 |
| 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.
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.
 |
| Marsh Harrier - J Binks |
 |
| 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
