Hugh’s News – 1 November 2025

2025 was reportedly an excellent year for breeding birds at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands.

236 pairs of breeding waders nested overall, including 99 pairs of Avocet, 85 pairs of Lapwing and 49 pairs of Redshank. And more importantly, all fledged good numbers of chicks, with Avocet fledging 84 young and Lapwing fledging 65. There was a further 12 pairs of Avocet raising 11 young at Parkgate.

Spoonbill nested successfully for the first time, fledging 3 young. 2 pairs of Great White Egret fledged 5 young, and a pair of Cattle Egret fledged 2 young. Other highlights included 39 pairs of Shoveler, with 10 broods recorded, a pair Mediterranean Gull raised 3 young, and the pair of Marsh Harrier successfully fledged 3 young, with another successful pair on the outer marshes.

Before we forget totally about the glorious summer we had, let’s marvel at some birds Ellie saw on holiday in Lindos, Rhodes. First, a family of showy Red-backed Shrikes. A colourful male, a less well marked female, and I think a more scaley juvenile bird. These Shrikes used to breed in Britain but sadly no longer (except for very occasional isolated cases). They can appear as drift migrants on the East Coast in Autumn, but are never predictable. 

Then she found a magnificent male Black-eared Wheatear. This bird is arguably even more handsome than the Northern Wheatear that we are familiar with here. Not bad birds for Ellie to spot from the pool side with a jug of Sangria beside her! 

On another trip away to Rome, Ellie saw a Hooded Crow. It looked like it was scavenging chicken bones! These corvids can be seen in the UK in the north and west of Scotland especially, and the Isle of Man. This form is closely related to the more familiar Carrion Crow, and its status yo-yo’s between being classified as a full species and a subspecies.

Thank you to Ellie and Hugh for the images.

Hugh