Short-eared Owl: One of the premier places for SEO's in the North West can be found towards the old sandstone quay below the Harp Inn where a vast saltmarsh dominated by marram grass.
Here's lies the RSPB's Dee Estuary nature reserve a huge complex area of habitats covering over 6000 hectares including varying wetland habitats making it the fifth largest RSPB reserve and the largest protected coastal wetland in the UK.
It's important to note that the Dee Estuary as a whole is a designated Special Protection Area for its bird populations, and the saltmarsh itself is a Special Area of Conservation for its plant diversity.
So, it's no wonder that the area holed large numbers of SEO's, hen and marsh harriers, all of which make their winter and some even their summer home on this marsh.
Today was a shortie bonanza with at least 5, possibly 7 SEO's hunting and quartering from the Denhall Quay.
This area of marsh is well watched and well known to birders and photographers, it runs parallel to a very popular walking route which draws countless dozens of dog walkers and locals all of whom venture out over the well worn track across the marsh.
The RSPB have put serval signs regarding ground nesting birds during the breeding season, and from Denhall Quay you can't walk out over the far reaches of the marsh but this doesn't seem to phase the owls as I had three individuals come within a few yards of the Harp Inn, the car park and the area of reedbed close to the Quay.
There was so much action that there were several small groups of birders and photographers spread out watching different birds, so there really wasn't a scramble or rush to see any.
I love it here, there's a real wildness to the expense of saltmarsh although I know it's pretty well managed. But looking out over an area teaming with birds is always special.
