Weekly round-up; harassment of harriers and high tide prelude

As I write this with wind and rain pounding at the window it’s a stark reminder that despite the relatively settled Christmas and New Year weather, we’re a long way from the end of winter yet. However, that’s no bad thing given that this season offers arguably the greatest quantity and variety of birds on the reserve

The downside of this time of year is that there’s not often any new arrivals to report, so much of last week’s round-up is still valid. We’re still getting spoilt – or harassed as the collective noun suggests – by marsh harriers, with up to five hunting together over the wet grassland complete with a very active female peregrine for company on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Marsh harrier by Sam Ryley

Notable waders to add since last week are three ruffs, loving the flooded grassland on the north side of Marsh Covert Hide plus three spotted redshanks which are bit more mobile but spending some time on the main scrape alongside a flock of over 60 dunlins.

Also enjoying the Bridge Pool flood are the ducks, most significantly gadwalls, with a new site record of 80 being counted there on Tuesday! Water pipits can still be found there too.

Teal pair by Jeff Cohen

A rare occurrence on Tuesday was a short-lived influx of gulls onto the main scrape. First, a juvenile great black-backed gull swooped in, dwarfing the marsh harriers on arrival, followed shortly after by an estimated 750 black-headed gulls and 150 common gulls suddenly arriving from the east – there could well have been a rarity in there too, but none were spotted on this occasion.

Monday saw the reappearance of a cattle egret which we were thought were all long-gone but it has since been learned up to two have been dwelling in the vicinity of Shotwick village – and may well still have been coming in to roost in Marsh Covert as in the autumn. Also at least five great-white egrets are presently on the reserve.

Speaking of Marsh Covert, at the weekend a pair of regular, reliable visitors saw a lesser spotted woodpecker – the third report in the past month or so – in the edge of the woodland by the footbridge across the Shotwick Brook next to Bridge Screen. This is an excellent record for the reserve as these birds declined to extinction in this area over recent decades and their recolonisation would be cause for much celebration. It’s too early to get excited yet, but do keep your eyes and ears peeled when you’re walking along the stretch of trail between the Reedbed and Bridge Screens.

Finally, we’re heading towards the biggest tides of the month on Friday and Saturday – peaking at 9.8 metres so not high enough for a Parkgate event, however we will be on Hoylake promenade on Saturday morning for a high tide watch with the Wirral Coastal Rangers and Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens. However, it is worth noting that if the kind of winds we’ve experienced today continue, which at present looks likely on Friday, that 9.8 metre tide may well swell higher than that and offer some spectacular watching around the coast.

Mixed wading birds on Hoylake beach by Lynne Greenstreet

If you do go out, make sure you stay safe, and don’t forget to swing by Burton Mere Wetlands to thaw out afterwards and grab a hot drink or lunch from Highways and Byways Catering who are with us Wednesday to Sunday every week.