Recent sightings
As last week, the wader variety is one of the current highlights, with up to five spotted redshanks, five ruffs, and six little ringed plovers around. Visitors also enjoyed good views of snipe, green sandpiper and common sandpiper, with a peak of 17 dunlins also notable. A single grey plover was seen from Inner Marsh Farm hide on Wednesday, a scarce record for Burton Mere Wetlands although numerous on the estuary’s mudflats in autumn and winter.
The majority of avocets have departed already whilst numbers of lapwing and redshank grow with birds return to join our local breeders. Other regulars still present include a single cattle egret, juvenile Mediterranean gull, common tern, yellow wagtail, water rail and green woodpecker.
A good couple of days for raptors saw hobby, marsh harrier and peregrine all making appearances. Some warblers are still busy finishing their breeding season, including grasshopper warbler and Cetti’s seen with young this week. A single garden warbler and spotted flycatcher were other highlights away from the water.
The continued warm weather meant plenty of dragonfly and butterfly activity, including purple hairstreaks on the oak trees close to Reception Hide.
Star sighting
A white letter hairstreak was spotted along the Reedbed trail at the weekend, only the second record of this butterfly for the reserve.
Wardens' wanderings
On Tuesday, a contractor started work on ditch clearance on Burton Marsh around Denhall Quay. This is routine work carried out every few years to maintain the water flow to avoid the habitat drying out, and reduces stagnation to help limit the potential for mosquito breeding. It also prevents the sheep that graze the saltmarsh from being able to wander into Little Neston by creating a physical barrier they cannot cross.
We erected a temporary electric fence around areas of Crassula and ragwort on the wet grassland at Burton Mere Wetlands ready for the arrival of the cattle, to prevent them eating the harmful ragwort and spreading the invasive Crassula.
Installing the temporary electric cattle fence (Image: A.Cousens)
The residential volunteers spent a day supporting Ash at Woolston Eyes carrying out removal of the invasive plant Himalayan balsam. They also helped Al rescue a young heron – likely to be one from the Marsh Covert colony – which found itself trapped in a nearby garden in Burton village. The bird was captured and brought back to the safety of suitable surroundings at Burton Mere Wetlands.
Get involved
On Monday, volunteer Richard leads his Wildlife Wander, a chance to explore Burton Mere Wetlands in the company of a knowledgeable guide to help spot the birds and wildlife whilst also offering insight into the landscape’s history and changes.
Next weekend sees our fantastic Big Wild Sleepout event, an exclusive chance for families to camp on the reserve and experience the wildlife that springs into life after dark! There are still a few places available so if you’re interested, get in touch with us at Burton Mere Wetlands as soon as possible.