The birding group had a day out to Burton Mere Wetlands on 9th May and it turned out to be a fine, warm day. On the scrape, right at the back, there were a few small birds causing much identification mayhem. More than one person thought they saw a Little Stint (including me) but the RSPB had it for a Ruff. There was less doubt about at least one Green Sandpiper but they were all a long way away.
On the scrape the Avocets seemed to be doing quite well and there was a smattering of the usual ducks you expect to see there. Among the geese we saw a pair of very dark geese, but they were impossible to identify – even by the RSPB staff. It seemed likely that they were hybrids, but it wasn’t obvious which species they would hybrids of. Their bills were Greylag Goose shaped but seemed to be a dark red. They had the body size of a Pink-footed Goose There was nothing to indicate any Brent Goose connection but they were that dark. The breast was slightly lighter but not much and there were no neck markings or other distinguishing features. It had everyone stumped.
Down at the feeders by the barn, there was a smattering of Greenfinch and Goldfinch until a Great Spotted Woodpecker came in and scared them all off. A Cetti’s Warbler was calling particularly loudly – but invisibly – right by the path near the feeders.
In the reeds Sedge and Reed Warbler could be heard and there were plenty more Cetti’s calling. I even thought I heard the start of a Grasshopper Warbler reel but it was cut short and I couldn’t be sure. Interestingly, a couple of days later a Grasshopper Warbler was reported from Burton Mere Wetlands so perhaps I had heard it – not well enough to claim it though!
On the walk down to what I still refer to as the Inner Marsh Farm hide there were Whitethroats and Willow Warblers and Blackcaps, Wrens and Robins all singing. We saw a single Kestrel but that was it for raptors. A small group of Dunlin were on the scape there and on the pool to the right a single Spoonbill was preening and occasionally flying around a bit.
A good day with Green Sandpiper and Spoonbill being two good year ticks. As usual we popped down to the Harp for lunch but by then it had got a lot cooler so we ate inside.
Bird Sightings : Burton Mere Wetlands 9th May 202
| Species | No |
|---|---|
| Avocet | 30 |
| Black-headed Gull | 30 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 30 |
| Blackbird | 4 |
| Canada Goose | 20 |
| Cetti’s Warbler | 2 |
| Coot | 6 |
| Dunlin | 8 |
| Gadwall | 10 |
| Goldfinch | 2 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 1 |
| Great Tit | 2 |
| Green Sandpiper | 1 |
| Greenfinch | 4 |
| Grey Heron | 3 |
| Greylag Goose | 6 |
| Jackdaw | 4 |
| Kestrel | 1 |
| Lapwing | 30 |
| Little Egret | 3 |
| Little Grebe | 1 |
| Mallard | 20 |
| Moorhen | 1 |
| Mute Swan | 2 |
| Pheasant | 1 |
| Redshank | 2 |
| Ruff | 1 |
| Reed Warbler | 1 |
| Sedge Warbler | 1 |
| Shoveler | 6 |
| Spoonbill | 1 |
| Teal | 8 |
| Tufted Duck | 8 |
| Whitethroat | 2 |
| Wigeon | 2 |
| Willow Warbler | 2 |
| Woodpigeon | 6 |
| Wren | 1 |