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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:


September Newsletter now published on this website featuring Bonaparte's Gull, 'Have Arctic-breeding waders had a poor breeding season?', Colour Ring Report and Latest Events.

Latest Sightings.... (more)

Sep 20
Burton Mere Wetlands is now open (0945am).

Sep 19
1 Great Egret, 15 Spotted Redshank and 27 Greenshank - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Leach's Petrel mid-afternoon, also 5 Arctic Skua, 2 Great Skua, 5 Manx Shearwater and 3 Arctic Tern - Hoylake.
1 Black-tern and 1 Manx Shearwater - Leasowe Gunsite.
1 Goosander (redhead) on beach by Leasowe Lighthouse this morning.
2 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Ruff and 1 Cattle Egret all from IMF hide -  Burton Mere Wetlands.

Sep 18
7 Marsh Harrier (one with green wing tags) this morning, 1 Hobby (juv) this afternoon - Parkgate.
1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank and 1 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Wheatear - Hilbre.

Sep 17
2 Hen Harrier in and around the roost at Parkgate this evening, earlier 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier.
1 Pallid Harrier - Neston Marsh this afternoon.
1 Marsh Harrier (with wing green wing tags) over Hilbre this morning flying west, 1 Fieldfare at first light and 3 Wheatear - Hilbre.
1 Spotted Crake - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Pink-footed Goose, 3000 Shelduck, 58 Little Egret, 60 Ringed Plover, 170 Dunlin, 2 juv Curlew Sandpiper, 3500 Redshank, 3850 Black-tailed Godwit, 1200 Curlew - Heswall to Thurstaston.

Sep 16
1 Chough at 1620hrs, landed on building roof before flying towards Point of Ayr, good views and calls heard - Hilbre.
Report of brief view of a Red-necked Phalarope, 1 Spotted Crake, 1 Garganey and 2 Common Sandpiper  - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Pallid Harrier, showed well at 1.15pm, 4 Marsh Harrier and 1 (ringtail) Hen Harrier came in to roost,  1 Barn Owl showing well and 1 distant Great Egret - Parkgate.

Sep 15
1 Spotted Crake again showing well by pool next to Reception, also 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Spotted Redahank and 1 Cattle Egret  - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Great White Egret and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
1 Pallid Harrier - Parkgate.

Sep 14
1 Spotted Crake, 1 Cattle Egret, 4 Greenshank, 7 Spotted Redshank, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Ruff, 4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpiper and 300+ Pintail - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Pallid Harrier flew west past Decca Pools late morning.
2 Wheatear near Burton Point.

Sep 13
No access today and Friday to Burton Mere Wetlands from Burton Village due to road works, access OK via Puddington.
1 Spotted Crake even closer to Reception Hide this morning, also 700 Pintail, 6 Spotted Redhank, Greenshank and Curlew Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.
4 Marsh Harrier and 1 Barn Owl from old baths Parkgate.

The September Newsletter includes:
Bonaparte's Gull, 'Have Arctic-breeding waders had a poor breeding season', 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.

Curlew Sandpiper at Burton Mere Wetlands, September 19th © Chris Wilding



Hen Harrier at Parkgate, September 17th © Frank Burns



Common Snipe at Burton Mere Wetlands, September 13th © Steve Round
http://stevenround-birdphotography.com/



Juvenile Ringed Plover at Hoylake, September 12th © Roy Lowry



Yellow-legged Gull (left) with Lesser Black-backed Gull, Hoylake Shore, September 9th © Tim Kinch



Greenshank at Burton Mere Wetlands, September 9th © Elliot Montieth



Leucistic Dunlin at Hilbre, September 8th © Steve Williams
http://hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/



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."