Trip reports

Dee Estuary 19th October 2008

Monday, 20 October 2008

The weather forecast for this trip threatened rain in the late afternoon but in the event conditions were dry albeit windy all day. To start the day we began at Thursaston visitor centre. Most of the party walked up the estuary towards Parkgate Marsh. As the tide was still out the estuary was alive with oystercatcher, curlew, knot and shelduck. Mallard and pintail were seen as were redshank, dunlin, golden plover and teal as we approached the saltmarsh. On the way fieldfare and redwing were spotted. A ringtail hen harrier was observed flying over the marsh and two peregrines stood sentinel on a couple of posts in the middle of the marsh. A large flock of linnets frequented the saltmarsh and an even larger group of goldfinches flitted between the shoreline and the adjacent fields. As the tide advanced flocks of waders flew upstream moving past our watch-point. In mid-afternoon we transferred from Thursaston to a location overlooking Parkgate Marsh in the hope of seeing raptors - we were not disappointed. Two ringtail hen harriers were seen along with kestrel , sparrowhawk and buzzard plus a distant peregrine. The best sightings of the day were provided by short-eared owls quartering the marsh for extended periods; at one time four individuals were visible. To end the day a kestrel decided to perch on a post in front of our pick-up point and devour a vole.