Birdwatching at RSPB Inner Marsh Farm Burton Wirral, a Special Place

RSPB Inner Marsh Farm

(RSPB Members only, but you can join at the reception!)

In 1986 the RSPB was given the opportunity of purchasing 75 acres of abandoned arable fields at Inner Marsh Farm. The purchase was completed and over the next couple of years a complex of freshwater pools and flood areas were developed. In 1988 the remains of Burton Point Farm was purchased and the reserve opened in June 1992.

The reserve has 30 hectares of wetland including 3 pools. 6.5 hectares of farmland, this provides feeding, nesting habitat and roosting sanctuaries for wintering wildlife and waders including passage waders.

Increased numbers of wetland passerines are managed on Burton Point farm and it has been to the benefit of declining farmland birds.

30 acres of arable field have been converted to an internationally important wetland, designated by the government as SSSI (Sites of special scientific interest) and is a proposed European specially protected award area: Ramsar.

At the moment approximately 30,000 bird watchers visit the reserve each year, but there is limited parking space, up to 12 cars plus a small overflow area next to the wardens office. Definately no access for Coaches at reserve, narrow lanes around reserve unsuitable for parking. There is one hide currently. Recent events has meant there is an opportunity for the RSPB to acquire further land towards the Welsh side of the reserve - towards Shotwick Lake, effectively doubling the reserve. This land already has small pools in it and would be managed as marshland. If successful the RSPB hopes to create another entrance to the reserve with a bigger car parking area.

Water Buffalo Cartoon image

Twelve Water Buffalo have been introduced to the reserve through the Countryside management scheme. It is hoped that by bringing in the the buffalo to graze down the rush growth and create muddy wallows, the reserves nesting Lapwings may increase in numbers; as lapwings like to nest in short vegetation with muddy pools/areas where they can take their chicks to feed on worms and insects. Water buffalos have docile temperaments, which makes them well suited to nature reserves and farm parks.

The RSPB reserve at Inner Marsh Farm often allows close views of passage waders like Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Whimbrel, Little Stint and Green and Curlew Sandpipers. In summer Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warblers, Reed Bunting, Pipits and Wheatear breed. Winter brings northern migrant thrushes such as Fieldfare and Redwing to the area.

Checklist of birds frequenting the area/passage migrants include Great Cormorant, Shelduck, Wigeon, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Red Knot, Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Jack Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Short-eared Owl, Common Kingfisher, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Linnet, Twite, Reed Bunting.

Burton wood is an area of mature woodland with a good variety of woodland birds including Woodpeckers, Warblers, Tits, Jay and Sparrowhawk. Rising uphill behind the picturesque village of Burton is this attractive wooded area commanding superb views across the Dee Estuary. The display of wild hyacinths and rhododendron are a particular feature in Spring.

Woodpecker at Feeding station Inner MarshFarm

O.S. Map Reference SJ290750 On the A540 towards Neston, turn left to Burton. Beyond the village, a left fork, Station Road, goes down to the Dee Marshes. For access to Inner Marsh Farm, take a left turn down an un-tarmaced road signposted for Burton Point Farm.

Check before you go? Warden Staff : 0151 336 7681

** Reserve closed Tuesday's

New land Purchase 2006

On 1st September 2006, the RSPB purchased 194 hectares of saltmarsh and adjacent farmland at Burton Marsh Farm, which will in addition allow access to manage around 1,000 hectares of grazable saltmarsh on the English side of the estuary. This strategic purchase now connects the existing land holdings of Gayton Sands and Inner Marsh Farm together. The saltmarsh and adjacent Burton Marsh Farm are now protected for posterity.

Before Inner Marsh Farm Reserve was created, the inner Dee marshes off Denhall Lane and the Decca Station (Decca Pools) were already well known birding hot spots. The grazed saltmarsh attracts huge flocks of wintering lapwing and lesser numbers of Golden Plover. When it floods during the autumn tides, good numbers of migrant waders can be seen, especially Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Ruff etc. Large numbers of wildfowl occur with Bewick's Swan, Wigeon and Teal being the main species.

Over the years, the flooded marsh has attracted a number of rarities which includes: Glossy Ibis, American Wigeon, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Phalaropes (3) one of which I can vividly remember watching from the bedroom window when I lived at Marsh Cottage!The inner saltmarsh with its rush and reedbeds hold significant numbers of breeding Water Rail, Grasshopper and Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting, whilst further out Redshank and Skylark breed in substantial numbers.In recent years, Denhall Lane has become one of the best places to watch Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl on the estuary, with birds just gliding by the attendant crowds.This August/September, Hobbies became a feature and they delighted the local birders as they hunted dragonflies over the marsh.It is not just birds that will benefit from the purchase. Brown Hares occur and Noctule Bats feed over the marsh, whilst Harvest Mice have recently been recorded.

The RSPB will continue to manage the grazing of the saltmarsh with the help of a local farmer. Agreements have been negotiated with neighbouring landowners of the saltmarsh, so Burton Marsh as before, will be grazed as one unit. Stock numbers will be maintained at levels that will benefit the breeding birds as well as the Dee's internationally important concentrations of wintering wildfowl and waders.The best place to view the new reserve extension, is from the bottom of Denhall Lane, park on the front and take a walk along the public footpath towards Little Neston.

The Dee is a wonderful place for both people and wildlife and the RSPB has recognised its importance by investing in Burton Marsh Farm. This move will ensure stunning wildlife such as Redshanks, Lapwings and wildfowl have a safe place to live - and people can continue to witness the spectacle of thousands of birds feeding and roosting along the shore of the estuary.

Colin E Wells - December 2006

RSPB Site Manager Dee and Mersey Estuaries

(This Article has also been published in Birding North West magazine Vol 3 No 11. & featured in the Dee Estuary Newsletter)

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Registered charity no. 207076
Unless otherwise stated, copyright Laura Bimson/RSPB.)

Bird list for recent field trip Dec 06 - Inner Marsh Farm.

Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Coot, Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Great spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser black backed Gull, Linnet, Little Egret, Mallard, Moorhen, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Rook, Ruff, Shelduck, Shoveler, Snipe, Starling, Teal, Widgeon, Woodpigeon.