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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:

November Newsletter now published on this website featuring Black-tailed Godwits, Colour Ring Report and October 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)

Nov 3
1 Little Stint off Sandhey slipway, also c800 Shelduck - Meols.
7,500 Knot, 20,000 Dunlin, 540 Grey Plover, 260 Curlew and 3,000 Oystercatcher over high tide - West Kirby.
2,000 Knot, 2,500 Dunlin, 320 Sanderling and 400 Redshank over high tide, 2 Red-throated Diver and 1,000+ Common Scoter out to sea  - Hoylake.
1 Green-winged Teal (male in eclipse) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Nov 2
1 Snow Bunting on grassy area close to boatyard at Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.
1 Hen Harrier flew west, 3,000 Knot roosting on the island, 4 Razorbill, 6 Red-throated Diver, 5 Eider and 1,500 Common Scoter - Hilbre.
1 Little Stint off Sandhey slipway - Meols.
300 Redwing over Newton.
1 Great Northern Diver, 5 Red-throated Diver, 4 Razorbill, 5 Gannet, 700 Common Scoter and 1 Golden Pover over high tide - Hoylake.
3 Brambling over during the morning and 110 Fieldfare over this afternoon - Lower Heswall.

Nov 1
1 Snow Bunting on beach to the west of Perch Rock at 0945 but no sign at 10.40 - New Brighton.

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Snow Bunting by Derby Pool, Wallasey, November 2nd © David Bradshaw


Hen Harrier being mobbed by Oystercatchers over Hilbre, November 2nd © Alan Hitchmough


Snow Bunting at New Brighton, November 1st © David Bradshaw


Drake Goosander on West Kirby Marine Lake, November 1st © Bruce Hogan


Little Stint with Dunlin Meols Shore, October 23rd © Sean O'Hara



Shelducks drinking on Meols shore, October 23rd © Richard Smith


Reed Bunting in Hoylake Langfields, October 21st © Jeremy Bradshaw


A 'Winter Blackbird' at Parkgate, October 21st © Mark Woodhead


Marsh Harrier at Parkgate, October 19th © Nigel Favager


Common Scoter at high tide, Hoylake, October 18th © Jeff Cohen


This Raven had found something to eat on the marsh, Hoylake shore, October 17th © Richard Smith


A nice undisturbed roost at high tide, Hoylake shore, October 17th © Richard Smith


Young male Hen Harrier past Hilbre, October 15th © Steve Williams (Hilbre Bird Observatory)


Stonechat off Heswall GC, October 14th © John Crook


Yellow-browed Warbler near Hoylake Muncipal Golf Course, October 12th © Richard Whitby


Black-tailed Godwits at Caldy, October 10th © Richard Smith


Marsh Harrier flying past Heswall Golf Club, October 9th © Jeff Hodgson


Yellow-browed Warbler with brand new ring, Hilbre, October 8th © Steve Williams (Hilbre Bird Observatory)


Dark- and pale-bellied Brent Geese, Hilbre, October 8th © Steve Williams (Hilbre Bird Observatory)


Eider eating crabs off New Brighton, October 6th © David Bradshaw


Yellow-browed Warbler along Lingham Lane, October 6th © Jeremy Bradshaw


Red Kite flying past at Hilbre, October 6th © Steve Williams


Ringtail Hen Harrier over Hoylake Langfields, October 5th © Richard Whitby


Redwings on Grange Hill, West Kirby, October 3rd © Alan Hitchmough


Green Sandpiper at Burton Mere Wetlands, September 27th © Steve Round


Sandwich Terns off New Brighton prom, September 25th © Richard Smith


Great Crested Grebe on the sea at West Kirby (just off the Marine Lake), September 20th © Elliot Montieth


Yellow-browed Warbler, Hilbre, September 20th © Steve Williams (Hilbre Bird Observatory)


Peregrine spooking Redshanks at Heswall on the rising tide, September 20th © John Crook


Guillemot on West Kirby Marine Lake, September 19th © Mark Woodhead


Pink-footed Geese over Moreton, September 19th © Graham Connolly


Pink-footed Geese over Heswall, September 17th © John Crook


First year Merlin on Hilbre, September 14th © Alan Hitchmough


Stonechat at Parkgate, September 12th © Nigel Favager


Leach's Petrel off Leasowe Lighthouse, September 11th © Jason Stannage


Leach's Petrel over Wallasey shore, September 11th © Elliot Montieth


Leach's Petrel over Hoylake shore, September 10th © Allan Conlin


Spoonbills at a wet Parkgate, September 8th © Sasha Quentin


Eider on Hilbre, September 7th © Chris Wilding


Wheatear on the rocks by the Lifeboat, Hoylake, September 3rd © Sean O'Hara


Mediterranean Gull at Hoylake, September 3rd © Mark Woodhead


Wheatear at Burton Marsh, August 31st © Carole Killikelly


Eider at Hilbre, August 31st © David Lang


A nice mix of waders on West Kirby Shore on the rising tide, August 31st © Richard Smith


Greenshank on Heswall Shore, August 28th © John Kane


Lesser Whitethroat at Burton Marsh, August 24th © Carole Killikelly


Knots on Wallasey shore with nice mix of plumages
juv in middle with adult s/pl behind, the rest are 2CY (last year's young), August 24th © Richard Smith


Adult Sabine's Gull flying past Flint Castle, August 21st © Colin Davies
Seen whilst unsuccesfully looking for the Hudsonian Godwit!


Whimbrels at Hoylake, August 20th © Mark Woodhead


Juvenile Little Ringed Plover at Hoylake, August 19th © Sean O'Hara


Sandwich Terns at Hilbre, August 14th © Richard Smith


Hudsonian Godwit (with wings up, left), notice the dark underwing compared to the Black-tailed Godwit
August 13th © Mark Woodhead


Hudsonian Godwit at Burton Mere Wetlands, August 13th © Alan Hitchmough


Juvenile Cuckoo at Leasowe Lighthouse, August 11th © Jeremy Bradshaw


Common Redstart at Burton Mere Wetlands, August 10th © Richard Whitby


Spoonbills at Parkgate, August 8th © Les Hall


Black-tailed Godwits feeding off West Kirby, August 8th © Richard Smith


Juvenile Cuckoo in paddocks by Leasowe Lighthouse, August 7th © Sean O'Hara


Little Gull close to the prom at Hoylake, August 6th © David Leeming


Sanderling at Hoylake, August 6th © Charles Farnell


Little Gull at Meols, August 3rd © Graham Connolly



Garganey at Burton Mere Wetkands, August 1st © Richard Whitby


Common Sandpiper at Hilbre, July 27th © Steve Williams (Hilbre Bird Observatory)


Pectoral Sandpiper, Burton Mere Wetlands, July 27th © John Hewitt


Knots at Hoylake, July 24th © Alan Hitchmough


Yellow-legged Gull at Hoylake, July 22nd © Allan Conlin


Reed Bunting, Neston Reed Bed, July 22nd © John Crook



Mediterranean Gull x Black-headed Gull hybrid, West Kirby Shore, July 18th © Richard Smith


Spoonbills on Boathouse Flash, July 18th © John Kane


Yellow Wagtail on Meols Shore, July 18th © Sean O'Hara


Mediterranean Gull on West Kirby shore, July 17th © Richard Smith


Sandwich Terns between Little Eye and Middle Eye this morning, July 15th © Richard Smith


Whimbrel on Meols Shore, July 11th © Sean O'Hara


Little Gull (centre), Meols Shore, July 10th © Alan Conlin


Little Gull at Meols, July 8th © Sean O'Hara


A single Black-tailed Godwit with the roosting knots, Leasowe Gunsite, July 8th © Richard Smith


The over-summering flock of knots roosting on the tide edge early morning off Leasowe Gunsite
July 8th © Richard Smith


Black-tailed Godwits at Caldy Wildfowl Collection, July 6th © Richard Smith


Manx Shearwater at New Brighton, July 4th © Sean O'Hara


Mediterranean Gull at hoylake, June 27th © Allan Conlin


Goosanders enjoying the sun this morning at Heswall, June 22nd © Steve Hinde


Sanderling at Gronant, June 16th © Ian Sheppard



Gannet and Fulmar at Hilbre, June 16th © Alan Hitchmough


Common Whitethroat on Heswall Marsh, June 13th © John Crook


Stonechat on marsh by Heswall GC, June 12th © Bruce Hogan


Knots and Oystercatchers off Leasowe Gunsite, June 12th © Richard Smith


Little Stint on Meols Shore, June 9th © Allan Conlin


Blackcap singing by the Wirral Way at Parkgate, June 5th © John Crook


Bar-tailed Godwits at Burton Mere Wetlands, May 30th © Steve Round


Cetti's Warbler fledgling, Burton Mere Wetlands, May 28th © Steve Rround


Curlew Sandpiper at Meols, May 28th © Sean O'Hara


Curlew Sandpiper with Ringed Plovers, Hilbre, May 26th © Steve Williams


House Martin collecting mud for nest-bulding, Heswall Shore, May 26th © David Thompson


Osprey at Hilbre, May 26th © Alan Hitchmough


Short-eared Owl inland of coastal paddocks, Leasowe Lighthouse. May 19th © Sean O'Hara


Swallow on Hilbre, May 19th © Alan Hitchmough


Spotted Flycatcher, Leasowe Lighthouse, May 15th © Eddie Williams


Whinchat along Park Lane, Leasowe Lighthouse, May 12th © Anthony Ramsden


Avocet mobbing an Osprey, Burton Mere Wetlands, May 9th © Steve Round


Spotted Flycatcher at Hilbre, May 8th © Alan Hitchmough


Short-eared Owl at Hilbre, May 8th © Alan Hitchmough


Black Guillemot at Hilbre, May 6th © Steve Williams


Blue-headed Wagtail at Leasowe Lighthouse, May 6th © Sean O'Hara


Garden Warbler at Leasowe Lighthouse, May 5th © Jeremy Bradshaw


Whimbrels at Hilbre, May 4th © Alan Hitchmough


Short-eared Owl in hedge on edge of marsh, Heswall, May 4th © Steve Hinde


Another Iberian Chiffchaff, by Park Lane at Leasowe Lighthouse, May 3rd © Sean O'Hara


Iberian Chiffchaff near Kerr's Field, Leasowe Lighthouse, May 1st © Sean O'Hara


Oystercatcher and Red Knots off Leasowe Lighthouse, May 1st © Richard Smith


Whinchat on the tidewrack at Burton Marsh, April 29th © Andrew Ingham


'Channel' Yellow Wagtail at Kerr's Field, Leasowe, April 28th © Colin Schofield


Cuckoo at Leasowe Lighthouse, April 27th © Sean O'Hara


Ring Ouzel near Lingham Lane, Moreton, April 26th © Sean O'Hara


Yellow Wagtail in the horse paddocks, Leasowe Lighthouse, April 25th © Jeremy Bradshaw


Whimbrels at Thurstaston, April 24th © Richard Smith


Grasshopper Warbler, Burton Marsh, April 23rd © Frank Burns


Green Sandpiper in horse paddock, Leasowe Lighthouse, April 21st © Sean O'Hara


Pink-footed Geese leaving the estuary past Hilbre, April 20th © Alan Hitchmough


Cuckoos in Hoylake Langfields, April 20th © Richard Whitby


Grasshopper Warbler at Meols, April 20th © David Bradshaw


Sandwich Tern, Hilbre, April 20th © Alan Hitchmough


Dunlins, many in breeding plumage, at West Kirby, April 20th © Richard Smith


Common Cranes over Moreton, April 19th © Graham Connolly


Grasshopper Warbler at Burton Point. April 18th © Mark Woodhead


Black-tailed Godwits at Caldy Wildfowl Collection, April 18th © Richard Smith


Male and female Redstarts at the back of the beach at Heswall, April 17th © Steve Hinde


Whimbrel at Heswall, April 16th © Steve Hinde


Ring Ouzel on Hoylake Langfields, April 14th © Tony Ramsden


Spotted Redshanks with Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits, Burton Mere Wetlands, April 14th
© Mark Woodhead


Whinchat on Hoylake Langfields, April 13th © Richard Whitby


Common Redstart at Leasowe, April 11th © Ian McKenna


Cattle Egrets on Burton Marsh, April 11th © Mark Woodhead


Water Rail at Parkgate, April 9th © John Crook


Ring Ouzel at Riverbank Road, Heswall, April 7th © Steve Hinde


Ring Ouzel on Hoylake Langfields, April 7th © Richard Whitby
 
Sandwich Tern, Hilbre, April 6th © Alan Hitchmough


Ring Ouzel on Hilbre, April 6th © Alan Hitchmough


White Wagtail at Leasowe, April 5th © Steve Round


Ring Ouzel at Leasowe Lighthouse, April 3rd © Elliot Montieth


White Wagtail on Hilbre, March 29th © Alan Hitchmough


Wheatear on Hilbre, March 28th © Matt Thomas


Iceland Gull in the roost on Hoylake Shore, March 26th © Allan Conlin


Waxwing at Neston, March 24th © Steve Williams


Wheatear by Middle Eye, March 21st © Alan Hitchmough


Stonechat at Leasowe Lighthouse, March 20th © Graham Connolly


Avocets on Parkgate Marsh, March 19th © John Crook


Waxwings at Neston, March 17th © Nigel 'Wirral Guy'


Wheatear on the cliffs at Thurstaston, March 17th © Steve Hinde


Greenshank in the channel by the groyne, Meols, March 16th © Sean O'Hara


Short-eared Owl over Burton Marsh, March 13th © Nigel Maitland


Grey Partridge in field by the Old Baths, Parkgate, March 13th © John Hewitt


Water Rail at Parkgate, March 12th © Dave Edwards


Dunlins at Meols on the flooding tide, March 12th © Graham Connolly


Green-winged Teal on tide off Riverbank Road, Heswall, March 12th © Alan Hitchmough


Green-winged Teal on Heswall Shore, March 9th © Steve Hinde


Short-eared Owl at Denhall Quay, March 3rd © Stuart Phillips


Short-eared Owl near Hilbre, March 3rd © Alan Hitchmough


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.