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The Dee Estuary, on the North Wales / North-West England border, is one of the United Kingdom's premier birding locations for wetland and shorebirds. This Website describes the best Dee Estuary birdwatching areas with detailed maps and latest bird news for dedicated twitchers and casual birdwatchers alike.

Please send any sightings to:

March Newsletter now published on this website featuring Highlights from March 2024 to Feb 2025, Colour Ring Report and February Bird News.
Newsletters going back to March 1998 can be read, they are indexed both month by month and by subject matter.

Latest Sightings.... (more)


March 21
1 Black Redstart this morning - Hilbre.
1 Little Ringed Plover on Kerr's Field this afternoon, also 6+ Wheatear in coastal paddocks - Leasowe Lighthouse.
3 Ruff and 1 Green Sandpiper - Neston Marsh.

March 20
1 Puffin off East Hoyle Bank then flew west, this morning - Hilbre.
1 Little Stint - Flint Marsh.

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Dark-bellied and Light-bellied Brent Geese on Hilbre, March 20th © Steve Williams


Black Scoter showing well off East Hoyle Bank (Hoylake), March 15th © Sean O'Hara


Ruff on Neston Marsh, March 13th © Charles Farnell


Avocets at Burton Mere Wetlands, March 11th © Mark Woodhead


Wheatear in the coastal paddocks, Leasowe, March 9th © Jeremy Bradshaw


Chiffchaff with pollen horn, Hilbre, March 9th © Alan Hitchmough


A nice early Wheatear on Hilbre, March 8th © Matt Thomas


Russian White-fronted Geese in field by Thornton Hough, March 6th © Chris Wilding


Fantastic find by Sean!
Black Scoter off Hoylake, March 5th © Sean O'Hara


Whooper Swan at Burton Mere Wetlands, March 5th © Les Hall


Eiders at Hilbre, March 2nd © Elliot Montieth


Pink-footed Geese heading north past Hilbre at dawn, March 2nd © Alan Hitchmough


Twite on marsh by Flint Castle, February 28th © Jeff Cohen


Stonechat at Neston Reedbed, February 21st © John Crook


Purple Sandpiper, Leasowe Bay, February 19th © Steve Harrison


White-fronted Geese between Brimstage and Thornton Hough, February 16th © Steve Round


White-fronted Geese at Thornton Hough, February 14th © Paul Ralston


White-fronted Goose with Pinkfeet at Burton, February 8th © Richard Whitby


Teal at Burton Mere Wetlands, February 6th © Bruce Hogan


Barn Owl flying over the marsh, Parkgate, February 5th © Frank Burns


Lapwings on Meols goyne at high tide, February 4th © Richard Smith


Little Stint with nice size comparison with Dunlin and Redshank, Hoylake, February 3rd © Mark Woodhead


Stonechat at Leasowe, February 2nd © Jeremy Bradshaw


Little Stint on the ebbing tide at Meols, February 1st © Richard Smith


Brent Geese over West Kirby Shore, January 30th © Bruce Hogan


A peacful morning at Dove Point, January 30th © Richard Smith


Purple Sandpiper on Hilbre, January 26th © Alan Hitchmough


Black Redstart at Fort Perch, January 25th © Tony Ramsden


Black Redstart at Fort Perch, January 25th © Mark Woodhead


Black Redstart on the sand at New Brighton, January 17th © Steve Williams


Black Redstart on Fort Perch, New Brighton, January 17th © David Bradshaw


Knots enjoying the sunshine this morning at Meols, January 16th © Richard Smith


Redwing by Heswall Golf club, January 13th © Charles Farnell


Siberian Chiffchaff at Neston Sewage Works, January 11th © Richard Whitby




This is a wholly independent web site and unless where specifically stated has been written and maintained by myself, Richard Smith. I do receive articles for the newsletter from time to time for which I am very grateful, and also various people kindly donate photographs and sketches. l rely to a large extent on people keeping me informed about the birds they have seen - this, more than anything, is what keeps the website going. Note that everything on this website is subject to © copyright although some material may be available for non-commercial use - but please ask first! Lastly, 'Dee Estuary Birding' is just the name of this web site - it is not the name of an organisation or society.
Copyright © 2020 Richard Smith | Header Photograph of Black-tailed Godwits © Steve Round.