Doug and Eddie had mentioned when they were birding with us recently that they had planned a trip to the Dee Estuary on Friday the 13th March and invited us to join them. With the weather forecast predicting some early spring weather we headed east to join them. We met at Denhall Lane, below Burton village, a great view point overlooking the inner Dee Marshes. Doug and Eddie were already in situ and had been joined by a mate of theirs, Dave. We jumped out to join them and were immediately struck by how cold it was, spring? Don’t think so! We set up the scopes and scanned the vast grazing marsh that stretched away towards the coast of Wales to the west. At least six Little Egrets were feeding in the ditches and shallow flashes, Eurasian Wigeon and Eurasian Teal joined them. A Skylark had obviously heard the same weather forecast as us as it sang high above the marsh despite the biting cold wind. Two Stock Doves flew low and fast in front of us, always a good bird for us to see, pretty scarce in our part of North Wales. Scanning further out a raptor was seen slowly quartering the edge of the incoming tide, a ringtail Hen Harrier, very nice, if very distant. Then it began to rain, this was not part of the forecast. We scurried to stow the gear and took the short drive to Inner Marsh Farm RSPB Reserve where a hide offered shelter and more birds. Walking quickly down the hide we again heard the song of a Skylark and we looked up. What a surprise we got, sure a Skylark over head and singing but it was being chased by a Merlin! How odd when its life was under threat to keep singing, we had never seen this before. Luckily the lark twisted and turned so quickly the Merlin broke off the attack and headed off to look for easier and quieter prey.
We reached the hide and were grateful to get out of the rain and wind. Lots of birds were on the shallow lagoons right in front of the hide. Best of all were two graceful Avocets sweeping their delicate up turned bills through the water. What lovely birds and so close. A gang of Black tailed Godwits circled the pools and landed at the back where they immediately began to probe the soft earth for food. Ruth picked out four Ruff feeding on the pool off to our right. This is known as the Border Pool as it lies just over the border in Wales, the majority of the reserve is in Cheshire, England. So Ruff was on our Welsh year list, but Avocet was not. Plenty of wildfowl here including Shoveler, Pintail, Tufted Duck and more Eurasian Wigeon and Teal all giving great views.
With time as ever when birding passing quickly we dragged our selves away and headed north along the coast of the Dee Estuary to reach Parkgate. The marshes here are a famous birding site and a car park at the north end of the town gives great views over the marshes. We again stepped out into the cold and a light drizzle and scanned the saltings that cover a vast area here. It was nearing high tide, despite this being one of the biggest tides of the year it showed no signs of flooding the marsh up to our watch point. Over the years the marsh has grown and risen so the frequency of flooding tides has fallen and only occurs now if a really strong wind pushes the water that crucial bit higher. Again Little Egrets were on show, flapping back and forth over the pools and reeds and feeding in the shallow flashes. Flocks of Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits rose and fell over the distant tide edge. A Peregrine was found sat on a dead log and we enjoyed good scope views of the menacing raptor. A young male Hen Harrier drifted kite like over the marsh and gave us wonderful views of its grey plumage with white rump, it twisted and turned, dived into the grass and was gone. Then not one but two ringtail Hen Harriers appeared and we were enthralled by stunning views as these two took turns to drift past us and sweep low over the marsh, twisting and turning showing off their white rumps and barred tails. Just wonderful birding and we almost forgot the cold! A mug of hot chocolate was just what we needed and as we drank a second Peregrine powered overhead and a Sparrowhawk crossed the estuary, staying with a raptors a fine male Kestrel was seen perched on a post. Then almost inevitably the rain came down hard and the wind increased, with lots of things to do back home we said our goodbyes to headed back over the border well pleased with our trip to the Dee Estuary.