We managed to get to Parkgate for a high tide on the 13th February 2024. It was due to be 10.1 metres at 1:33pm and reports from the previous day were remarkable. The tide came all the way in and Jack Snipe and Water Rail were both flushed from the marsh. A Water Rail was found wandering around the pavement outside Nicholl’s Ice Cream Shop and an RSPB person rescued it from danger and returned it to the marsh later. Our expectations were quite high but we were disappointed when the tide really didn’t come in that far. However, we still managed to get some good sightings.
The pick of the bunch was an adult male Hen Harrier although we also saw a ringtail (or two). There was a Buzzard and others saw a Merlin and a Kestrel. We saw around three Marsh Harriers; it is hard to say how many were active but there was usually at least one in the air all the time. There were five Great Egrets in total and lots of Little Egrets. There are still some Pink-footed Geese around and there were relatively small flocks of Dunlin and Redshank. All over the marsh a mixed flock of Goldfinch and Linnet gadded about in the general excitement that seems to cove over the birds at even a modest high tide.
After we thought the tide had reached its maximum, we headed off the Harp Inn at Little Neston where the tide was very much more impressive and was further in that I think we have ever seen it – a very impressive sight with lots of birds. New for the day were a small number of Pintail but there were 7 Great Egrets here (who knows if they were in addition to the 5 at Parkgate!) There were also a number of Wigeon here and lots of Black Tailed Godwits. In many ways it may have been a better place to have started than Parkgate but who is to know that; the tides have their own rules and are near impossible to predict. All in all, a good visit spoiled only by the fact that the Harp wasn’t doing food so no cheese toastie for lunch!
Bird Sightings : Parkgate 28 March 2023
| Species | No |
|---|---|
| Black-headed Gull | 30 |
| Buzzard | 2 |
| Canada Goose | 40 |
| Carrion Crow | 10 |
| Collared Dove | 2 |
| Curlew | 50 |
| Dunlin | 100 |
| Goldfinch | 20 |
| Great White Egret | 5 |
| Grey Heron | 2 |
| Greylag Goose | 20 |
| Hen Harrier | 2 |
| Lapwing | 400 |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | 2 |
| Linnet | 20 |
| Little Egret | 8 |
| Magpie | 2 |
| Mallard | 20 |
| Marsh Harrier | 3 |
| Oystercatcher | 60 |
| Pink-footed Goose | 20 |
| Redshank | 60 |
| Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon | 8 |
| Rook | 50 |
| Shelduck | 40 |
| Shoveler | 10 |
| Starling | 20 |
| Stonechat | 3 |
| Teal | 20 |
| Woodpigeon | 4 |
| Wren | 2 |
Bird Sightings : Harp Inn – Denhall Old Quay 28 March 2023
| Species | No |
|---|---|
| Black-headed Gull | 20 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 70 |
| Brent Goose | 10 |
| Curlew | 40 |
| Great White Egret | 7 |
| Oystercatcher | 6 |
| Pintail | 8 |
| Starling | 20 |
| Teal | 40 |
| Wigeon | 60 |
| Woodpigeon | 2 |