Burton Mere Wetlands 6 June 2023

The first birding group outing of June was to Burton Mere Wetlands where we had a dry and mild day. Largely, we saw the usual suspects but we did manage to get one rarity for the site and a pair ducks in less frequently seen breeding plumage.

There were still a good number of Avocets on the main scrape, some with chicks still and smaller numbers of Canada Geese than there have been – thankfully! There were large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits at several locations around the site. In the reeds we saw a couple of Sedge Warblers. Dunnocks, Cetti’s Warblers, Chiffchaff and Whitethroats were around as were the more common woodland birds. A number of Swallows were flying around but teh best sightings of the day were at the Bridge Screen and at Inner Marsh Farm.

At the Bridge screen we saw a pair of Ruddy Shelduck in their breeding plumage which is just that bit livelier than their usual look and makes you think twice about them. Little Grebe, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck and Gadwall were all present.

On our way to Inner Marsh Farm we saw a Marsh Harrier flying over the reeds and at Inner Marsh Farm we got a Black-Winged Stilt – not our first of the year in the UK but our first on the Wirral. There was also a Great Egret and a nice flock of about forty Knot with smatterings of Redshank.

So, a nice haul for the day and then it was off to the Harp Inn for refreshments.

Bird Sightings : Burton Mere Wetlands 6 June 2023