birdwatching at shorefields nature park, new ferry, wirral

OR THE birdwatcher, thehighlight of this site ishow close the feeding

birds can be. A short walkgives excellent views of avariety of species.

The importance of NewFerry shore was overlookeduntil it was threatened by aproposed marine lakedevelopment; environmentalimpact studies ‘discovered’ thearea was a feeding ground fornationally-important numbersof birds, leading to SSSIdesignation in 2000.

This shoreline was the lastresting place of Brunel’sleviathan, ‘Great Eastern’,which was broken up here inthe 1880s, fitments findingtheir way into the local hotel!

DISTANCE/TIME/ACCESSOne mile of riverside pathprovides good viewpoints outover the mudflats. Shorefields, atthe southern end, is a publicopen space. Allow two hours. To

avoid disturbance, please keepoff the shore itself.

START AND PARKING1 Turn right at the Great Easternpub, park on the road and walkacross grassland (Shorefields) tothe clifftop (grid ref: SJ 342 856).2 Public car-park at slipway,junction of New Ferry Road andThe Esplanade (SJ 339 861).

FACILITIESPubs and shops nearby. RSPB andrangers organise birding events –details and tide times availablefrom Wirral Country Park Centre,tel: 0151 648 4371.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTFrequent Merseyrail trains toBebington station (within onemile); New Chester Road andNew Ferry Road are bus routes.Tel: 0151 236 7676.

BEST TIMES TO VISITAugust to April – any timeexcept big high tides when thesite is totally flooded.

KEY BIRDSNationally-important numbers ofBlack-tailed Godwit (up to 800)and Pintail (250). Commonestwaders are Dunlin and Redshank(1,000 of each); also Curlew,Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Knot,Lapwing, Shelduck, Grey Heronand Cormorant.

There is a large gull roost –look out for Mediterranean, Ring-

billed, Glaucous and IcelandGulls. Peregrines are regular.

BIRDING TIPSBirds feed close in, but can bedisturbed by dog walkers. Watchout for Ravens flying to landfillsite immediately to the south –also the best place for gulls.Grey Wagtails feed in stream atsouthern end of Shorefields.

OTHER SITES NEARBYShorebirds at Dee estuary sites(six miles), woodland birds atDibbinsdale LNR (two miles) andEastham Country Park (2.5 miles,Go Birding Oct 2001).

■ Martyn Jamieson is the HeadRanger for Wirral and leadswildlife tours for the Field StudiesCouncil.

FURTHERREADINGWhere to WatchBirds in Cumbria,Lancashire andCheshire, J Guest& M Hutchinson(Helm).The Mersey Estuary, MerseyEstuary Conservation Group.Wirral Ranger Service website:www.wirral.gov.uk/er

CLUB CONTACTSCheshire and WirralOrnithological Society, DavidCogger, 113 Nantwich Road,Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 9HD.Tel: 01606 832 517.Wirral RSPB Local Group, MartynJamieson, Wirral Country ParkCentre, Station Road, Thurstaston,Wirral CH61 0HN.Tel: 0151 648 4371.

MAPSOS Explorer 266, OS Landranger108. Maps available from TheMap Shop, 15 High Street, Uptonupon Severn, Worcester WR8 0HJ.Tel: 01684 593 146.

LATEST SIGHTINGSBirdline North West.Tel: 09068 700 249.

TOURIST INFORMATIONBirkenhead. Tel: 0151 647 6780.

COUNTY RECORDERTony Broome, 4 Larchwood Drive,Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 2NU.Tel: 01625 540 434.

NOTES

BIRD WATCHING NOVEMBER 2003 49

New Ferry Shore Merseyside

The Liverpool waterfront is the backdrop to this little-known site on theMersey estuary, explains Martyn Jamieson.

F

4

GO BIRDING In association with

Martyn

Jamieson

New Ferry Shore is a nationally-important site for waders, including Black-tailed Godwit.

LOCATION DETAILS

mile

0 1

From the A41 just south of Birkenhead, take the B5136 NewChester Road. In New Ferry, turn towards the river (east) intoNew Ferry Road.

To Birkenhead andLiverpool (via tunnel)

Bebingtonstation

Rock Ferrystation A41

BromboroughDock

GreatEastern pub

New

Chester Road

Bebingto

nRoad

New Ferry Road

To Ellesmere Port and Chester

049_BWATCHNOV 14/10/03 1:14 AM Page 1