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Message: <blockquote data-quote="halftwo" data-source="post: 1718911" data-attributes="member: 45720">High Tide SpectacularParkgate, Wirral. Seasonal highest tide.Gradually at first the tide filled the voids - then, towards high water mark, quicker and deeper. The sea came to visit.From the off Hen harriers and Peregrines kept the increasing crowds pleased, as did the obliging Spoonbill just out front.  JB and I had got there fairly early and, with hypothermia an ever present danger, stayed until the sea started to lap the wall. In the meantime the birds, as well as hail, just kept on coming; more and more in ever greater numbers, forced from dwindling land, closer and closer. A female Merlin snook in to perch by the Spoonbill, with its attendant Little egret and, in front, on the pool, two Red-breasted mergansers. Waders in drifts and flocks crept closer, ducks and geese darkened the horizon: Pink-feet and Teal, Shelduck, Mallard, Pintail, Wigeon. Black-tailed godwits, Oystercatchers and Curlews in hundreds, so too Lapwings, plus Snipe, Redshank and Dunlin.But it was the raptors that had drawn the crowds - and they didn't disappoint. Perched Peregrines - two and three, a Sparrowhawk, Kestrels - including a noisily mating pair, a  single Marsh harrier keeping its distance - but pushed closer by the rising tide.Sky larks and Meadow pipits, Reed buntings and Linnets, Starlings in crowds;  and ever more gulls and corvids kept piling the numbers to biblical proportions. It began to get to the stage when there was too much to watch!The Short-eared owls kept us waiting - but suddenly they were all around - right in front and perched too. Two here, another there. A Fox, forced towards the crowd, already full from fleeing voles, froze in the freezing sea, belly deep, unable to get to shore for the people. Small animals swam by.Then the mammals came in. Voles and Common shrews, at first a few, then scores, could be seen swimming towards us. Black-headed, Common and Great black-backs began picking the frantic animals from the water and feasting and fighting. Masses of birds filled the air. Two Ravens fed on voles right beside us, while a Short-eared owl flew around. Snipe with nowhere left to go, Moorhens without cover, a sea of wildlife on the drowned shore. Skies full - a panic every minute as raptors continued to slice and quarter the brimfull estuary.         With a quick thaw-break (oh, hot soup!) we left the hundreds of others and had a look at Inner Marsh Farm, thinking the place would be crowded with waders - but waders there were none, save for a few Lapwing - and a fly-past Golden plover flock.  At the estuary nearby two more Hen harriers, another SEO and plenty more - but the light was against us.Finally to fields near Shotwick and a lovely sunlit flock of mixed swans: Whoopers and Bewicks in roughly even numbers, totalling eighty-seven. Great close views in early evening light -  a brilliant way to end a spectacular day.Oh, and in case you were anxious for the Fox - an organised retreat was later mounted to allow the frightened animal a way to shore. If I was feeling cold today that poor thing up to its chest in freezing waters must be one hardy hunter.</blockquote>

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