Dee Estuary

Recent Sightings

With the height of spring here, the reserve feels at its best with bluebells in full bloom, avocet chicks hatching and lots of warblers singing. The weather has been keeping us on our toes with regular changes of blustery rain showers to glorious sunshine.

Bluebells in full bloom - Elizabeth Maddock 

We’re all watching excitedly out to the scrape and wet grassland, monitoring the nesting avocets

Despite the traditional bank holiday weekend blip, we’ve enjoyed some unseasonably dry weather so far this spring. That’s not such good news for managing a wet grassland site like Burton Mere Wetlands for breeding waders, but it’s presented many lovely, bright mornings perfect for getting out for some early morning birdwatching.

Whilst Burton Mere Wetlands is very much the focal point of this reserve…

Recent sightings

The reserve is just absolutely buzzing with wildlife right now. Every day we get reports of stoats across the reserve and water vole sightings have increased too. With this gorgeously warmer weather, we have had at least eight species of butterfly now.

Out on the main scrape, it’s a hive of activity and full of drama. From the fantastically noisy black-headed gulls squabbling between each other to…

Posted on behalf of Katie Ellis

Recent sightings

There’s been plenty to keep us busy at the reserve over the last few weeks! We’ve been welcoming back our spring birds, replacing Bridge screen and relaunching our visitor welcome along with lots of essential jobs to complete. Sand martins, house martins and swallows have returned, coming into view on more overcast days over The Mere and pools. Chiffchaffs

Marsh marigold (Paul Jubb)

Easter is here, and despite the chilly temperatures there are sights and sounds of spring all around. With the easing of the Government's lockdown restrictions, we have been able to gradually reopen facilities at Burton Mere Wetlands through the second half of March.

We were fortunate enough to keep the reserve open through lockdown as a place for local exercise; this is now extended to…

Recent sightings

This is a great time of year, with the reserve just bursting at the seams with wildlife. The team have been spotting the new spring arrivals, trying to catch the last glimpse of our winter birds and watching out for those birds migrating through. Not to mention weasels playing on the boardwalk, water voles balancing on piles of cut reeds, toads strutting across the paths and some interesting signs of otter…

Posted on behalf of Katie Ellis

Recent sightings

We’ve seen February off with some bright skies and the feeling that spring has sprung! The reserve is transforming with spring scenes and sounds all around; songs from our well-known songbirds are gradually strengthening, declaring their territories and courtship beginning.  Buzzards are back circling their breeding sites over the woodlands, whilst lapwings and r…

As spring approaches, it is only natural for us to think about new beginnings. After one of the most challenging years most of us have ever endured, the thought of fresh starts serves well to lift our collective spirits, and the Government's roadmap out of lockdown this week tells us we should be able to get outside more and enjoy most of the forthcoming season.

It’s certainly no secret that nature has played a huge…

Posted on behalf of Katie Ellis

This time of year, our famed high tide watches at Parkgate Old Baths would usually be in full swing, with some of the best wildlife spectacles the Dee Estuary has to offer. Hosting these events is one of my favourite parts of working in the Dee Estuary reserve’s visitor experience team, sharing with the public the history, science and wildlife that makes the estuary so special.

Early signs of spring!

Winter can be a spectacular time of year with its stunning frozen sceneries and the sheer masses of wildfowl we get, yet I still find spring to be my favourite time of the year. With the days already longer and little glimmers of hope appearing on brighter, warmer days, new life is emerging all around us.

Now I know it may seem a bit early to be talking about spring with the cold wet weather we…

With the long slog of January over, February marks the last month of winter and increasing daylight sparks some early signs of spring. With that in mind, our focus turns to the impending bird breeding season, and doing everything in our gift to help the reserve’s priority wildlife have its most successful season possible.

Since the reserve is currently open only for local exercise, it is markedly quiet compared…

Posted on behalf of Katie Ellis

Recent sightings

January has greeted us with frosty mornings, gorgeous sunsets and plenty of rain! Other than the weather, the start to 2021 has been very different to any other new year, with the need to stay at home once again. We’ve been fortunate enough to keep the reserve open during this lockdown as somewhere for people who live locally to take their permitted daily exercise and…

My blog this week is a little insight into something called WeBS. Nope, not the amazing creations that spiders build to catch their prey, but the Wetland Bird Survey.

Carrying on a tradition that began in 1947, Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is nationally synchronised across the UK and co-ordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). The key project partners that are involved along with the RSPB are The Wildfowl…

In line with Government guidance on essential, daily exercise outdoors, during the third lockdown, Burton Mere Wetlands' car park, trails and toilets remain open for local, essential exercise only. Our visitor centre, hides, refreshments and mail-order shop will be closed for the duration of this lockdown. We are also not running events.

Please follow all current Government guidance around social distancing, who you…

Christmas will be different for all of us in many ways, and Burton Mere Wetlands’ opening hours over the next two weeks are also slightly altered from previous years too.

 Burton mere Wetlands in winter (Paul Jubb)

The reserve will be closed entirely on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, reopening on Sunday 27 December through to Sunday 3 January. We will then be closed on Monday 4 January and Tuesday 5…

Posted on behalf of Katie Ellis.

Recent sightings

It’s feeling very wintry now the temperatures have dropped to single figures and the days are at their shortest, but the cooler conditions have brought us some brilliant wildlife and dramatic sunsets. The feeders close to the visitor centre are buzzing with small woodland birds as they fill up each day to make it through the cold nights. A clever sparrowhawk is making…

This story begins back in 1986 when the very first piece of the Burton Mere Wetlands puzzle began with the purchase of 75 acres of low-lying, waterlogged arable fields at Inner Marsh Farm, historically reclaimed from the tidal estuary by the development of the Borderlands railway.

In 1988, the purchase of Burton Point Farm gave better access and became the reserve's operational hub, but the small team at that time still…

We’ve reached the end of the second lockdown and for some locals, Burton Mere Wetlands remaining open throughout was vital for them to get regular exercise, fresh air and see a few friendly faces – all at a safe distance, of course.

As we exit lockdown, Cheshire will be under Tier 2 local restrictions from Wednesday 2 December which means we are able to reopen some of the facilities that were closed during…

Posting on behalf of Katie Ellis

Recent sightings

Autumn is moving towards winter, the leaves disappearing off the trees and Burton Mere has seen lots of change in the last couple of weeks and not just due to the seasons. The visitor centre smells of fresh paint, there’s a new welcome cabin in the car park and the Inner Marsh Farm accessibility improvement project is close to completion; seemingly every day there’s been…

Posted on behalf of Katie Ellis

Recent Sightings

Autumn is now well underway; the days are drawing in and the temperature has dropped a few degrees. The car park and paths are lined with golden leaves as the oaks thin out and the elusive jays are busy gathering acorns for winter. With the normal seasonal changes, we’ve also seen changes to our daily lives with the introduction of a second lockdown in England. Fortunately…

We know that for many of you, Burton Mere Wetlands provides enjoyment and solace in the natural world throughout these challenging times. In line with Government guidance on essential, daily exercise outdoors, during the second lockdown, our car park, trails and toilets remain open for you to visit. Please follow all current Government guidance around social distancing, who you can visit with, hygiene and follow all signage…

Recent sightings

The last few weeks have seen regular visits from whooper swans on the main scrape and the odd visit from curlew sandpiper and green sandpiper. Other waders have been black-tailed godwits, lapwing, ruff, redshank, golden plover and lots of wonderful snipe.

Whooper swan: John Langley

Good sightings still of linnet, fieldfare, redwing, siskin, stonechat and bullfinch. The staff were lucky enough to catch a gorgeous…

Recent sightings

Since my last blog a few weeks ago there has been some very mixed weather. I only seem to recall the glorious sunny days that were a wash of colours across the reserve. The change of autumn leaves is in full swing no, and as you drive down our main track try not get distracted by the fantastic shades ochre and red.

Autumn leaves: Elizabeth Maddock

Raptors have been a little quieter on the reserve this…

If you enjoyed the July blog from volunteer Mark, here is the compilation of his reports from warden work parties over the last three months. Late summer and early autumn is always a busy time for reserve management work, between breeding season and the large winter assemblages of birds and this year was no different, especially with some tasks to catch up on after lots of work not being able to get done whilst the reserve…

Following on from our last access update five weeks ago which can be found here, we're pleased to announce a few more changes to improve your visit to the reserve this autumn.

After weeks of hard work by the warden team and volunteers cutting back the dense reeds and lush wet grassland surrounding it, Marsh Covert hide was ready to open to visitors on Saturday 3 October. Visitors are already grateful for the additional…