CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 1st-9th Feb 2024

Feb 9th 1 Bittern showing in reeds - Burton Mere Wetlands 520 Bar-tailed Godwit (1 hour before high tide, most I've seen there for several years), 350 Sanderling, 1,000 Knot and 11,000 Dunlin, also 14 Brent Geese - Hoylake Shore 1020 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Dabchick, 2000 Oystercatcher, 250 Golden Plover, 6000 Dunlin, 1200 Curlew, 700 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Jack Snipe flushed by high tide - Heswall Shore.
7th 1 Bittern - Burton Mere Wetlands 3 Long-tailed Duck (1 drake), 100+ Great Crested Grebe and 1000+ Common Scoter off East Hoyle Bank - Hoylake 6th 2 Bittern seen from Marsh Covert Hide, also 2 Ruff, 1 Kingfisher and 86 Gadwall - Burton Mere Wetlands 5th 400+ Brent Geese - Hilbre 4th 32 Twite flew SW and 9 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands 480 Brent Geese - Hilbre 3rd 5 Great White Egret, 3 Marsh Harrier, c1,000 Lapwing and 2 Little Grebe - Parkgate 2nd 1 Bittern showing in reeds - Burton Mere Wetlands 1 Bewick's Swan and 23 Whooper Swan - Burton Marsh.
1st 2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail) and 1 Merlin - Parkgate 4 Hen Harrier (4 grey males), 3 Short-eared Owl, 1 Bewick's Swan, 9 Whooper Swan and 2,000+ Pink-footed Geese - Outer Burton Marsh 1 Bittern and 11+ Marsh Harrier flew into reedbed roost - Neston Marsh.