The Wirral

Friday 4th January 2013 

It was an early start and i was off to 'The Wirral', a place i visit about four or five times a year. This was not a 9m or 10m high tide day but with fairly good weather promised plus the chance to add plenty of ticks to the year list, it was too good of an opportunity to miss.

      

I arrived at West Kirby about 8, the first thing i did was to have breakfast in Morrison's. I drove around the corner to find the 'Marine Lake' was so calm it was like a mirror. With the tide not to peak until about 3 and no Goldeneye or Red breasted Mergansers about, it was going to be a long day. 

 

West Kirby Marine Lake
Hilbre Island in the background

 

I headed to New Brighton Marine Lake for the chance of Purple Sandpiper, alas another no show.    

Pied Wagtail, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Redshank, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull and a flyover of six Pink-footed geese were seen here.

 

Pied Wagtail

 

Black-headed Gull

Turnstone

 

Redshank

 Always good for Common Gull here on the fields opposite the sea front.

 

Common Gull

I called in at Leasowe 'Lighthouse'  with Lapwing and Dunlin seen here. Thurstaston Country Park and Shore was next, with the tide finally heading in there was plenty of warders on the shore. Approximately 20,000 including Knot, Dunlin, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Bar-tailed Godwit.

Shore Cottage, Thurstaston

Knot, Thurstaston Shore

Parkgate was next with only Little Egret and Peregrine of note seen here. Last place was Burton Marsh and with the sun rapidly disappearing there was just enough light to see four raptors, with the help of some other birders: Sparrowhawk, Short-eared Owl, Merlin and Hen Harrier (Ringtail and a male, my first sighting).

It had been a poor days birding but the weather had been kind with one young birder in a T-shirt, but the finish more than made up for it. The highlight being the male Hen Harrier.