Burton to Chester via Puddington, Shotwick, Saughall, Blacon and the Shropshire Union Canal 11th November

The entrance to Puddington Hall.

The signpost points our way to Shotwick.

Puddington Café, but it wasn't open today.

I think it is this way to Shotwick.

On the way to Shotwick.

Looking towards Wales from the path to Shotwick.

I'm glad we aren't going up Moel Famau today.

Shotwick Hall.

St. Michael's Church, Shotwick.

Evidence of arrow head sharpening on the stonework at he entrance to St. Michael's Church, Shotwick.

On the way to Saughall.

Lunch in woodland near Saughall.

The woodland path near Saughall.

Shotwick House, Saughall.

Saughall Village Institute.

The Millennium Way, Blacon

On the Shropshire Union towpath.

The canal basin at Telford's Warehouse.

Approaching Telford's Warehouse, but we didn't call in.

Distance: 8.7 miles.
Climb: 430'.
Time: 4 hours 18 minute. On the move walking average: 2.8 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Temperature: 14.5 Celsius.
BWF: 0-3 Max 8.9 m.p.h. Gentle breeze.
Group: Martyn and John.
As it was a linear walk, we caught the 10-30 bus from Chester to Burton. This meant that we started walk at about 11-00.

Dry in the morning, but frequent showers after mid-day.

Quite muddy in places, especially across fields that had been grazed by cattle.  Thankfully most of the walk was on firmer ground.

It has been many years since I last visited Shotwick, so it was good to walk through the village again.

An enjoyable walk done at a brisk pace, well brisk for me!

A Morning Stroll Around RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR 29th October 2025

The view across RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR towards Moel Famau.

A Grey heron, one of four in this fallen tree in The Mere.

A Great white egret hiding on The Mere.

Woodland Pool.

A Great white egret seen from the Reedbed Screen.

Two Lapwings on Centenary Pool.

Two Black tailed godwits on Centenary Pool.

A male Teal on Centenary Pool.

Black headed gulls on Centenary Pool.

A Common gull, Lapwings and a Teal on Centenary Pool.

Another male Teal on Centenary Pool.

The weather was too good to sit at home before heading to my Record Roundup Meeting in the afternoon.

Birdwatching for a couple of hours at RSPB Burton mere NR seemed like the best option.

In all it was a very leisurely walk of just under 3 miles, done in warm sunshine.  However , it wasn't warm enough for the Common lizard to make a showing on the usual fence.

Birds seen or heard on my visit today included: Common coot, Teal, Shelduck, Shoveler, Great white egret, Grey Heron, Mallard, Gadwall, Lapwing, Jackdaw, Raven, Carrion crow, Great tit, Blue tit, Common chaffinch, Goldfinch, Winter wren, Water rail, Pink footed goose and Long tailed tit.

Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB NR and West Kirby Marine Lake 22nd October 2025

A fine Weeping willow in the garden at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands.

Woodland Pool.

Mallards on Woodland Pool.

Centenary Pool.

A Lapwing and Teal on the Centenary Pool.

A Lapwing and Black tailed godwit on Centenary Pool.

A delightful section of wooded path at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands.

A reedy area with lots Reed mace (Bullrushes).

Looking across RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands towards Connah's Quay Power Station and Moel Famau.

Looking across West kirby Marine Lake towards Hilbre.

I slightly closer view of Hilbre.

The reason why I couldn't go around the Marine Lake at this point in time.

A female Goosander on West Kirby Marine Lake.

The walkway looks just about passable!

Turnstones on the rocks at West Kirby Marine Lake.

Two more Turnstones on West Kirby Marine Lake rocks.

Distance: 4.9 miles. Climb: 100'.
Time: 1 hour 50 minutes. Overall walking average: 2.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: Around 10 – 17 Celsius, although it felt much warmer in the Sun as I approached the car after going around the Marine Lake.
BWF: 0-1 – no more than Light air at the most.
The weather forecast for today, looked too good to miss, so on the absence of any willing walkers, I decided to do a bit of birdwatching at the same time as getting in a few steps.
The first port of call was RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR, where I expected to see most birds.
It was much quieter than I expected, but it was a very pleasant visit in the warm sunshine. The downside, was the bright Sun at times made seeing the true colours of the birds difficult.
The birds seen and heard at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands today included: Black tailed godwit, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Raven, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Common coot, Mallard, Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Long tailed tit, European robin, Cetti warbler, Winter wren, Teal, Pintail, Canada goose, Greylag goose, Goldfinch, Shelduck, Shoveler and Lapwing.
After a couple of hours at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR, I headed for West Kirby, where I hoped to be able to walk around the Marine Lake. I arrived at West Kirby, just about at the time the tide was at its highest, and found that I was too early to walk around the Lake! Even worse, the only birds that I saw on the Lake were two Great cormorants and a few Black headed gulls! Later on, I did see one female Goosander and about 50 Turnstones that flew onto the rocks by the Old Marine Lake Baths.
After walking up and down the Marine Parade, I did eventually walk around the sea side of the Lake. The tide had over-topped the Marine Lake, and water was still draining away over the path as I set off. I was only wearing my canvas walking boots, so I ended up with two wet feet, but it was worth it!
Overall, an enjoyable few hours, much better than staying at home and doing some household chores or visiting Mold Market to et some Snowdrop bulbs!

RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR 2nd July 2025

 

Vetch next to the path leading to Marsh Covert.

White clover next to the path leading to Marsh Covert.

Red clover next to the path leading to Marsh Covert.

Rosebay willowherb next to the path leading to Border Hide.

A Comma butterfly seen on the way to Border Hide.

Black tailed godwits on Centenary Pool.

Avocets and a Teal on Centenary Pool.

Lapwing, Teal and a Black headed gull on Centenary Pool.

A Tufted duck family on Centenary Pool.

An Oystercatcher trying to hide.

A Common redshank on Centenary Pool.

More Black tailed godwits on Centenary Pool.

A Lapwing on Centenary Pool.

Spotted redshanks on Centenary Pool.

Little  egrets on Bridge Pool.

A Great white hunting in the reedbed.

A Great white hunting in the reedbed.

Herb robert near Woodland Pool.

A Moorhen looks as though it is trying to make an escape.

An Egyptian goose on The Mere.

A Water lily on The Mere.

Bracket fungi on a tree next to Woodland Pool.

A fine Weeping willow overhangs the pond in the Garden.

Unwanted guests below the Reception bird feeders, but how many did you spot?.

Just a 3.5 mile stroll around RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR.

Pleasantly warm, around 18 Celsius, but with a Moderate breeze (about 15 m.p.h., that made qulte a times to get a clear photograph.

There were lots of butterflies about, including: Large white, Green veined white, Peacock, Meadow brown and Comma.

Birds seen or heard today: Sand martin (first time that I have seen them entering the holes in the "Sand martin bank"), Chiffchaff, Sedge warbler, Blackcap, Teal, Egyptian goose, Greylsg goose, Canada goose, Knot, Avocet, Little egret, Great white egret, Moorhen, Common coot, Reed warbler, Spotted redshank, Common redshank, Tufted duck, Spoonbill, Black headed gull, Black tailed godwit, Mallard, Winter wren, Common blackbird and Common buzzard (seen from the car on my way).