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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 Web site describes the best Dee Estuary birdwatching areas with detailed maps and latest bird news for dedicated twitchers and casual birdwatchers alike.

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October Newsletter now published on this website featuring Wetland Bird Survey 2016-17, Wirral Wader Festival 2018, Colour Ring Report Knot Special and Latest Events.

Latest Sightings.... (more)

Oct 17
1 Chough showing well around Dee Sailing Club and beach below, Thurstaston.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler moving south, 1 Swift over plus 605 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 5 Siskin, 3 Tree Sparow, 45 Skylark, 23 Mistle Thrush and 51 Fieldfare, - Red Rocks.
1 Spoonbill, 1 Little Stint, 2 Curkew Sandpiper and 2 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Several flocks of Fieldfares reported including 50 over Heswall and 70 over Caldy.

Oct 16
1 Chough photographed on boulders on shore around 10am then from noon onwards either in flight, on the golf course or on the boulders at the bottom of the cliff, between Caldy steps and Dee SC.
1 Short-eared Owl near Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Hen Harrier this morning, 2 Marsh Harrier at lunch time and 1 Spoonbill over late afternoon - Parkgate.
2 Cattle Egret, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Hen Harrier and 2,500+ Pink-footed Geese - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Oct 15
c3,000 Pink-footed Geese over Moreton this morning headed towards the Dee Estuary.
Large movement of Pink-footed Geese flying over Royden Park and Thurstaston Hill towards the Dee estuary from first light to 9am, initial movement was 3,450 strong followed by several small flocks - total 4,410.
2 Yellow-browed Warbler, in Alders together and moving south, also probably a third bird earlier - Red Rocks.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler - Cubbins Green, West Kirby.
1 Water Pipit from Marsh Covert hide, Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler - Hilbre.

Oct 14
4 Stonechat (2 pairs) south of Denhall Quay, also 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Merlin.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Swift over and 2 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Long-tailed Duck off north end, 56 Brent Geese, 406 Curlew, 5 Greenshank, 1 Snipe and 150 Sanderling - Hilbre.
1 Cetti's Warbler at outfall of lake - Ashton Park, West Kirby.

Oct 13
1 Mediterranean Gull off Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.
1 Whooper Swan, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Cattle Egret and 2500+ Pink-footed Geese - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1,000+ Sanderling, 1,000+ Dunlin, 200 Grey Plover, 600 Knot and 64 Bar-tailed Godwit - Hoylake Shore at high tide.

Oct 11
2,000 Black-tailed Godwit, 19 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6,000 Wigeon, 5,000 Pintail, 4,000 Teal and 3 Goosander - Oakenholt Marsh.
1 Short-eared Owl - Leasowe Gunsite.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler - Hilbre.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler by duck pond, also Water Rail - Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Brambling, 25 Siskin, 10 Redwing and several Chaffinches over - Burton Point.
12 Redwing by the quarry at Lang Lane, West Kirby.

The October Newsletter includes:
Wetland Bird Survey 2016-17, Wirral Wader Festival 2018, Colour Ring Report Knot Special and  Forthcoming Events.
Newsletters going back to March 1998 can be read, they are indexed both month by month and by subject matter.

Chough flying above the cliffs between Caldy and Thurstaston, October 16th © Steve Williams


Chough near the shore between Caldy and Thurstaston, October 16th © Alan Hitchmough


Juvenile Black-tailed Godwit on Meols Shore, October 9th © Paul McDonnell



Barn Owl at Parkgate, October 3rd © Frank Burns



Pink-footed Geese at Burton Mere Wetlands, September 30th © Mark Washington


Photographers - please note there is a wildlife photographers code of practice , also read Guidelines.
Please Maintain a safe working distance from all birds, particularly roosts, so as not to cause unnecessary disturbance.
"There is one hard and fast rule whose spirit must be observed at all times. The welfare of the subject is more important than the photograph."