Recent sightings
From the Greenway cycle path looking at Burton Point there has been a good view of little owl. Birds of prey over burton marsh have been pretty good with a hen harrier (ringtail) seen frequently, then marsh harrier, peregrine, sparrowhawk, kestrel and hobby are always a about if you spend a bit of time off Denhall Lane or down at Parkgate. Whinchat and Wheatear are another two little gems showing more from the point recently. From the sheep fields on the other side of Burton Point can be a good spot for yellow wagtail.
Hobby by Jeff Cohen
If you’re looking for the spoonbills the best place is Parkgate area, we have had up to 8 individuals out there. Along with 25 greenshank.
Large flocks of lapwings and black-tailed godwits are continuing to build and can be really spectacular at this time of year. If you get to see them up in the air particularly when they are being chased by a peregrine!
We still have a gorgeous great egret that is often feeding first thing in the morning on the reception pool and during the day can be seen well from the reedbed screen, it seems to be a bit of a resident bird now. Likewise the water rail are being seen more often around the reedbed screen and from marsh covert hide, so just when you think there’s not much about its always worth staying another 5 minutes, you just never know. The green sandpiper has also been seen on the reception pool on and off during the day so always worth keeping an eye out. During the week a visitor reported a green sandpiper with a coloured ring from the inner marsh farm hide. Garganey have also been showing from there this week.
Water rail by Lynne Greenstreet
Another bird that often require lots of patience and often right place right time is the kingfisher. The best spot seems to be around the Burton Mere Loop pools and the pools closer to the Visitor Centre.
Star sighting
The star sighting for this week was a fantastic sight of over 100 snipe on the main scrape area. They have been showing well more and more recently but having them in this quantity was a great spectacle. Hopefully this weekend at the Wirral Wader Festival we will see more of them along with all the other wonder waders we have to offer.
Wardens' wanderings
Another busy week for the Liz and the warden team. They have been prepping and mowing the garden area along with the paths and parts of the reserve all week. They have also been installing new signs along Burton Marsh Greenway. They have also been busy with many little maintenance jobs all around the reserve keeping everything going. This time of year is also busy for them collating and inputting all of the summer wildlife surveys.
Get involved
STOP THE PRESS! This weekend is Wirral Wader Festival with Binocular and Telescope Open Day on Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September. We are celebrating 40 years of being on the Dee Estuary. There will be tones of great fun activities to do for the whole family, so come down to Burton Mere Wetlands and have a great day out! Stalls and activities from the event's partner organisations Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Wader Quest and Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens amongst others will be present, and we're offering free entry to everybody to enjoy this special occasion. Click here
We still have our Wild Challenge family trails going at Burton Mere Wetlands, this month “Wonderful Waders” from 31st August to 30 September.
We also have the Summer Backpacks to hire, they are filled with exciting activities for the kids to take out onto the reserve. Come down, get some fresh air and learn something new.
Heritage Open Day on Thursday 19 September. Click here
Autumn Wildlife Wander on Wednesday 25 September. Click here