birdwatching at shorefields nature park, new ferry, wirral

OR THE birdwatcher, the highlight of this site is how close the feeding birds can be. A short walk gives excellent views of a variety of species. The importance of New Ferry shore was overlooked until it was threatened by a proposed marine lake development; environmental impact studies ‘discovered’ the area was a feeding ground for nationally-important numbers of birds, leading to SSSI designation in 2000. This shoreline was the last resting place of Brunel’s leviathan, ‘Great Eastern’, which was broken up here in the 1880s, fitments finding their way into the local hotel! DISTANCE/TIME/ACCESS One mile of riverside path provides good viewpoints out over the mudflats. Shorefields, at the southern end, is a public open space. Allow two hours. To avoid disturbance, please keep off the shore itself. START AND PARKING 1 Turn right at the Great Eastern pub, park on the road and walk across grassland (Shorefields) to the clifftop (grid ref: SJ 342 856). 2 Public car-park at slipway, junction of New Ferry Road and The Esplanade (SJ 339 861). FACILITIES Pubs and shops nearby. RSPB and rangers organise birding events – details and tide times available from Wirral Country Park Centre, tel: 0151 648 4371. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Frequent Merseyrail trains to Bebington station (within one mile); New Chester Road and New Ferry Road are bus routes. Tel: 0151 236 7676. BEST TIMES TO VISIT August to April – any time except big high tides when the site is totally flooded. KEY BIRDS Nationally-important numbers of Black-tailed Godwit (up to 800) and Pintail (250). Commonest waders are Dunlin and Redshank (1,000 of each); also Curlew, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Knot, Lapwing, Shelduck, Grey Heron and Cormorant. There is a large gull roost – look out for Mediterranean, Ring- billed, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls. Peregrines are regular. BIRDING TIPS Birds feed close in, but can be disturbed by dog walkers. Watch out for Ravens flying to landfill site immediately to the south – also the best place for gulls. Grey Wagtails feed in stream at southern end of Shorefields. OTHER SITES NEARBY Shorebirds at Dee estuary sites (six miles), woodland birds at Dibbinsdale LNR (two miles) and Eastham Country Park (2.5 miles, Go Birding Oct 2001). ■ Martyn Jamieson is the Head Ranger for Wirral and leads wildlife tours for the Field Studies Council. FURTHER READING Where to Watch Birds in Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire, J Guest & M Hutchinson (Helm). The Mersey Estuary, Mersey Estuary Conservation Group. Wirral Ranger Service website: www.wirral.gov.uk/er CLUB CONTACTS Cheshire and Wirral Ornithological Society, David Cogger, 113 Nantwich Road, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 9HD. Tel: 01606 832 517. Wirral RSPB Local Group, Martyn Jamieson, Wirral Country Park Centre, Station Road, Thurstaston, Wirral CH61 0HN. Tel: 0151 648 4371. MAPS OS Explorer 266, OS Landranger 108. Maps available from The Map Shop, 15 High Street, Upton upon Severn, Worcester WR8 0HJ. Tel: 01684 593 146. LATEST SIGHTINGS Birdline North West. Tel: 09068 700 249. TOURIST INFORMATION Birkenhead. Tel: 0151 647 6780. COUNTY RECORDER Tony 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 the Mersey 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 New Chester Road. In New Ferry, turn towards the river (east) into New Ferry Road. To Birkenhead and Liverpool (via tunnel) Bebington station Rock Ferry station A41 Bromborough Dock Great Eastern pub New Chester Road Bebington Road New Ferry Road To Ellesmere Port and Chester 049_BWATCHNOV 14/10/03 1:14 AM Page 1

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Bird watching at Shorefields Nature Park, New Ferry, Wirral.

TRANSCRIPT

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.

GO BIRDING In association with

Martyn

Jamieson

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