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

15 minutes of missed fame

Hi All,

Well i managed to do it yet again .... missed the Scandinavian birds of paradise (Waxwings, that is) at Parkgate ... as i arrive 15 minutes too late yet again .... Grrr! I think they do it on purpose !

Kestrel - Neil Prendergast

So then drove on towards the baths and saw a Kestrel in the high branches of a tree over the roadway. There was was quite a gathering of twitchers there for the high tide who had their scopes all trained on a female Peregrine falcon on a perch branch out in the marsh surveying the area around it.

Snowy Moel Famau

I was amazed to see snow on the hills on the other side of the Dee above Flint and on Moel Famau. 

Seeing that i had gone to specifically to see the Waxwings. I drove back to the Boathouse pub car park as i didn't want to miss them again and i had cut three apples in two and impaled them onto the short twigs of the berry trees which the birds had been feeding on.

The lure - Juicy apple

 I was determined to wait it out for their return, as i didn't want to let Chris and Laura down after they have kept me informed of the bird sightings on the Wirral over the past week or so.

There were very few berries left and by tomorrow i suspect they will be heading north to another food source and eventually back home across the North Sea to Scandinavia.

While waiting for the returning birds a Heron flew over from off the marsh.

Grey Heron - Neil Prendergast

After a while i was getting cold, so retreated back to the warmth of my car.

I waited two hours and at 14:00hrs a swall came in followed by heavy rain and i just happened to look over to the berry trees and saw the birds had returned.

Waxwing - Neil Prendergast

I hurriedly wound my passenger window down and started taking photo's ... not the best of light but beggars can't be choosers.

The birds only stayed for a few minutes when they were disturbed by a high sided van that passed closely to the trees.

All my efforts in positioning the apples on the branches to entice them to stay was all in vain. As they were more interested in their usual red berry diet.

I watched them fly off to a tree about 50 yards away and they just stayed there in the tops of the branches digesting their berries.

Thirty minutes later they were back again feasting on the red stuff ....

Waxwing feeding on red berries - Neil Prendergast

By this time it was getting on towards rush hour on the M56. So decided to call it a day.

I wonder and hope if they will return next year, as they are a real treat for the eyes.

Neil .......

Egrets, Harriers and Crackers for 24

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

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)

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.

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!

Happy revellers

Hats on, Cheers!

These are the days of our lives.

Merry Christmas everybody.

Laura.