On both Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd March I went to
Parkgate on the
Wirral to watch the high Spring tides moving birds out of the salt-marsh. Here is a selection of images from both days, knitted together.
More or less the Spring tide at full height with the salt-marsh at the mouth of the River Dee almost covered.
Flights of Pink-footed Geese are a common sight.
A duo
And six here.
A few settled reasonably close to my viewpoint. It is obvious here why they are called Pink-footed Geese.
I was told there are still 8000 here. As the tide rises many take to the air. Compare the amount of salt-marsh visible here with the leading photo.
Stock Dove is not a species I expected to see flying over the salt-marsh.
A sighting only possible on the highest tides. A Water Rail floats past showing its long red bill (chased by some trash!). For some reason this species does not flee the rising tide by flying but floats until...
...it can scramble on to floating vegetation.
Several species of raptors came to try and get a meal. A Sparrowhawk here.
And another.
A Common Buzzard passes by. The white on the side of the tail was hard to place as the bird passed over and raised questions as to whether it might be a Rough-legged Buzzard. This species is a rare winter visitor mainly to Eastern England and has a white rump and upper-tail. Not the rump here so just a Common Buzzard. I have to say the bill looks rather bulkier than usual.
This bulky falcon is a Peregrine. I would judge it is a female which, as with most species of birds of prey, are larger than the male.
Always hunting small mammals far out over the salt-marsh are Marsh Harriers, here in typical pose as they slowly scan the area.
As the tide rises hitherto unseen Common Snipe shoot out of the marsh. Getting a crisp photo is hard!
Remnant floating vegetation will support the weight of a Dunlin.
Here seven Dunlin share floating vegetation with ten Redshank (the seventh Dunlin is hard to spot)
The distinctive curved bill identifies this as a Curlew.
Here a group of Oystercatcher take to the air. Bottom right a trio of Common Teal make their escape.
Not the same trio of Common Teal. Two drakes with yellow tail sides and one duck.
Redshank also on the move.
An adult summer Lesser Black-backed Gull.
A contrast between a first year Great Black-backed Gull (the upper bird) and a first year Lesser Black-back. Note the massive bill and the chequered-looking plumage on the former.
Surprisingly scarce were Grey Heron: the only one seen.
The heron was vastly outnumbered by egrets: here a Little Egret with black bill and yellow feet.
Here a Great (White) Egret with yellow bill for size comparison with a Little Egret.
Five Little Egrets together.
Nine here. At one time I managed to count 32 scattered around.
The salt-marsh held Meadow Pipits, most likely en route to their breeding grounds in the hills. It is standing alongside some trash floated by the rising tide.
Another of the many Meadow Pipits.
Stonechats will breed locally. This male was heard singing.
As the tide covers the last of the salt-marsh the small mammal inhabitants are forced to flee. This first year Lesser Black-backed Gull has grabbed a meal and an adult Common Gull thinks it might try and snatch it.
There goes another mammal. A water vole perhaps?
Escaping is this mammal. There was a list provided of species seen but it does not help me identify this...
...this good swimmer...
...or this rather soggy individual clinging on. Could it be a Harvest Mouse?
(Ed Wilson)
