Burton Mere Wetlands

On what was yet another cold grey and overcast day. Lisa and I brightened the mood by visiting RSPB Burton Mere for our winter fix of water birds. There was a good variety as always here, and we were greeted in the car park by the sound of overflying Pink-footed Geese. There was lots around and some good birds added to the Year List, with the likes of Knot, Curlew, Green Sandpiper and Dunlin.

The highlight was a Great White Egret dropping just metres away from us while standing at the Bridge Screen.

You can see more of our visit here:

Great White Egret

Dunlin

Knot and Black-tailed Godwit

Redshank

Long-tailed Tit

Mallard

Teal

Burton Mere

 A visit to the Wirral is always good, and especially RSPB Burton Mere at this time of year. Waders are returning from their breeding grounds and in good numbers it seems this year. There have been high numbers of Curlew Sandpipers on site, and I managed to see a few. A real bonus was a Pectoral Sandpiper which had been found just moments before my arrival.

Pintails were on the water, as were some Wigeon, a real sign of the changing seasons. Lots of Snipe were good to watch as they probed the mud. Teal numbers were climbing too. A Great White Egret was close in to one of the viewing screens, and a lone Avocet was also good to see. There was a good supporting cast of Cetti's Warblers, Green Sandpipers, Mallards and Coots. 

A few of the Black-tailed Godwits that were on the reserve.

A Curlew Sandpiper (centre) and a Snipe to the left.

This Great White Egret gave me my closest ever views of one, from behind a screen.

A Pectoral Sandpiper (centre) with some Teal 

3 Ruff (to the right) and a Curlew Sandpiper on the left

Burton Mere

A nice Spring time visit to Burton Mere is always a good trip out. The sun was shining and the birds were nice and active on the reserve just by the Dee Estuary. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary this day, but it was nice to be out with no rain, snow or wind and good light.

I managed to add a few year ticks too, in the shape of Curlew, Pintail, Marsh Harrier and Oystercatcher. The elusive Cetti's Warbler was once again added to my 'Heard Only' list for the year.

This Dunnock was in fine voice in the warm sunshine.

A Little Egret on a fly past.

A Little Grebe with a fish almost as big as itself.

Some soon to be departed Pink-footed Geese flying over the marsh.

A very good looking Shelduck.

A Teal in the fantastic light.

Dunlin

Burton Mere wetlands on the Wirral is always a good place to birdwatch. There is always a good variety of stuff about, from woodland to wildfowl and a smattering of the not so common birds. Recently there have been good numbers of waders dropping in, and as I can't resist staring at waders for hours, I took myself along to check them out.
It wasn't long before a small flock of Dunlin flew into view, accompanied by one single Ringed Plover.

A Dunlin in front of some Shoveler ducks. 

Enjoying the sunshine.

Along with the Dunlin, there are four other species in this picture. How many can you see? 

Coastal Wonders

I'm getting a longing for waders and sea birds. I've not been to the coast for a while, and I'm missing the birds found there. So tomorrow I am heading to the Farne Islands and the Northumberland coast for a few days. I'm hoping for lots of Puffins, Terns, Guillemots and waders. These will all be feeding young at the moment, so there should be oodles of activity.
I really can't wait. It's been a few months in the planning, and now I just want to get there. I hope to be able to share plenty of pictures with you, so fingers crossed the weather holds out.

In the meantime, here are some birds I found on the Norfolk coast a few months back.

Black-tailed Godwit.

Shelduck.

Mr and Mrs Teal

Mr Teal.

Shovelers

Shovelers were in good numbers at RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk. My parents and I arrived late afternoonish and the sun was already getting quite low in the sky. Not good when you're looking straight into it, but when it's behind you it allows you to get some really nice and different pictures.
The Shovelers were close to one of the hides and they looked totally oblivious to us and me with my camera. I do like their unusually big shovel like bill. It makes them stand out amongst the crowd.

The female here.

The rather dapper looking male in the nice sunlight.

A female Teal joining the late afternoon party.

More common, but not forgotten

My visit to the Wirral was very nice and there are always good birds around, but I never neglect the more common species on show that can often get overlooked. These were seen in a mixture of places such as marsh and coast. Here are just a few of them.

Common Redshank in flight.

Common Snipe.

Carrion Crow

Common Gull.



Coot

Female Teal

Teal

One of the lovely dabbling ducks that multiply in numbers during the autumn and winter months is the Teal. The male has a lovely chestnut head and green eye patches, while the female is a little less exciting with a mottled brown colouration. Always a pleasure to see, although be warned they are quite flighty, so getting close is difficult.

 

Burton Mere

My first visit to Burton Mere wetlands the other week was a successful one. Plenty of different waders to watch. Black tailed Godwits, Ruff, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and then plenty of raptors too. It's a great place to go birding, and I recommend it to anyone. A nicely heated hide at reception keeps you warm and dry in times of inclement weather.
Anyway, on to some of the birds I saw:

Black tailed Godwits looking for something nice. 

Godwits with a Teal (front)

 

Godwits in flight.

My first cow tick at the reserve.

This Kestrel enjoyed doing fly-bys of the main hide.

A Nuthatch munching it's way through the sunflower hearts on offer.