PARKGATE MARSH FIRE

This evening, around 18.30pm, a devastating fire has broken out on Parkgate Marsh. The fire has totally destroyed Neston reedbed, which is home to so much wildlife . Police officers from Cheshire Constabulary have been speaking to residents in the area and reviewing CCTV footage to find those responsible, and now they have confirmed they are hoping to speak to several teenagers who were in the area at around 6.20pm.

The morning after these photographs showed the devastation caused by a mindless few!

Thankfully, breeding season is not in full swing, as this could have been even more catastrophic to the local birdlife and other wildlife that live on these beautiful marshes.

CHESHIRE BIRD NEWS AND MEGAS

SUMMARY OF BIRD NEWS

Mar 21st

2 Redhead Smew-Lapwing Hall Pool

2 Wheatear and 3 Brent Geese by groyne - Meols.

Bar Tailed Godwit,3 Garganey (2f and 2m) and a Long-tailed Duck - Burton Mere Wetlands.

10 singing Chiffchaff along Wirral Way between Heswall and Parkgate.

Hen Harrier (ringtail) and Male - Parkgate.

5 Western Cattle Egret-Marsh Lane-Ince

Ring Necked Parakeet-Over Garden-Little Sutton

Black Necked Grebe-12 still (three on No 3 Bed and nine on No 4 Bed-Woolston Eyes

Hen Harrier-Male-Burton Marsh

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

Mar 20th

2 Spotted Redshank,Long-tailed Duck and 2 Garganey(M+F) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Long Tailed Duck

(C)John Hewitt

Garganey

(C)A Orton

White Wagtail-Kerr's Field-Leasowe

4 Ruddy Shelduck-Burton Point

3rd Year Yellow Legged Gull-Hale

Caspian Gull-2nd-winter again on sandbank just west of old Runcorn Bridge-Widnes

Black Necked Grebe-Nine still on No 4 Bed wetland-Woolston Eyes

Whimbrel-One sound recorded overnight-Hoylake

2 Western Cattle Egret-Two adults at Frodsham Score viewed from Hale-Frodsham Marshes

Western Cattle Egret

(C)Paul Ralston

3 Wheatear,2 Chiffchaff,80 Pink Footed Geese and a Goosander-Hilbre Island

Red Kite-Past Hale Lighthouse

Red Kite

(C)Dave Craven

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

Mar 19th

4 Ruddy Shelduck-Burton Point

Hen Harrier-Male-Parkgate

Smew-One reported this morning and Female Long Tailed Duck-Burton RSPB

Black necked Grebe-12 (three on No 3 Bed and nine on No 4 Bed)-Woolston Eyes

Garganey-Two (one drake) and 2 Little Ringed Plover at Elton Hall Flash-Sandbach Flashes

Garganey

(C)Phil Jones

34 Whooper Swan on Dawpool Bank early morning, on the mud mid-estuary - Thurstaston.

Siskin and a Redwing along Park Lane - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Brambling,3 Redpoll and 3 Raven over - Royden Park/Thurstaston Hill.

Red Kite over and a Long-tailed Duck - Burton Mere Wetlands.

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Joppa-Lothian

Mar 18th

Short Eared Owl-The Lum-Frodsham Marshes

8 singing Chiffchaff along Wirral Way between Heswall and Parkgate.

8 Brambling and a Yellowhammer in Thornton Hough area.

Long-tailed Duck - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Short-eared Owl and 2 Stonechat - Parkgate.

10 Siskin and 2 Redpoll caught and ringed in sea-front garden - Hoylake.

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Joppa-Lothian

Mar 17th

2 Redhead Smew-Lapwing hall Pool

3 House Martin and a Swallow-Sandbach Flashes

House Martin-Tatton Mere

6 Crossbill landed in pine trees on golf course then flew across towards Hilbre, also 2 Stonechat - West Kirby Shore.

Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate.

2 White Wagtail and 7 singing Chiffchaff in fields by Dungeon Wood - Thurstaston.

Snow Bunting flew south at 1105hrs, also 12 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre.

2 Little Owl at Burton Point, 4 Ruddy Shelduck - Burton Marsh.

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

Mar 16th

3 Sand Martin over Heswall Dales.

Long-tailed Duck and 70 Avocet -Burton Mere Wetlands.

Short-eared Owl on the marsh then perched in tree on golf course,Hen Harrier (ringtail),Marsh Harrier, 2 Mistle Thrush and a Stonechat - Parkgate.

2 Kingfisher and 6 Goldcrest - Leasowe Lighthouse.

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

Mar 15th

Short-eared Owl early morning - Parkgate.

Swallow over border pool *first of spring*,Long-tailed Duck -Burton Mere Wetlands.

10 Chiffchaff between the Lighthouse and duck pond this morning, also a Goosander by the groyne and a Sand Martin - Leasowe Lighthouse.

3 Rock Pipit and 1 Jack Snipe on the marsh, 4 Wheatear on golf course - West Kirby.

350+ Brent Geese - Hilbre.

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

Mar 14th

4 Ruddy Shelduck-Burton Marsh

Short-eared Owl which dropped on a Kestrel which escaped after a brief fight,Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate.

Long-tailed Duck - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Long Tailed Duck

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

                   BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

Mar 13th

Western Cattle Egret-Four still in cattle field south of Marsh Lane-Ince Marshes

Black Necked Grebe Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Long-tailed Duck with 100+ Tufted Duck and a Woodcock - Burton Mere Wetlands.

320 Shelduck, 31 Pintail, 95 Teal, 960 Oystercatcher, 143 Grey Plover, 109 Golden Plover, 1100 Knot, 2300 Dunlin, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 605 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 1700 Redshank this morning - Heswall Shore.

Greenshank near the groyne - Leasowe Lighthouse

Short-eared Owl and 2 Wheatear - Old Baths, Parkgate.

3 Wheatear on tide wrack, 2 Short-eared Owl,Barn Owl,5+ Stonechat (one singing) and 3 Marsh Harrier - Heswall Golf Course/Marsh.

Barn Owl along Mudhouse Lane - Burton.

Short-eared Owl,2 Wheatear,White Wagtail,2 Stonechat,Great Egret and 1 Ruddy Shelduck - Burton Marsh.

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Joppa-Lothian

Mar 12th

2 Red Kites-Over A54-Between Congleton and Summerford

Wheatear and a White Wagtail- Hilbre.

White Wagtail,2 Rock Pipit,40 Meadow Pipit and 4 Chiffchaff - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Short-eared Owl,8 Twite and 2 Wheatear feeding on tide wrack - Old Baths, Parkgate.

Northern Wheatear-Near Marsh Farm-Frodsham Marshes

3 Ruddy Shelduck-Burton RSPB

2 Redhead Smew-Lapwing Hall Pool

Northern Wheatear-Male on Decoy Marsh-Hale

Black Necked Grebe-Nine (four on No 3 Bed and five on No 4 Bed); view No 4 Bed from west bank only-Woolston Eyes

Black Necked Grebe,Little Ringed Plover and Sand Martin-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Joppa-Lothian

Mar 11th

Sand Martin-Carr Lane pools-Hale

Eurasian Bittern and 2 Sand Martin-Coward reedbed-Marbury Country Park

Ringtail Hen Harrier-Over saltmarsh-Heswall

38 Avocet and Male Hen Harrier-Burton RSPB

Little Ringed Plover-2 on N01 Bed-Woolston Eyes

2 Sand Martin-Silver Lane Pools-Then flew North

Northern Wheatear-One in cattle field opposite Arrowe Brook Farm-Birdkenhead

Sand Martin over end of Station Road, also 2 Stonechat and 20+ Linnet - Burton  Marsh.

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Joppa-Lothian

Mar 10th

2 Short Eared Owl-The Lum-Frodsham Marshes

Northern Wheatear and 3 Ruddy Shelduck-Burton RSPB

6 Black Necked Grebe and a Sand Martin-Woolston Eyes

Black necked Grebe-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Smew-Redhead-Lapwing Hall Pool

5+ Marsh Harrier,2 Great Egret,2 Goosander,3 Cetti's Warbler,4 Stonechat,Wheatear,2+ Ruddy Shelduck (the other two probably hidden in channel) and 30+ Fieldfare - Burton Point/Burton  Marsh.

Great Egret over - Thurstaston Shore.

Greenshank - Heswall Shore.

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Frampton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Joppa-Lothian

Mar 9th

Short Eared Owl-Parkgate

Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

2 Sand Martin-Over-Tatton Park-Knutsford

Caspain Gull-2nd-winter just west of old Runcorn Bridge on sandbanks-Widnes

Red Kite-Along the River Gowy and then flew towards Huxley

Red Kite

4 Ruddy Shelduck - Burton Marsh.

2 Little Gull and a Chiffchaff - Hilbre.

Eurasian Bittern-Coward reedbed-Northwich

MEGA NEWS

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Mussleburgh-Lothian

Mar 8th

Sand Martin-Tatton Park-Knutsford

Bittern - Burton Mere Wetlands.

3 Stonechat on barbed wire fence by horse paddocks,Great Egret flew in from sea and inland - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Short Eared Owl-The Lum-Frodsham Marshes

Siberian Chiffchaff-Silver Lane Pools

Western Cattle Egret-Five again: four at screen pond and one still in cattle field south of Marsh Lane-Ince Marshes

Western Cattle Egret

(C)Paul Ralston

5 Black Necked Grebe and Mediterranean Gull-Woolston Eyes

Mediterranean Gull

(C)David Bowman

Black Necked Grebe

(C)David Bowman

MEGA NEWS

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

Mar 7th

2 Hen Harrier and Short Eared Owl-Parkgate

3 Black Necked Grebe-Woolston Eyes

Short Eared Owl-The Lum-Frodsham Marshes

MEGA NEWS

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Mussleburgh-Lothian

Mar 6th

Corn Bunting-Rodeheath

Corn Bunting

(C)Tracey Stubbs

Siberian Chiffchaff-On perimeter fence at sewage works-Heswall

Siberian Chiffchaf

(C)Dan Foy

Little Ringed Plover-Carr Lane Pools-Hale

3 Marsh Harrier and over 30 Avocet - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Short-eared Owl,2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail),Marsh Harrier and 4 Stonechat (2 pairs) - Parkgate.

Short eared Owl

(C)Frank Burns

4 Ruddy Shellduck,2 Great White Egret,Raven,Marsh Harrier and a Little Owl - Burton Marsh to Burton Point.

2 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.

Little Gull,Eider (fem),2 s/pl Red Throated Diver and 300+ Common Scoter - Hoylake Shore

3 Snow Bunting at Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Halton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Mussleburgh-Lothian

Mar 5th

Corn Bunting-Heading towards Groby road-Maw Green Tip-Sandbach Flashes

2 Redhead Smew-Lapwing Hall Pool

Western Cattle Egret-Four again in cattle field south of Marsh Lane-Ince Marshes

Short Eared Owl-One still at The Lum-Frodsham Marshes

5 Black Necked Grebes and Willow Tit-Woolston Eyes

Black Necked Grebe

(C)David Bowman

Willow Tit

(C)Dave Bedford

Eurasian Bittern-Coward Reddbed-Marbury Country Park

4 Snow Bunting at Derby Pool (lots of disturbance) and an Eider (drake) on sea - Wallasey Shore.

Eider (fem) and 19 Red-breasted Merganser - Riverbank Road, Heswall. 

Short-eared Owl - Parkgate.

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Halton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Mussleburgh-Lothian

Mar 4th

Mediterranean Gull-Neumann's Flash-Northwich

2 Short Eared Owl-Two still at The Lum-Frodsham Marshes

4 Snow Bunting 400m west of Derby Pool and an Eider (drake) on sea - Wallasey Shore.

Eider (fem) and 15 Common Scoter - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

Short-eared Owl this afternoon,Red Kite over towards Flint,and 3 Hen Harrier and 8 Marsh Harrier came in to roost this evening  - Parkgate.

Short-eared Owl over rifle range - Burton Marsh

MEGA NEWS

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

Mar 3rd

Adult Mediterranean Gull-Woolston Eyes

30+ Linnet and 3 Twite in tidewrack,40+ Siskin in alders,5 Raven and 2 Cetti's Warbler - Burton Point.

1,200 Knot,900 Dunlin and 450 Sanderling at high tide - Hoylake Shore.

Eurasian Bittern-Coward Reedbed-Northwich

Eurasian Bittern

(C)Greg Baker

Short Eared Owl-Burton RSPB

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Halton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

Mar 2nd

5 Snow Bunting near Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.

Short Eared Owl-Burton RSPB

MEGA NEWS

BROWN BOOBY-Perranporth-Cornwall

One found exhausted in a car park recently following Storm Eunice and taken into care,but then died

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Halton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

Mar 1st

34 Avocet,3 Ruff,4 Ruddy Shelduck,2 Marsh Harrier (pair),3+ Cetti's Warbler and 2 Stonechat - Burton Mere Wetlands.

5 Marsh Harrier in air together,Hen Harrier (male),Short-eared Owl,2 Little Owl,100+ Linnet feeding in tidal wrack,30+ Pied Wagtail,50+ Fieldfare and 20+ Redwing, also a Barn Owl by Station Road - Burton Point.

Mediterranean Gull (adult) - New Brighton.

Drake Eider on sea - Wallasey Shore.

Goldeneye and 2 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.

2 Short Eared Owl-Still at The Lum-Frodsham Marshes

Western Cattle Egret-Four again in cattle field south of Marsh Lane-Ince Marshes

2 Red Kite-Over A34-Scholar Green

Adult Yellow Legged Gull-Elton Hall Flash-Sandbach Flashes

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-Halton Marshes-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor-East Yorkshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Mussleburgh-Lothian