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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:

July Newsletter now published on this website featuring Rare Terns on the Dee Estuary and North Wirral, Colour Ring Report and Latest Events.



Latest Sightings.... (more)

Jul 20
1 Hen Harrier - Neston Old Quay.
1 Marsh Harrier flew east over Leasowe Station.
1 Osprey flew south over Thurstaston Hill.
1 Whimbrel, 1 Mediterranean Gull (juv), 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ruff and 1 Marsh Harrier - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Jul 19
1 Green Sandpiper on slipway north end of West Kirby Marine Lake.
3 Eider, 12 Whimbrel, 1 Great White Egret flew into estuary then across to Wales, 530 Sandwich Tern, 242 Curlew and 6,500 Herring Gull - Hilbre.

Jul 18
1,670 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection (off A540), West Kirby.
1 Water Rail (juv) and 1 Grasshopper Warbler - Parkgate this morning.
8 Whimbrel, 4 s/pl Turnstone, 72 Redshank, 1 Eider, c5,000 Herring Gull and 80 Swallow - Hilbre.

Jul 17
54 Little Egret, 5 Common Sandpiper, 1500 Redshank, 4 Whimbrel, 1400 Curlew, 1ad spl Mediterranean Gull - Heswall Shore.
1,500 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection (off A540), West Kirby.
1 Quail (male) calling from fields in Saughall close to Shotwick Castle site.

Jul 16
1 Mediterranean Gull juv, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Common Tern, 6 Knot (all in summer plumage), 9 Red-breasted Merganser and a juv Coot on the sea - Gronant.
3 Mediterranean Gull (2 ad and 1 st sum), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (2nd sum) and 200+ Sandwich Tern in gull roost at high tide - Hoylake Shore.
1 Mediterranan Gull (ad) on municipal golf course this evening -Hoylake.
5 Spotted Redshank, 5 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Marsh Harrier - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Jul 15
1 Mediterranean Gull (ad), 1 Goosander and 1 Eider - Hilbre.
1 Cuckoo flew from Lingham Lane to Kerr's Field - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Mediterranean Gull (ad), 107 Sandwich Tern and 1,500 Black-headed Gull - West Kirby Shore.
231 Sandwich Tern - Red Rocks.
1 Hen Harrier (over rifle range seen from Burton Point), 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Egyptian Goose and 4 Spotted Redshan (s/pl) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

The July Newsletter includes:
Rare Terns on the Dee Estuary and North Wirral, 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.

Gronant beach on July 16th © Henry Cook



Two adult Mediterranean Gulls in gull and tern roost at West Kirby, July 14th © Richard Smith



A muddy juvenile Redshank at Flint, July 11th © Jeff Cohen



Cattle Egret at Burton Mere Wetlands, July 9th © Frank Burns



Avocet at Burton Mere Wetlands, July 8th © Mark Woodhead


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."