High Tide

[Farplace]

Anyone going to Parkgate? This from the BBC BBC News - Visitors flock to see high spring tide on Dee Estuary
I wish I could go...

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Farplace

Anyone going to Parkgate? This from the BBC BBC News - Visitors flock to see high spring tide on Dee Estuary
I wish I could go...

I was on the Wirrel over the weekend. This year wasn't as good as last year as the east wind held the tide back so the whole marsh wasn't flooded. However, there was a good showing of birds from the places I visited - Parkgate, The Harp at Neston and Burton Marsh. Most people go to watch the raptors and numbers are difficult to estimate as the damned things won't sit still! I had at least eight se owls from Parkgate on Saturday (eight in the air at once), three peregrines from Parkgate Sat & Sun, plus more sightings at the other venues, goodness knows how many merlins - I probably had around twenty sightings between 9.00am and 2.00pm on Saturday at Parkgate, no idea how many individuals that involved. At least three hen harriers (including a gorgeous male at Burton Marsh), again probably more as they range several miles up and down the estuary. Plus sparrowhawks, kestrels and buzzards and plenty of ravens at Burton Marsh. Pipits were disappointing this year with just a few rock pipits amongst the more numerous skylarks and mipits - many birds were too far to ID as they weren't pushed in close enough by the tide. Last year I had rock, meadow and water pipit on one tiny island.

There's another big tide tomorrow, so it's not too late to get down to the coast!

Cheers
Jonathan