Systematic list -                 
Red-throated Diver to Gannet.
Cormorant to Brent Goose.
Shelduck to Long-tailed Duck.
Common Scoter to Merlin.
Barbary Falcon to Knot.
Sanderling to Black-tailed Godwit.
Bar-tailed Godwit to Grey Phalarope (below).
Pomarine Skua to Corn Bunting will be published in the April 2002 Newsletter.

Bar-tailed Godwit                         Limosa lapponica

Uncommon winter visitor and migrant
Absent between May 24th and July 28th 2000 and Apr 22nd to July 8th 2001otherwise a frequent visitor on high tides.

Monthly maxima:

2000

2001

The maximum was recorded on Nov 19th 2000 and is the highest estimate for many years. A more accurate count of 2750 was made on Nov 29th 2000.Remarkably, for a time in November 2000 this species was the most numerous wader.

Bar-tailed Godwits and Knot.

Whimbrel                    Numenius phaeopus

Scarce migrant
Small numbers were seen or more commonly heard on ten dates between May 14th and Oct 8th 2000, with records for every month. The first migrants of 2001 were seen on May 4th while 17, including a flock of 15 on the tide edge the day after remains the highest count so far. The last record of 2001 was on Aug 28th.

Curlew                                    Numenius arquata

Common winter visitor and migrant, fairly common in summer.

First recorded on return passage on June 23rd2000. Numbers were fairly constant throughout the year.

Monthly maxima:

2000

2001

Spotted Redshank                         Tringa erythorpus

Scarce migrant on the Dee.
One on Oct 7th 2000 was the only record so far. This species is surprisingly uncommon in North Wirral.

Redshank                                 Tringa totanus

Very common winter visitor and migrant
First recorded on Jul 6th2000. Numbers fluctuated without any obvious pattern, with up to 70 regularly, mostly feeding off the old baths. 185 on Oct 11th ,250 on Mar 24th 2001 and 300 on Oct 28th 2001 were three of the larger counts.

Greenshank                                   Tringa nebularia

Rare spring and scarce autumn migrant
One on Aug 8th 2000 and two on Aug 14th 2000 were the only records so far.

Green Sandpiper                         Tringa ochropus

Scarce autumn migrant, rare in winter and spring
One was heard calling while putting the bin out near midnight on Aug 22nd 2001.

Common Sandpiper                           Actitis hypoleucos

Scarce migrant and breeder, rare irregular winter visitor.
Singles were recorded on Sept 10th and 12th.

Turnstone                                Arenaria interpes

Fairly common coastal wader
One to three recorded quite regularly from Jul 9th to May 11th 2001 then again from Sept 10th 2001 to the year-end. Usually on days when both Hilbre and Bird Rock were covered with visitors! 45 on Oct 30th2000, 14 on Jan 10th and 15 on Jan 16th 2001 were the only higher counts.

Grey Phalarope                              Phalaropus fulicaria

Rare migrant
One flew west at high tide on Oct 2nd 2000 and another floated in on the tide of Oct 5th 2001.