So Many Mammals!

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 So Many Mammals!

We arrived very early at 9:40 in hopes of catching a glimpse of the masters at camouflage, the Eurasian Woodcock​. We also were hoping for some Cattle Egrets but they never showed. We quickly viewed the main scrape where we saw many Dunlin, Black-Tailed Godwit and Redshank. We then headed up the Reed and Fen trail and into the new section which was a hotspot for Eurasian Woodcocks, if you're lucky enough to spot one. We thoroughly searched the area, looking for the slightest dark spot or movement but had no luck. We then went to Burton Viewing Point which was a good spot to see Eurasian Green Woodpeckers in the field. 2 people had seen one fly towards Burton Viewing Point but I never saw it. We then made our way to the newest hide, the Border Hide. Along the trail, I turned a corner and, Lo and Behold, there was a Red Fox snooping around the path menacingly, about 40m apart from us. It was just at the bottom of the ramp that leads up to the new hide. It kept walking backwards and forwards, as if it had seen a vole run across. When it left, we all stood in amazement as it was the first time we'd ever seen a Red Fox. We then walked towards the hide, shocked. We stepped in the hide, telling people about what was just lurking outside the hide a few minutes ago. We saw a lot of Eurasian Wigeons and Northern Shovelers but there were a few Mallards, a Eurasian Curlew and a Northern Pintail. We then went on the Gorse Covert trail where I hand fed a Common Pheasant to end the brilliant day.

Location: RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands, Puddington Ln, Burton, Neston CH64 5SF, UK

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