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 |