73. Winter Bird Watching
Short-eared Owl © Jeff Cohen
One of the great benefits of living in Parkgate is the proximity to the RSPB managed Dee Estuary marshes and the wildlife there, especially the birds. They are a feature of my daily dog walks - I choose routes that take me to wherever the latest sightings on the marsh are.
Winter, when the high tides on the estuary flush out the voles and other little creatures, the main focus is on the raptors and the owls. This week’s highlights have been watching the barn owls and short eared owls out hunting, hen harriers, marsh harriers, the egrets (great, little and cattle), kestrels, pink footed geese, herons, water rails, a curlew, lapwings and lots of ducks. All these on easy walks from the village, with lovely views across the estuary.
Parkgate Old Baths: a regular haunt for bird watchers and a favourite spot for the barn owls and hen harriers. The owls nest in some derelict farm buildings just inland from there. You can also see kestrels, water rails, curlews, egrets and herons along this stretch of the marsh.
Neston Reed Beds: a quiet area at the other end of Parkgate with its natural spring and an area of well established reed beds. It is here that the marsh harriers roost and the short eared owls can regularly be seen hunting. These reed beds are also home to water rail, bitterns and a range of smaller birds: reed warblers, grasshopper warblers, Cettis warblers and reed buntings. If you just sit quietly on the step by the gate they will soon appear out of the grass. Our only interruption is the occasional local coming down to fill large containers with cool, clear water from the Parkgate spring.
Neston Old Quay: another quiet area close to the local sewage works and a good observation point. You can see the marsh and hen harriers hunting from here, and see warblers and water pipits around the stream leading down to the marshes.
Denhall Quay: a lovely section of the marsh that is conveniently located by the Old Harp Inn (highly recommended). There are amazing views all along this stretch - I spotted 5-6 short eared owls out hunting for voles all afternoon. The egrets frequent the many pools in the marshes around here.
Decca Pools: a group of brackish pools harbouring wild fowl and waders, plus many egrets and herons. On high tide days the birds use this area as a high tide roost.
Burton Point: the site of an Iron Age promontory fort overlooking the Dee Estuary on what would have been on the original course of the River Dee. It has great views over the estuary and I am told there are also a family of little owls in the area around here.
Burtonmere: an RSPB managed wetlands and woodland reserve with a large population of birds. Always worth a visit.
I have spent the Christmas and New Year break taking time out every day with the dogs and my binoculars - a lovely way to celebrate the end of a tricky year, and to welcome in the next one.
Short-eared Owl over Neston Marsh, © Jeff Cohen