Wirral Birding

Thurstaston shore from the cliff top

Shotton steel works seen from Burton marsh

Heswall shore

Twite at Heswall shore

Burton marsh looking towards the Dee Bridge at Shotton
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Not much this morning from a brief trip to HGF and also Waterworks Lane. In the garden the 4 Grey Partridges visited briefly and a male Song Thrush sang from the top of the large Ash - apart from a brief sighting on 8th November this was the first Song Thrush seen in the garden since early July. I have also noticed that Greenfinch sightings are few and far between - hardly get any on the feeders this winter whereas this time last year up to a dozen birds visited regularly.

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So late morning saw me off to the Wirral. I arrived at Burton Marsh late morning and headed off down towards the rifle range. Although the temp gauge in the car showed 4.5C, the strong wind made it feel colder. I never saw the sun all afternoon.

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Down by the rifle range 2 Little Egrets flew about and then a pair of Stonechats showed well. A flock of Lapwings then flew up in alarm indicating the presence of a raptor - a ring-tail Hen Harrier was the culprit. At the same time a female Merlin hunted the same patch.

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In the far distance approx 20 Whooper Swans grazed in the field - they were too far away to determine if any Bewicks were present. The Lapwing flock numbered around 800 birds.

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On the way back a pair of Short-eared Owls flew up - they briefly had a tiff before separating. One was mobbed by a Great Black-backed Gull and the other by a pair of Crows. Another female Stonechat popped up by the path and a second Ring-tail Harrier also appeared. On the hill a flock of 47 Fieldfares fed with some Starlings. While watching them I noticed a Buzzard on a fencepost behind them and then heard a noise right behind me like a welly being pulled out of thick mud - the alarm call of a Snipe flying off. A female Kestrel also showed well and a further 18 Whooper Swans were seen in flight.

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I then headed off to Thurstaston to try and find the Twites. A flock of approx 150 Fieldfares flew over the main road and 25+ Goldfinches flew around making lots of noise near the visitors centre. On the beach there was no sign of the Twite. I headed off down the beach towards Heswall - the wind was blowing in my face and several times I thought of going back, particularly as the only living things around seemed to be a pair of Crows.

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Approx 1 mile along I encountered the salt marsh nr Heswall - hundreds of birds wheeling in the air indicated a raptor and sure enough a Peregrine caused pandamonium. The falcon was dashing over the marsh at low level and then suddenly dropping onto the floor - very like a Harrier. I can't remember seeing a Peregrine hunt this way before. Another ring-tail Harrier also appeared - no kills were observed.

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High tide was at approx 2pm this afternoon - the water came quite high on the beach which is a mixture of fine shingle and sand with 20-30 feet high sandy cliffs. The shingle/sand mix continually shifts and makes walking on it over distance a bit difficult.

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A bit further along I heard birds chattering in a bush - I had found the Twite flock. I got superb views through the scope before the 13 birds flew off onto the marsh. Also around the marsh were >200 Shelduck, 21 Pintail and 250+ Black-tailed Godwits with 4 Bar-tailed Godwits mixed in. With the numerous Lapwings were 200+Dunlin and around 30 Knot plus 25+ Redshank. Another Little Egret also put in an appearance.

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Going back was easier with the wind behind me - I then headed off to Parkgate. Within minutes a ring-tailed Harrier appeared and then 2 pairs of Stonechats. At least 8 Curlews flew around calling and a further 4 Little Egrets. A male Hen Harrier showed up and ended up crossing swords with a male Merling - they flew across each others flight paths for a few minutes. A second male harrier then appeared - ultimately 5 birds (3 ring-tails and 2 males) came in to roost. No sign of any owls at Parkgate and it was getting increasingly windy and cold so I the headed off home.