Wirral Birding 16th May 2023

The birding group had appointed the 16th as a day for a visit to WWT Martin Mere but, as a lot of people couldn’t make it, we just went up to the Wirral to mooch around a couple of sites that I wanted to do that we don’t always do. We went to Leosowe Lighthouse, Parkgate and Denhall Quay.

We started out at Leosowe Lighthouse. We parked up in the newly tarmaced car park (a big improvement on the old dust bowl that it used to be) and had a look along the paddocks. I was hoping to perhaps get Wheatear or Whinchat but we didn’t see either of these, having to content ourselves with Linnets, Goldfinch and Greenfinch. A small flock of mixed Gullsl included a few Common Gulls. We walked back along a blustery path adjacent to the sea wall and returned to the car park.

Next we drove to Parkgate where There wasn’t a great deal but I at least got a Marsh Harrier. Moving on from there towards Denhall Old Quay we had a close encounter with a Buzzard who flew over the care just a few feet above us and then wheeled left giving us very close views as it flew over the gardens.

At Denhall Old Quay we parked up and walked along the edge of the marsh as gfar as Net’s cafe (0.9 mile) where we had a cup of tea and cake before walking back to the Harp Inn for lunch proper – a pint of Landlord and a cheese toastie !!

On the walk there and back it was a bit windy so we couldn’t hear all the birdsong but we did see Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Stonechat. There were a few Swallows and a lot of House Sparrows. We also heard Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, Pheasant and Chaffinch.

Although it wasn’t a big day in terms of any year ticks, it was bright and we enjoyed a bit of exercise. It was itneresting to do the walk from the Harp Inn to Net’s Cafe; we had only got to the cafe from the other direction before.

Bird Sightings : Leosowe Lighthouse 16 May 2023

Bird Sightings : Parkgate 16 May 2023

Bird Sightings : Neston Old Quay and Marsh 16 May 2023