Photos:
Dodgy record shots of Spoonbill and Great White Egret plus Short-eared Owl at Parkgate
17th February
Working on the Wirral today and I managed to get to Parkgate after work. It was another typical overcast but relatively still day and there was just one other birder present – an oldish chap whose name I didn’t get but he was very good company.
A Short-eared Owl was perched on a fencepost not too far away and we watched this bird for over half an hour as it made repeated forays over the marsh, only to return to the same perch. I found a distant Merlin perched up (probably a male) and a ring-tail Hen Harrier also flew around. A Sparrowhawk flew across the marsh in front of us and I then found a perched up Peregrine. A few small flocks of Pink-footed Geese and the usual scattering of Little Egrets were also observed.
After a while I spotted a distant bird in flight coming towards us from the direction of Burton Marsh – I soon realised it was the Spoonbill. The bird flew over us and then did a few circuits before landing off behind the boat house flashes. Watching it there also resulted in a Great White Egret appearing too. On the subject of the latter – I was mightily impressed that there were 8 birds at Avalon Marshes this winter – contrast this with the roost of over 1000 birds that has been seen in the Netherlands!!! Anyway it was a very enjoyable end to the day with plenty to see.
Working on the Wirral today and I managed to get to Parkgate after work. It was another typical overcast but relatively still day and there was just one other birder present – an oldish chap whose name I didn’t get but he was very good company.
A Short-eared Owl was perched on a fencepost not too far away and we watched this bird for over half an hour as it made repeated forays over the marsh, only to return to the same perch. I found a distant Merlin perched up (probably a male) and a ring-tail Hen Harrier also flew around. A Sparrowhawk flew across the marsh in front of us and I then found a perched up Peregrine. A few small flocks of Pink-footed Geese and the usual scattering of Little Egrets were also observed.
After a while I spotted a distant bird in flight coming towards us from the direction of Burton Marsh – I soon realised it was the Spoonbill. The bird flew over us and then did a few circuits before landing off behind the boat house flashes. Watching it there also resulted in a Great White Egret appearing too. On the subject of the latter – I was mightily impressed that there were 8 birds at Avalon Marshes this winter – contrast this with the roost of over 1000 birds that has been seen in the Netherlands!!! Anyway it was a very enjoyable end to the day with plenty to see.
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