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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:

May Newsletter now published on this website featuring The Wetland Bird Survey 2018/19.

  Latest Sightings.... (more)
 

May 31
195 Oystercatcher, 21 Grey Plover, 40 Dunlin, 2 Knot, 217 Curlew, 13 Whimbrel, 380 Black-headed Gull, 190 Lesser Black-backed Gull - Thurstaston Shore early morning.
1 Quail calling since early morning and seen in flight, in field by RAF monument - Saughall Massie Road, West Kirby.
1 Quail calling in field inland of Decca Pools.
1 Marsh Harrier soaring - Burton Point.

May 30
1 Quail seen in tractor furrows at range of 30 feet this morning -  by RAF monument, Saughall Massie Road, West Kirby.
1 Little Owl - Burton Point.

May 29
3 Grasshopper Warbler - Burton Marsh.
1 Great Egret, 2 Avocet at stream outfall and an unexpected Whooper Swan on the beach - Gronant.
1 Red Kite over Halkyn (inland of Flint), at 1130am, report of several in the area yesterday.
1 Red Kite over Burton Point at 1145am.
1 Quail calling by RAF monument - Saughall Massie Road, West Kirby.
1 Tawny Owl in Dungeon Wood and 1 Barn Owl over nearby field, early morning - Thurstaston.
2 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate.
1 Greenshank and 1 Little Ringed Plover - Decca Pools.

May 28
1 Quail seen flying and heard calling by RAF monument - Saughall Massie Road, West Kirby.
3 Spoonbill on Bevyl Road Flash and 1 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate.
6 Whimbrel on tides edge - Hoylake Shore.

May 27
1 Quail calling by RAF monument - Saughall Massie Road, West Kirby.
1 Spotted Flycatcher near Old Baths, 1 Quail calling in field inland of Old Baths, 3 Spoonbill on Bevyl Road Flash and 1 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate.
1 Greenshank still on Decca Pools.

May 26
1 Wheatear - Leasowe Lighthouse.
3 Spoonbill on Bevyl Road Flash, also 1 Marsh Harrier (male, same as yesterday) - Parkgate.
12 Sedge Warblers counted between Denhall Quay and Burton Point, also 4 Stonechat plus 1 Greenshank and 14 Little Egret on Decca Pools - Burton Marsh.

May 25
2 Spoonbill early morning - Bevyl Road Flash, Parkgate.
1 Quail calling by RAF monument - Saughall Massie Road, West Kirby.
1 Marsh Harrier (adult male with grey tail and light brown plumage) - Burton Marsh.

The May Newsletter includes:
Wetland Bird survey 2018/19, 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.


Barn Owl in field end of Pipers Lane, Heswall, May 31st © Danny Carmichael



Barn Owl near Dungeon Wood, Thurstaston, May 29th © Roger Evans



Whimbrels at Hoylake, May 28th © Steve Downing



Marsh Harrier at Parkgate, May 28th © Roy Wilson



Spoonbill at Parkgate, May 27th © Roy Wilson



Sedge Warbler on Heswall Marsh, May 25th © David Thompson



Spotted Flycatchers and friend at Leasowe, May 22nd © Peter Sutton



Shelduck, Heswall, May 20th © Frank Burns



Greenfinch, Heswall, May 20th © Frank Burns



Cuckoo at Leasowe, May 18th © John Hewitt

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."