Bakewell Bird Study Group visit to Burton Mere – Thursday 7th April 2022, 10.00 to 15.00

Summary
Our small group travelled by car to this excellent RSPB reserve on the Dee estuary, on the south side of the Wirral peninsula. There was a chilly breeze and though there were a few showers, the visitor centre and hides gave us shelter. We benefitted from Shirley’s knowledge of the reserve and its bird population and she accompanied us throughout the morning. We had close-up views of Black-tailed Godwit and Pintail and more distant sightings of a pair of Garganey and the Marsh Harrier. Redshank and Godwit were quite numerous; in among them were a few Spotted Redshank with their noticeably greyer plumage. Eventually we spotted the Little Gull bobbing along on the surface of the water in front of the Border Hide. Towards the end of our stay flocks of Pink-footed Geese arrived to graze.

Members participating: 4 + 1 guest and Shirley, our RSPB guide

Bird list (46 species seen and/or heard)

Little Grebe Tufted Duck Black-headed Gull
Little Egret Marsh Harrier Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great White Egret Buzzard Woodpigeon
Grey Heron Pheasant Great Spotted Woodpecker
Mute Swan Moorhen Dunnock
Pink footed Goose Coot Robin
Greylag Goose Oystercatcher Mistle Thrush
Canada Goose Avocet Cetti’s Warbler
Shelduck Lapwing Chiffchaff
Wigeon Knot Blue Tit
Gadwall Black-tailed Godwit Great Tit
Teal Bar-tailed Godwit Magpie
Mallard Spotted Redshank Jackdaw
Pintail Redshank Carrion Crow
Garganey Little Gull Goldfinch
Shoveler