With a high tide of 9.9m a trip to Parkgate was planned. Though I was having second thoughts as I headed to Shrewsbury and snow showers began! There was lot more to come in Cheshire too, but the journey wasn't too bad and by 10am scanning the marshes for raptors began.
A distant Marsh Harrier was the first to be seen followed by several Kestrels and a ringtail Hen Harrier. A group of Pink-footed Geese flew along the estuary and Curlew, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe and other more distant waders were moving as the tide came in.
One of several Herons present captured an unfortunate Water Rail and spent a couple of minutes struggling to swallow its victim whole!
Soon the first of several Short-eared Owl were spotted, coming reasonably close, catching several voles and sitting amongst the grass. Too far for decent pics though I'm afraid!
The other highlight was seeing three foxes, one close by and one leaping up several times at the low flying Marsh Harrier! A Hare was also seen to make its escape from the rising waters and climb the wall to safety.
On then to Inner Marsh Farm where disappointingly there was only one wader, a Black-tailed Godwit. A ringtail Hen Harrier flying through twice was great to see and a pair of Stonechat eating caterpillars near the hide finally got the camera into action.
The day finished with a Spoonbill at the other end of Parkgate and a large group of Bewick's and Whooper Swans (89 in total) which were in the nearby fields at Shotwick.
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