Having neglected Parkgate for long enough this autumn, it was time to head down for an evening watching the vole patrol.You have got to feel sorry for the little super furry animals. If they are not being raided above from the legions of Kestrels, they are being pounced on by owls and harriers. Still, given the large number of raptors eeking out an existence on the marsh, they must be breeding like Catholics.
Short-eared Owls were the stars of the show with three hunting a stones throw from the old baths car park, soon joined by an insouciant Barn Owl flying so close I could have reached out and nearly touched it.
A scan across the farther reaches of the marsh revealed a perched Peregrine and a Merlin dashing after a small passerine. Out towards Neston two more SE Owls quartered near the reed bed taking the total up to five; it will be interesting to see how many are present this winter after last year’s insanely high numbers.
As the light began to fail the first Hen Harrier of the night put in an appearance, although like a naughty child sent straight to bed it sped into the roost and quickly dropped from view – apt behaviour considering it looked like a juvenile male!
Two hysterical Greenshanks completed the nights viewing, although they were no more than silhouettes in the encroaching darkness.
Until later.
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