Is it too late to wish you a Happy New Year? Probably, but Happy New Year nevertheless.
Anyway, January has been a real mixed bag for weather, with some freezing spells, some warm(ish) spells but the most noticeable thing has been the storms that have battered the UK through the month. The storms have had a big effect on the reserve and the birdlife – more of which to come later.
Hopefully, by the time the next blog is written in late-February, the first Avocets will have arrived back from their wintering grounds as they prepare for their breeding season. It’s a fantastic sight to see them as you walk through the Visitor Centre door to be greeted by them on the Main Scrape.
Recent Sightings
It may seem cold and damp out there, but a lot of the birds are already turning their thoughts to the breeding season. A male Marsh Harrier has already started the occasional display flight in an attempt to attract a female. It’s great to sit and watch it from the Visitor Centre, Café or Marsh Covert hide, as he is a spectacular looking bird. Last summer one male had two nests in the reedbed, so we hope for a repeat performance this year.
Photo - Marsh Harrier - Jon Evans
As well as looking to attract a mate, the Marsh Harrier has also had to contend with chasing away Hen Harriers from it's territory, despite the fact Hen Harriers do not breed here. A ringtail Hen Harrier has been seen almost daily throughout January ranging across the reserve, with the occasional male Hen Harrier also being seen. 23 January saw two separate ringtail Hen Harriers at either end of the reserve, one attacking a Common Buzzard, and one being chased by the male Marsh Harrier!
Winter is the time when many duck species choose their mate for the breeding season. Many waterfowl pair bonds form between the months of December and March on wintering grounds, so it’s lovely to see the Shoveler and Tufted Duck displaying on the Mere, Reception Pool and Bridge Pool. The female chooses a partner from the groups of males that perform for her, and she picks her favourite drake with the best plumage and the best display.
The woodlands that surround the reserve really have been alive with birds this winter, with Siskin and Redpoll in particular showing well. In the wetter areas of the woodland, especially on the path to Border Hide, Water Rail and Woodcock have been seen regularly – though these are difficult birds to spot, as they are secretive and well camouflaged.
Talking of secretive birds, a Bittern showed extremely well for a number of visitors (and staff who could break away from their role!) at Reedbed Screen, tucked in amongst the reeds at the back of the pool.
During the middle of the day on 31 January an Otter showed really well for a small number of visitors at the Reedbed Screen, and seen again on 2 February.
Photo – Otter – John Hewitt
Star Sightings
An American Wigeon was found on the Main Scrape by one of the reserve regulars on Monday 22 January, and was seen all day immediately outside the Visitor Centre. This was great for the visitors who specifically came to see it, and it was a huge bonus for those who were here and didn’t expect to see it!
Photo – American Wigeon – John Hewitt
An American Wigeon is essentially the North American equivalent of the Eurasian Wigeon, a bird you can see in its 100’s on the reserve during winter. However, this bird was a variant of an American Wigeon, known as a ‘Storm’ Wigeon – quite apt given the weather. Initially seen on Anglesey at Cors Ddyga RSPB in November, it was seemingly blown towards Burton Mere Wetlands by Storm Isha. It was seen again all day on Wednesday 24 January from the Visitor Centre, but sadly not seen again at the time of writing.
Another unexpected storm blown bird was a probable first winter Arctic Skua, which landed on the Main Scrape for about 5 minutes on Tuesday 23 January. Not only is this an unusual bird to find inland, but it’s also an unusual bird to see this time of year. Locally, we would expect to see them off the North Wirral coast in Autumn, harassing gulls and terns, so this was a great bonus for the reserve.
Warden wanderings
The replacement of the electric fence around the wet grassland and scrapes continues apace and is expected to be finished on time. This will give excellent protection to the ground nesting birds, such as Snipe, Avocet, Redshank and Lapwing across the areas that it protects.
As mentioned earlier, Storms Isha and Jocelyn, so close to each other, did have an impact on the reserve, with trees falling in certain areas, the most obvious one being next to the café. As well as this, the roof of the Bunker Hide was damaged. Our Warden and Volunteer Wardens did an amazing job of clearing up the damage prior to us opening the following morning, but scenes like this show why we do need to sometimes close the reserve in extreme weather.
The next job for the warden teams is the cutting of rush near to both the Border Hide and Main Scrape. This is done to ensure that the areas concerned are in their optimal state for the arrival of breeding waders.
Get Involved
Parkgate High Tide Birdwatch days are scheduled in for the 11 – 13 February and the 11 – 13 March 2024. If the conditions are correct, we may see the tide come right up to the wall, meaning there could be fantastic views of Short-Eared Owl, Hen and Marsh Harrier, Water Rail, small mammals and lots of other wildlife.
There is no need to book for the High Tide Birdwatch, but please do bear in mind that these are always very popular days, so getting to Parkgate as early as possible is always recommended, as parking can be at a premium.
At Burton Mere Wetlands, we have a new kids Nest Box quiz trail around the Mere Trail and the Gorse Covert Wood for the whole family to get involved in. Find your way around the eight quiz boards and get active with nature. You even get your own Burton Mere Wetlands pencil!
Keep an eye out on our Facebook events page. Lots of events are being planned and will soon be advertised – it would be great if you could get involved and enjoy one of our guided walks.
Details on how to book are on our Facebook page. https://events.rspb.org.uk/deeestuary
James Smith
Visitor Experience Assistant