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Damian has had some time off work and, with it being a half term here, we had a few plans of things to do. Over the weekend we headed to Wembley for the EFL Play offs to watch our home team compete (they unfortunately lost but we still had a great day out). We spent a day just pottering around at home whilst the chidren played and we had a long overdue clear out of a storage area in our home.
We also planned a day out at one of my favourite spots over on the Dee Estuary that Damian hasn’t been to before.
Burton Mere Wetlands is managed by the RSPB and it is a wonderful place to while away a few hours. You’re always guaranteed to post plenty of beautiful birds and our most recent visit was no exception.
When we arrived we could soon hear many different bird songs and a walk up to the first hide meant we found avocets, tufted ducks and many many more. We also got to hear the unusual call of the Littel Egret – it sounds like a gurgling underwater and it was when talking to one of the staff that we realised what it was.
There are pathways through reed beds and of course, plenty of insects to spot. Em spent ages watching three different types of damselflies and she identified them as being a large red, an azure and a third whose name escapes me. We saw lots and lots of butterflies and a rather large caterpillar that the children were keen to move to safety.
As the walkways are quite open with limited shade and it was quite warm and sunny during our visit I decided to keep covered as much as I could – being quite fair-skinned means I tend to burn easily so keeping shoulders etc covered is one way of helping to avoid this. I was recently sent some items from Lands End and decided to wear these, they’re quite lightweight and really comfortable to wear for a day out with the children. The starfish cropped trousers are a jersey-style material and are really cool, and the tunic top is quite loose fitting and cooling to wear. Damian also has a polo shirt (he wore this for our Wembley trip).
We had a short stop for lunch and one final walk around before we headed to choose pin badges (a treat when we visit RSPB places). It’s well worth heading to the woodland area just the other side of the car park. It’s all shaded with some picnic benches and a small area for the children to play in. There are benches dotted around the reserve that you can eat at too, and if you’re quiet you’re sure to spot some beautiful birds.
One of my favourite spots from our visit was a reed bunting – it’s the first time I’ve seen one of these birds and they’re very pretty. We also saw a family of nuthatches in a tree and saw sedge warblers and white throats as we walked along the reed beds. The wading birds are of course beautiful and fascinating to watch and Em chose an avocet badge this time around to mark the avocets she spotted.
Both Damian and I find the RSPB reserves very calming and relaxing and it’s a great way for children to connect with nature but to also hone their observation skills as they look for different signs to help them identify the birds that they see. Em is becoming quite the little bird spotter and does an excellent job of identifying the ones that she sees.
Entry to Burton Mere Wetlands is free to RSPB members and a small charge for non-members. There is a small visitor centre selling hot and cold drinks and some small gift items. There are plenty of hides and viewing screens to see the birds as well as a modest car park. During our visit construction of a cafe area was underway.
excelent – we like it there as well