Recent sightings
It has been an eventful week. With little stint still seen in the week on the main scrape and as I post this it has just turned up! Along with a good handful of other waders this week like little-ringed plover, greenshank, green sandpiper, ruff, snipe and dunlin.
Spot the snipe: Paul Jubb
Raptors have been good across Burton Mere Wetlands with hen harrier, marsh harrier, peregrine, sparrowhawk, buzzard, kestrel, hobby and merlin seen just from the visitor centre most days.
Still a few wheatear showing onsite along with about 20 yellow wagtail on our barn towards the Bunker Hide.
The lapwing and black-tailed godwits are continuing to entertain us as they build in number. With Inner Marsh Farm being closed for a couple weeks for the new path work, they were pushed closer to the visitor centre and have been great to watch as their large flocks dropped in onto the main scrape.
We are still having some good views of great egret, on Friday some lucky visitors got to see one on the main scrape. The Burton Mere Loop pools and the pools closer to the Visitor Centre have been great for kingfisher. Likewise the water rail are still showing well around the reedbed screen and from marsh covert hide. I can’t wait till they start showing on the reception pool so I can see them really close.
Great Egret: Paul Jubb
Star sighting
The star sighting for this week has been some wonderful views of hen harrier (ringtail). We have been lucky enough to see both marsh harrier and hen harrier together over the main scrape area from the visitor centre. Great to compare the differences in the two birds.
Hen Harrier: Lynne Greenstreet
Wardens' wanderings
It has been yet another busy week for the warden team. With all hands-on deck down on at Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve helping cut back and clear the reedbed, essential management at this time of year for wintering birds. Burton Mere Wetlands has been busy too with Liz having a new group of volunteers to help open the area in and around the garden. They cleared a wonderful view looking into the meres from the garden and the alder trees around the ponds.
View of the Meres from the garden: Liz Boone
Get involved
Don’t forget our annual Heritage Open Day on Thursday 19 September as part of Wirral History and Heritage Festival, with free entry for non-members for chance to learn about and experience the rich history of the reserve's landscape and land use.
Reminder for the Parkgate Tidewatch events in autumn on Sunday 29 and Monday 30 September.
On Wednesday 25 September, volunteer Richard leads his autumn Wildlife Wander taking in the whole of Burton Mere Wetlands and helpful ID tips on all the stunning wildlife and plant life at Burton Mere Wetlands.
We still have our Wild Challenge family trails going at Burton Mere Wetlands, this month “Wonderful Waders” from 31st August to 30 September.
Finally, don't forget about our mail-order kiosk shop if you're looking to stock up on bird food as we approach the cooler months; there's 15% off all bulk suet until 18 September, not to mention 15% off all Christmas products from our catalogue until 3 October! All with free home delivery and the satisfaction of supporting your local reserve.