Winter 2011 Newsletter

Wirral Birdlife in Winter

We are blessed on Wirral to be surrounded by diverse bird habitat and winter is possibly the best time to enjoy it. The Mersey and Dee estuaries and north Wirral coast afford marvellous opportunities to view huge numbers of visiting waders and wildfowl. A scope is the ideal tool of the trade but pocket binoculars will allow good views of birds.

Black-tailed godwit. Photo: Wikipedia

Eastham and Shorefields on the Mersey will produce small numbers of oystercatcher, curlew, turnstone and shelduck. The north Wirral coast from New Brighton to West Kirby is renowned for massive flocks of gulls, dunlin, oystercatcher, knot and sanderling. Further offshore hundreds of great crested grebe can often be viewed in calm weather. A storm can bring relative rarities within view.

Hilbre Island is well known for its bird observatory and winter can bring brent geese, mergansers and divers close to the island. The foreshore from Red Rocks to West Kirby can also throw up good numbers of waders and the odd little egret.

Early mornings at West Kirby marine lake can reveal red breasted merganser and goldeneye. The rocks around the site of the old lifeboat station often give close views of roosting waders at high tide.

At low tide all along the mudflats and sands from West Kirby to Heswall huge numbers of redshank, knot, dunlin, oystercatcher, curlew, black-tailed godwit, shelduck and pintail feed furiously between tides. Notable places to view them are the causeway out into the estuary from Heswall Sailing Club, the shore at the bottom of Station Road, Thurstaston and below Heswall Fields NT.

The ‘gutter’ which runs through the marsh from Heswall to Parkgate is an excellent place to view waders and large numbers of mallard and teal. High tides can drive flocks of waders and wildfowl close enough for good views, Riverbank Road, Heswall and Parkgate Old Baths being two notable viewing points.

The newly constructed ‘flashes’ close to Parkgate front have already proved attractive to a variety of birds. Donkey Stand Flash is very close to the road (opposite the ice cream shop) and is ideal for the birdwatcher.

The marsh is a winter home for a few short eared owl, hen harrier and merlin. Sometimes flocks of pink footed geese visit the marsh. Denhall Lane, Burton is another venue which is easily accessible.

RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands Reserve opened in 2011 and is still being developed but has already proved to be a draw for a large variety of birds. Lakes, shallow water scrapes, reedbeds and farmland are managed to provide diverse habitat.

Inland, Wirral has parkland, pools, woodland and farmland. The lack of leaves on trees during winter can make bird observation much easier. Look out for winter thrushes feeding on hedgerow berries or even in supermarket car parks! Each winter kingfishers are reported at Arrowe Brook and the Birket.

A field of cattle can churn up the ground attracting lapwing, curlew, thrushes, starling, wagtail and woodpigeon looking for an easy meal. Rough ground can attract flocks of seed-eating finches. Small mixed groups of tits can be seen and heard flitting from tree to tree along many footpaths. On sunny days buzzards will often reveal their presence by mewing as they glide high on thermals.

Simply feeding and watching birds in your garden can be enjoyable but looking and listening on a winter walk can make the experience much more rewarding.        

Dave Edwards

Short eared owl. Photo: Wikipedia