On 3rd May, four members and three guests enjoyed a visit to the RSPB’s Burton Mere Wetlands on the Wirral. Burton Mere is an important wetlands reserve in the north-west of England. From the visitor centre we were shown a newly arrived male Garganey on the main scrape amidst flocks of avocets, black-tailed godwits and much more. (Avocet, Bruce Kendrick; Black-headed gull, Maggie Bullock
We were keen to witness a food pass from male marsh harrier to either of two sitting female harriers. It is not uncommon in these raptors for the male to feed more than one female and her chicks. We sat in the Marsh covert hide for part of the morning. No joy with the food pass but sights of a female cuckoo helped, even if the bird was too distant, even for our big lenses. Summer has arrived!
The walk to the new Border Hide (Inner Marsh Farm to us oldies) was accompanied by plenty of singing male warblers, notably Cetti, Sedge and Willow, and Chiffchaff and Whitethroat. Once at the hide we settled down and had some fine views of shoveler (Maggie Bullock), black-tailed godwit (Maggie Bullock) and avocets. There were three spotted redshanks in their fine summer plumage but too distant to photograph. Nevertheless a fine sight.
For more events to attend go to Nature (rps.org)
Below: Heron taking off by Liz Kenny
