Visit to Burton Mere Wetlands : 23rd August 2013

Visit to Burton Mere Wetlands : 23rd August 2013

I discovered that there was to be a fairly high tide on the Wirral and fancied a trip to the prom at Hoylake to see what birds were to be found there as the tide came in. The tide was due to come in around noon so we stopped off at Burton Mere Wetlands for and hour or two to see what was there. Among the Canada Geese there was a single Barnacle Goose – a not uncommon occurrence there –  and there wer numbers of Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit. there were also a few Teal starting to collect and also Gadwall and Mallard. As we sat in the reception hide there we saw a Kingfisher fly in and sit on a stick right in front of the hide. One of the RSPB chaps there said that it had been doing this for a few days but we really didn’t expect to see it. It stayed for a minute or so and then flew off but only as far as the Sand Martin bank where it sat for quite a long time giving good – if slightly distant  – views.

On the pool to the left of the reception hide a small family of Little Grebes was feeding and these chicks were obviously only around a week old so probably a second brood. A Grey Heron also stalked the edges of the water. A Kestrel and a Buzzard were also seen and on the islands in front of the hide a pair of Snipe mooched around. A single Dunlin flew in.

Bird Sightings : Burton Mere Wetlands Reception Hide