Now we are getting used to more freedom and venturing out and about again we cranked the car into gear again and headed off to Burton Mere Wetlands rspb on the Wirral which now takes 20 minutes longer to get to since we moved but still around an hour's journey which is within very easy range. Weather wasn't quite as sunny as promised but we arrived there at 9.30am and the sun did appear now and again and it remained nice and warm. Here are the birds we saw although there were many more waders and other waterfowl including L.Egret, Gadwall, Shelduck, Coots, Moorhens, even a Bittern which we missed seeing by ten minutes as it flew from Inner Marsh Farm area towards the screen area by the boardwalk. Many improvements have been made during lockdown including a smart new hide at IMF and new boardwalk making it accessible for disabled visitors. Was a lovely and long overdue visit and we'll try get back very soon for another enjoyable day.
First of all we saw Common Whitethroats as we walked along the boardwalk; all photos were taken with the lighter to carry Canon 100-400 x 1.4 lens and 7DmkII
the light was lovely first thing and I tried to remember to not crop every photo down to give a different overall feel to the photo as learned from Paul A's beautiful photos !!
then old habits kicked in and I cropped LOL
the Sedge Warblers singing away from the top of the reeds - as they do ! Sadly I couldn't get an angle without the stick running past the facial area !
(I did see a Cetti's Warbler and it was perched for 8 whole seconds on top of a twig but sadly not long enough for me to get a photo !!)
trying to restrain myself from cropping again LOL
a Wren was also singing in the same area .....
a flock of Black-tailed Godwits were seen from the bridge screen area
a hovering female Kestrel was seen over the wildlife field area although a little too distant for detailed shots
one minute blue sky, next grey clouds !
a pretty Goldfinch landed conveniently in a nearly tree on bare twig
a Chiffchaff was already there and looked like it had found an insect supply trapped in spider web strands !
Common Whitethroat joined them ......
and I nearly fell of my perch laughing when I saw the Dunnock who was having a very bad hair feather day LOL
a bit more preening and drying off required but he was happy enough singing away announcing he'd had a bath !! .....
the elegant Avocets were seen from the Marsh Covert Hide
and that's about it for now folks, thanks for viewing.
Fabulous photos Hazel and grey clouds or not, it looked like you had a good day.
The bittern has been very active there with quite a few sightings, not for me though. The avocets seem to be more than comfortable when I was there back in May, and the Marsh Hide has a pretty damned good viewing vista.
The way the screens and hides are set up makes for easy viewing of many species, and particularly there warbler collection.
I'm itching to make a return visit, poss end of June or early July, weather and commitments permitting.
This retirement malarkey isn't what I expected, too few empty spaces in the diary, too many events cropping up!
Pete, if you get the chance again to visit Burton Mere, grab it.
Thanks Pete, Mike and PB
Michael B said:The way the screens and hides are set up makes for easy viewing of many species, and particularly there warbler collection.
I was impressed with the new screen, boardwalk and hide replacement at Inner Marsh Farm and glad all people can now access it now. We'll be at Leighton Moss rspb (Silverdale) from Monday 21st June for 4 days so can't wait to rediscover our old haunt and meet up with Ann and Mr.GB.
If you head back to Burton Mere for another recce let us know Mike and we'll try make it the same day assuming you want a meet and greet LOL
Unknown said:
Michael B said: The way the screens and hides are set up makes for easy viewing of many species, and particularly there warbler collection.
Yes, it would be nice to put a face to the name. We're about to go through a dull and possibly wet spell of weather generally, often happens around the longest day period of June, plus I've a few commitments, I won't be there before you return from Silverdale.
Marsh Hide has certainly been well done out, with plenty of space covering quite a wide aspect of water.
Enjoy Silverdale and I look forward to the photos.
Unknown said:Thanks Mike, I have connected via the PM system so hopefully it will allow me to send a note at some stage with contact detail; didn't allow me to do that yet !