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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 Dunlin - Species Spotlight, also 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 24
765 Pink-footed Geese roosted and flew inland, 745 Pintail, 270 Teal, 65 Little Egret left overnight roost, 6700 Oystercatcher, 920 Lapwing, 86 Golden Plover, 15000 Knot, 33 Black-tailed Godwit, 890 Curlew, 2 Greenshank, 465 Redshank early morning on ebb tide - Heswall Shore.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and grey male), 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Little Grebe - Parkgate.
2 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Egyptian Geese - Burton Marsh.
9 Goosnader (2 males) - West Kirby Marine Lake.
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Goosanders on West Kirby Marine Lake, November 24th © Les Hall



'Pinkfeet' at dawn heading inland over Thurstaston beach, November 23rd © Richard Smith



Greenshank with the Redshanks at New Brighton, November 17th © Richard Smith



This Dunlin was quite happily perched on the Knot's back for several minutes, the Knot even turned round and it didn't budge.
There was plenty of room on the rocks for it to perch so a bit strange behaviour but amusing to watch.
West Kirby Marine Lake, November 17th © Richard Smith



Oystercatchers at Hoylake, November 15th © Roy Lowry



Short-eared Owl off Heswall Golf course, November 15th © Richard Smyth



Redshank over Heswall Marsh, November 13th © Roy Lowry



Siberian Chiffchaff by Leasowe Lighthouse, November 13th © Allan Conlin



Hen Harrier over Heswall Marsh, November 13th © Roy Lowry



Dunlin and Sanderling at Hoylake, November 13th © Richard Smith



Yellow-browed Warbler at Leasowe, November 10th © Jeremy Bradshaw



Greenshank on Burton Marsh, November 8th © Paul Ralston



Brambling at burton Mere Wetlands, November 7th © John Hemmings



Kestrel at Parkgate, November 7th © Roy Wilson



Ealy morning at Thurstaston, November 5th © Richard Smith



Black Redstart at Meols, October 30th © Frank Burns



Black Redstart at Meols, October 29th © Les Hall



Snow Buntings at Dove Point, Meols, October 28th © Peter Sutton



Raven at Leasowe, October 28th © Les Hall



Snow Bunting at Dove Point, Meols, October 28th © Matt Thomas



Snow Bunting at Dove Point, Meols, October 28th © Richard Smith



Kstrel at Parkgate, October 22nd © Mark Woodhead



Knot and Dunlin at Hoylake, October 17th © Roy Lowry



Ringed Plovers at Hoylake, October 17th © Peter Sutton



Male Hen Harrier at Parkgate, October 16th © Frank Burns



Pink-footed Geese at Parkgate, October 16th © Mark Woodhead



Fieldfare at Burton Mere Wetlands, October 15th © Les Hall



Marsh Harrier disturbing a flock of Wigeon over Parkgate, October 12th © Frank Burns



Cattle Egret, Hoylake Langfields, October 11th © Richard Smith



Shelduck on Meols Shore, October 11th © Richard Smith



Cattle Egrets and Little Egret, Hoylake Langfields, October 10th © Richard Smith



Oystercatchers at Greenfield Dock, October 7th © Gareth Prestridge



Kingfisher at Leasowe Duck Pond, October 7th © Jeremy Bradshaw
"As the sun went down the lovely pink hue of the Leasowe duck pond just had to be admired.  Imagine my surprise
to find I wasn't the only one admiring the colours. The sun really brought out the redness of the kingfishers
plumage & it is set off very well with the pink background !"



Little Egrets, Redshanks and Black-headed Gulls in the channel at Meols, October 6th © Richard Smith
At least 20 Little Egrets in the area.



Nine out of the ten Cattle Egrets at Burton Mere Wetlands, October 1st © Mark Woodhead


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.