Gilroy Nature Park : 8th September 2015
We wanted to take a look at somewhere different of the Wirral so we decided to check out Gilroy nature Reserve where we had read about the big Black-tailed Godwit roost. As it happens, probably the most exciting spot of the day was a sighting of three Great White Egrets flying overhead in a southerly direction just as we came off the M56 and on to the M53. This added bonus was very nice but our real target was Godwits.
An article on the Deeside Birding website for September describes the history of the place and despite its small size it appears that in one particular year it held 10% of the country’s Black-tailed Godwits ; 4,900 were counted on October 10th 2014 !” Well, there weren’t that many when we went that very small place but I was curious about the Godwit roost there. When we were there were “only” about three hundred but this may be because it is an overnight roost and we were there in the morning. However, it was interesting and it was really quite surprising as it seemed quite exposed and you can imagine dogs and foxes and ferrets and all sorts of mammals lurking around in the surrounding fields. It was Also very close to a housing estate !
Apart from the Godwits and Canada Geese the only interesting birds we saw were a Reed Bunting and a pair of Kestrels although the fields beyond the nature park, leading down to the golf course, were full of Swallows and House Martins . Surely it can’t be long before they head off to Africa.
Getting There :
If you park up roughly at
27 Gilroy Rd
Birkenhead, Wirral CH48, UK
53.378194, -3.166781
there is a small path that leads down a lane. (if you don’t see it look out for dog walkers and follow them) On the right is the Godwit pond (not marked on the map) and further along the path there is an entrance on the left that leads you through the park (it is small) You can either ignore this and walk down the path I have marked in yellow or go through the park and pick up the path at the other side. This path leads down to the municipal golf course and I believe you can walk all the way down to Hoylake, coming out not too far from the King’s Gap. From the starting parking spot to the Kings Gap is 2.7 miles.