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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.

Please send any sightings to:

December Newsletter now published on this website featuring Species Spotlight - Siskin.

  Latest Sightings.... (more)
 

 
Dec 15
1,500 Pink-footed Geese over heading NE - Column Road, West Kirby.
940 Cormorant flew out of estuary past Hilbre.
4 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
3 Goosander - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
2 Goosander - Denhall Quay.
1 Greenshank in flooded field by Park Lane, Meols.

Dec 14
8 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
2 grey male Hen Harrier - Parkgate.

Dec 13
3 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate.
1 grey male Hen Harrier off Harp Inn, Neston.
10 Brent Geese - Hoylake Shore.

Dec 12
138 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Great Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
6 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.

Dec 11
1 Marsh Harrier (fem), 350+ Wigeon, 1 Kingfisher. 2 Raven and 1 Stonechat - Oakenholt Marsh.
1 Water Pipit - Burton Mere Wetlands.
At least 2 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Great Egret - Parkgate.
6 Great Egret - Burton Marsh.

Dec 10
210 Shelduck and 420 Cormorant - Hilbre.

Dec 9
580 Pink-footed Geese flew inland from roost, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1730 Shelduck, 370 Pintail, 1 Dabchick, 51 Little Egret left roost, 620 Lapwing, 39 Golden Plover - Heswall Shore.

Dec 8
7 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
1 Shag, 9 Goosander, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 15 Brent Geese, 1 Rock Pipit on wall - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Bittern at dusk, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 6 Marsh Harrier in air together - Neston Reedbed.
1 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 ringtail Hen Harrier late afternoon - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
19,000 Knot and 112 Golden Plover - Heswall Shore.

The December Newsletter includes:
Species Spotlight - Siskin, Colour Ring Report and  Forthcoming Events.

Newsletters going back to March 1998 can be read, they are indexed both month by month and by subject matter.


Purple Sandpiper at New Brighton, December 14th © Charlie Lowe



Brent Geese on Hoylake Shore, December 13th © Les Hall



Short-eared Owl at Denhall Quay, December 12th © Jeff Cohen



Redwing in Ness Gardens, December 8th © Carole Killikelly



Shag on West Kirby Marine Lake, December 7th © Charlie Lowe



Short-eared Owl at Denhall Quay, December 3rd © Jeff Cohen



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."