Where to birdwatch in Cheshire/N Wales coast? (1 Viewer)

[michaelmorris]

My wife and I are taking a short 3 day break in mid-February to explore Chester and the surrounding countryside. While we are up there we would like to do a bit of birdwatching. From my limited research so far the Dee Estuary sounds promising. Which are the best spots of birdwatching on the estuary? Are there any other good areas around Chester?

Thanks

 

[hampers]

Check out this site :

http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/

Regards


Phil

 

[captaincarot]

the rspb have reserves at inner marsh farm and burton mere wetlands, actually the same place with 2 different entrances to different hides over looking the same bit of water.

parkgate has the old baths carpark (go past the pub down the little lane and park up in the carpark) better on high tide than low but plenty of birds always.

parkgate also has a small pool at the othe end or the prom accross from the ice cream parlour with benches on it, which has a pool infront of it which draws lots of waders and gulls. the great white egrets are frequently visible from the parkgate prom too but it's a case of scanning the marsh with a scope till one of the masses of little egrets turns out not to be.

on the end of the wirral, is also very good with a bird observatory on hilbre island. best to go with someone who knows where they're going here as it's not a simple direct route and gets cut off completely by the tide.

hoylake foreshorecan be good if the tide is in the best source of info on this is jane turner on here, see hoylake bird observatory thread

 

[Jane Turner]

Feel free to get in touch closer to the date. The tide times and heights will be crucial in deciding what to do and where to go.

http://www.tidetimes.org.uk/hilbre-island-tide-times

 

[David Smith]

Not 'bird' related but try and make the time to do a guided bus tour of the city.......it's very interesting and enjoyable. Get togged up if you go upstairs as they're open topped.

 

[chris butterworth]

I don't know if the tourist people in Chester still have copies, but there used to be a leaflet covering birding sites in and around Chester by Val Macfarland.

Chris

 

[michaelmorris]

We just got back. Great bird watching, particularly at Red Rocks and Burton Mere Wetlands. Thanks for all the advice.