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 !
It was interesting to see how social distancing was being dealt with. You had to sign in first and give your address and contact number. The reception hide was closed but they were still serving teas and some snacks. The main toilets were closed but the ones down by the fish pond were in use. The only hide that was open was the Bunker hide but we did not use it, preferring to use the new outdoor platform that had been built on a high point behind where the bench is near the barn. This was a great idea and there was both width and depth so that quite a few people could fit in and still be distanced. It was more comfortable to use this that the Bunker Hide where you had to use a face mask.
We managed to pick out a couple of Curlew Sandpiper on the main scrape and some Pink-footed Geese were around. There were still a few Swallows remaining and we got Buzzard and Kestrel
I didn’t feel too much like walking up to Burton Point, my leg being a bit sore still so we headed off to Parkgate where we managed to see five Spoonbill on the Bevyl Road Flash. We also got a Great Egret and a Marsh Harrier.
We then drove down to The Wheatsheaf for lunch but it wasn’t very impressive. It has been taken over again and they have done it up in a really crappy way – there was nothing wrong with the previous décor. They also had a very much reduced menu and the place was pretty much empty which was unusual under the old management. Anyway we had a quick bite to eat and left. We had hoped that we could sit outside because it was such a beautiful, sunny, day but they weren’t serving outside except on the benches out front by the road. We should have gone elsewhere.
Be that as it may, it was great to get out at last and we did manage a couple of good birds.
Bird Sightings Burton Mere Wetlands 8th September 2020
| Species | No |
|---|---|
| Greylag Goose | 12 |
| Pink-footed Goose | 20 |
| Canada Goose | 20 |
| Northern Shoveler | 1 |
| Mallard | 20 |
| Common Teal | 30 |
| Common Wood Pigeon | 10 |
| Common Moorhen | 8 |
| Common Coot | 6 |
| Curlew Sandpiper | 2 |
| Common Buzzard | 1 |
| Eurasian Kestrel | 1 |
| Eurasian Magpie | 1 |
| Rook | 4 |
| Carrion Crow | 4 |
| Eurasian Blue Tit | 1 |
| Barn Swallow | 8 |
| Common Starling | 8 |
| Pied Wagtail | 1 |
| European Greenfinch | 1 |
Bird Sightings Parkgate 8th September 2020
| Species | No |
|---|---|
| Eurasian Curlew | 1 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 6 |
| Dunlin | 20 |
| Common Snipe | 2 |
| Common Redshank | 20 |
| Black-headed Gull | 8 |
| Grey Heron | 4 |
| Great Egret | 1 |
| Little Egret | 8 |
| Eurasian Spoonbill | 5 |
| Eurasian Marsh Harrier | 1 |