This weeks blog is being posted on behalf of Emma Drainey.
Recent sightings
This week marks the return of the geese onto the scrape with Canada geese and greylag geese both building in numbers. Snipe and water rail are also increasing in number with them being spotted on the scrape and at Marsh Covet Hide. A great egret has been making an appearance in and around the reception pool, joining the green sandpiper as an almost daily visitor.
A wheatear was spotted over by the barn and a kingfisher over by the meres. Four garganey were reported at Marsh Covet Hide and Inner Marsh Farm at the weekend as well as two juveniles later on in the week.
Once again the weather has led to a good week for butterflies, with multiple species being seen. Wall brown, purple hairstreak, speckled wood, meadow brown, comma, painted lady and peacock are just a few of this week’s rich pickings.
Image: Wall brown by John Blog
Star sighting
The wood sandpiper has returned this week with it being sighted both on the main scrape and at Marsh Covet Hide. Up to three have been seen so far.
Image: Wood sandpiper by John Hewitt
Warden wanderings
As the little tern chicks over at Point of Ayr are now leaving the safety of the fencing and beginning to fly, it was the task of the wardening team to take it down with the help of some volunteers. While there, a flock of at least 450 little terns and sandwich terns were seen.
On the reserve a new beam has been added into the den building area in the Gorse Covered trail to allow for more den architecture masterpieces.
Get involved
Badger walks are all sold out and will be running every week this month and the first walk went brilliant, having views of two young badgers and a barn owl.
This months Wild Challenge quiz trail is on Creature of the Night and is available every day.
The end of August will see the Wirral Wader Festival come to Burton Mere as we will be hosting it in celebration of the RSPB Dee Estuary reserve's 40th anniversary.