Visiting Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB Reserve

It was high time we visited the new RSPB visitor centre at Burton Mere Wetlands, the reserve formerly known as Inner Marsh Farm, so we didn't take much persuading to call in. The birding started even before we'd left the car park, with a mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests, a Nuthatch and a Treecreeper working their way through the trees.

Quirky little features catch your eye all over this reserve

We birded from the Reception hide, where staff and volunteers were on hand to answer any visitors' questions and a machine stood ready to dispense hot drinks.

We enjoyed good views of Mediterranean and Common Gulls, Spotted Redshank, Wigeon, Teal and Pintail from the reception hide

We could hear the 'kick' call of a Great Spotted Woodpecker across the pool, while Siskins flitted around the tops of the aspen trees

Human visitors can only go down certain paths but wildlife have free rein of the reserve!

As we followed the trail towards the second hide, we heard a Chiffchaff singing in the willows. Obviously the warm November sunshine had confused him into thinking it was spring.



The second hide is double-sided - twice as many birders can enjoy twice as many birds as there's so much to see in either direction.



On one side we enjoyed very close views of an obligingly perched up Stonechat, while on the other side, we scoped more Pintail, Gadwall, Teal and Black-tailed Godwit. A flurry of excitement as a Hen Harrier spooked the birds on the lagoon but all too soon disappeared out of sight over the hill.



We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the new hides and trails at this wonderful reserve. In fact, we enjoyed it so much, that we went straight back the next day with some more birders to enjoy even more Burton Mere Wetlands birding!



If you'd like to enjoy great birds in beautiful surroundings, why not contact us on info@thebiggesttwitch.com to find out more about our birding days out and about North Wales and the North West? We've still got space on our North Wales Coastline and Anglesey day out on Tuesday 15th November so why not email or call 07778 677141 to join us? We hope to see you soon!