September marked the return to some kind of non back garden birding for us as the Covid 19 restrictions on travel were eased. A lot of the reserves we go to still have their hides closed as at Burton but some have opened them as at Martin Mere. Either way there are still restrictions in place as to proximity to others, wearing face masks etc. The strange year has meant that our bird numbers are way down and at 103 for the year so far, we are seventy-seven species down and that is just in the UK. Be that as it may we probably appreciate being out in the natural worls more than we did before lock-down. This is probably one of the strangest monthly summaries I have written and things may return to more restrictions yet. There is no light at the end of tunnel yet – at least for this year.
Continue readingSeptember 2020 archive
Sep 29 2020
Burton Mere Wetlands & Parkgate 29th September 2020
Our last birding day out of September was again to Burton Mere Wetlands. We started off walking to the new elevated viewing platform getting a year-tick Cetti’s Warbler on the way. On the scrape were a group of five Egyptian Geese and a single Whooper Swan- another year tick. Unfortunately I couldn’t get my scope up in enough time to get on the Spotted Crake which was just turning the corner of a spit to go out of sight for the day. I really wanted to ask a chap there if I could see it through his scope but thought with distancing and Covid that might not be the right thing to do. As it happened another chap didn’t have the same qualms as me and he got on the bird on the other chap’s scope. DOH!
Continue readingSep 22 2020
WWT Martin Mere 22nd September 2020
We ventured further afield that the Wirral this week and pre-booked (as you have to now) a visit to WWT Martin Mere. It was a very different experience to our usual visits there but it was a nice day and we got a few decent birds.
Continue readingSep 18 2020
Hoylake & The Wirral 18th September 2020
We went to the Wirral again on the 18thfor a high tide of 9.9 metres at 12:30pm. It was a beautiful day and totally still which is rare for Hoylake which is where we started. It must have been the lack of an onshore wind that caused the tide to stay out so much. It did turn past the lifeboat station but there was still plenty of sand left – sand which is rapidly becoming a field as the greenery continues to grow on it. This is a recognised problem and they are dealing with it but it is taking a while for them to sort it out.
Continue readingSep 16 2020
Brockholes 16th September 2020
We ventured out on the 16th to Brockholes to pick up my scope which had been repaired by Swarovski but we didn’t do too much bird watching. It was totally different to our last visit. The children are back in school and a lot of people are back at work so it was a lot quieter that before – thank god.
Continue readingSep 08 2020
Burton Mere Wetlands and Parkgate 8th September 2020
Our first visit to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands since 10th March was such a pleasure. Just to be outside but not in your own garden reminded you of how much you normally take for granted. It was a beautiful, sunny, day so it felt like quite a treat. We even managed to see some Curlew Sandpiper and – believe it or not – our first Greenfinch of the year – in September !
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