           Libellula quadrimaculata  first seen 7/5.

broad body chaser       Libellula depressa               first seen 28/5.

brown hawker               Aeshna grandis                    first seen 2/7.

Damselflies

azure damselfly             Coenagrion puella              first seen 18/5.

blue tailed damselfly   Ischnura elegans first seen 21/5.

red-eyed damselfly     Erythromma najas              first seen 28/5.

Mammals

Rabbit                                Oryctolagus cuniculus       seen regularly.

Grey squirrel                   Sciurus carolinensis            seen through the year but small numbers.

Rabbit damage