Dee Estuary Birding

1 Little Gull (1st win) and 2 Kittiwake - New Brighton.
100 Redshank, 50 Turnstone and 2 Purple Sandpiper on rocks below Wallasey Lifeguard Station.
4 Spotted Redshank - Inner Marsh Farm.

10 Common Scoter flying west, 119 Brent Geese (incl 2 dark-bellied), 110 Pink-footed Geese over and 5 Red-breasted Merganser - Hilbre.
40 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, 6 Kestrel, 3 Ruff, 2 Whooper Swan and 100+ Black-tailed Godwit - Inner Marsh Farm.

Approx 4,000 Knot and 4,000 Dunlin off  Meols Shore as tide came in, somewhat distant on sand bank.
130 Brent Geese Hilbre.
1 Snow Bunting - Little Eye.
1 Marsh Harrier (fem), 1 Peregrine, 1 Water Rail and flock of 30-40 Reed Bunting - Burton Marsh off Denhall Lane.

4 Gannet, 1 Great Northern Diver and 1 Red-throated Diver - Hilbre.
At least 2 Gannet seen from Red Rocks at high tide out beyond Hilbre towards North Hoyle wind farm, a good early record.
1 Snow Bunting - West Kirby Shore.
3 Little Gull flying out of the River Mersey - New Brighton.
4 Purple Sandpiper on rocks below Lifeguard Station, Wallasey Shore.
1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Lapland Bunting heard - Point of Ayr.

363 Lapwing, 20 Golden Plover, 380 Curlew, 3,000 Oystercatcher, 2,000 Knot and 28 Pintail - Heswall Shore.
2 Peregrine - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Peregrine and 27 Grey Heron - Inner Marsh Farm.

1 Cattle Egret in field by Hill Top Farm, Mill Lane, Neston, Mill Lane runs from A540 to Ness.
7 Ringed Plover and 3 Snipe in field junction of Pasture road and Leasowe Road, Moreton.
3 Purple Sandpiper and 1 Mediterranean Gull - New Brighton Marine Lake, another 2 Purple Sandpiper on breakwater.

2 Avocet north over - West Kirby.
14 Purple Sandpiper on ramp at New Brighton Marine Lake, also 2 Mediterranean Gull at New Brighton.
1 Snow Bunting and 1 Stonechat - West Kirby Shore.

17 Whooper Swan, 14 Bewick's Swan, 100 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Pintail and 1 Ruddy ? Shelduck (looked like hybrid) - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Snow bunting and 1 Stonechat - West Kirby Shore.
c80 Brent Geese and c200 Cormorant - Little Eye.
2 Peregrine and 1 Water Rail - Heswall, Riverbank Road, at high tide.

2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 2 Stonechat, c400 Black-tailed Godwit and c3,000 Oystercatcher - Heswall, Riverbank Road, at high tide.

4,000 Knot, 3,000 Dunlin, 310 Sanderling and 320 Grey Plover - Hoylake Shore at high tide.
1,070 Black-tailed Godwit feeding on mud next to beach - Thurstaston Shore, 12 colour ringed.
15 Common Buzzard in fields between Hoylake and Bidston.
1 Short-eared Owl by Leasowe Lighthouse.

5,000 Oystercatcher, 40 Brent Geese and 140 Shelduck - Little Eye.
1 Peregrine, 48 Sanderling, 600 Knot, 2,000 Dunlin - West Kirby Shore at high tide.
1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) - New Brighton Marine Lake.
100+ Ringed Plover - Meols Shore.
5 Avocet, 2 Greenshank, 1 Peregrine, 1 Brambling and 40+ Wigeon - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine and 1 Merlin, 2 Grey Partridge in field - Burton Marsh.
1 Snow Bunting - Gronant Beach.

873 Black-tailed Godwit - Heswall Shore.

1 Cetti's Warbler singing by Neston Old Quay, near sewage works, also 3 Chiffchaff, one a possible Siberian Chiffchaff.
5 Avocet, 3 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank and 2 Peregrine - Connah's Quay Reserve.
2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 2 Stonechat and c300 Pink-footed Geese - Parkgate Marsh.

674 Lapwing, 1 Raven, 1 Peregrine, 400 Black-tailed Godwit, 87 Pintail and 5,000 Knot - Heswall/Thurstaston Shore.

229 Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Pintail, 5,000 Oystercatcher and 5,000 Knot - Heswall Shore.
1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and 1 Barn Owl - Parkgate Marsh/Wirral Way.

106 Brent Geese - Little Eye, at high tide.
82 Little Egret came in to roost at Burton.

At Least 100 Brent Geese - Little Eye, at high tide.
274 Great Crested Grebe between Hoylake and Dove Point, Meols, at high tide.
295 Sanderling, c100 Grey Plover, 2,500 Knot and 1,200 Dunlin - Hoylake Shore.
2 Snow Bunting - West Kirby Shore.
2 Raven, c5,000 Knot and 7,000 Oystercatcher - Heswall Shore.

1 Greenshank and 1 Merlin - Heswall Shore.
2 Snow Bunting - West Kirby Shore.
2 Brambling, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, c600 Dunlin, c1000 Lapwing and c200 Black-tailed Godwit - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Peregrine - Burton Point.
1 Merlin and 2 Stonechat - Denhall Quay.
1 Merlin and 3 Stonechat - Parkgate Marsh.

1 Greenshank - Heswall Shore.
5 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
2 Snow Bunting - Middle Hilbre.
1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd win) - New Brighton Marine Lake.

At Least 97 Brent Geese - Little Eye, at high tide.
3 Snow Bunting (incl 1 Icelandic race), 55 Sanderling and c600 mixed gulls with very little else - Hoylake Shore at high tide.
1 Common Sandpiper between Shotton and Queensferry Bridge, River Dee.
6 Yellowhammer along Wirral Way by Thurstaston, also c70 Curlew in the fields, 1 Barn Owl.
1 Merlin on the marsh, also 2 Stonechat - Heswall, Riverbank Road.
1 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.

At Least 97 Brent Geese - Little Eye, at high tide.
3 Snow Bunting (incl 1 Icelandic race), 55 Sanderling and c600 mixed gulls with very little else - Hoylake Shore at high tide.
1 Common Sandpiper between Shotton and Queensferry Bridge, River Dee.
6 Yellowhammer along Wirral Way by Thurstaston, also c70 Curlew in the fields, 1 Barn Owl.
1 Merlin on the marsh, also 2 Stonechat - Heswall, Riverbank Road.

1 Mediterranean Gull on field next to 'Cadbury' factory - Moreton.
1 Goosander (drake) flew past West Kirby Shore at high tide.
30 Linnet at New Brighton.
23 Fieldfare on rooftop in Greasby just after dawn.
6 Grey Partridge and 1 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.

February Newsletter Now Published - please note extra birdwatching events on Feb 10th at West Kirby and on March 9th on the Connah's Quay Reserve - click here.

6 Little Egret in field opposite Gilroy Nature Park.
110 Curlew and 90 Oystercatcher in field close to Stapledon Wood, Caldy, 30 Redwing, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Treecreeper in the woods.
c300 Black-tailed Godwit, 500 Lapwing and 1 Stonechat - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Snow Bunting - Little Eye.
111 Brent Geese (incl 2 dark bellied) and 12 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre Island.

1 Peregrine - New Brighton Shore.

2 Snow Bunting - Little Eye.
1 Raven, 1 Merlin and 200+ Black-tailed Godwit - Inner Marsh Farm.
4 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton.
1 Peregrine - Meols.
300+ Lapwing and 52 Curlew in field junction of Pasture and Leasowe Roads, Moreton.
1 Osprey reported flying over Heswall towards marsh this afternoon, far too early for Ospreys of course - but there was one on Feb 9th 2006, so perhaps.............

150 Pink-footed Geese and 1 Merlin - Denhall Quay, no sign of Great White Egret this afternoon but very windy.
1 Hen Harrier - Parkgate Marsh.
1 Marsh Harrier (fem/juv) - Neston Reed Bed.
2 Water Pipit, 1 Jack Snipe and  1 Merlin - Neston Old Quay.

5 Whooper Swan and 60+ Pink-footed Geese off Neston Reed Bed at 10.30am, 1 Great White Egret just south of reed bed at 3.30pm.
1 Marsh Harrier, 3,000 Knot, 5,000 Oystercatcher, 500 Black-tailed Godwit, 1,900 Shelduck, 60 Brent Geese and 1 Merlin off Heswall, Riverbank Road.
2 Corn Bunting and 7 Grey Partridge - Heswall Fields.
1 Great White Egret flew NW over Parkgate Marsh at 2pm, also 2 Marsh Harrier.
1 Merlin - Denhall Old Quay, 6 Grey Partridge in field behind Decca Pools.
Blackcaps reported from Gayton, Newton and Willaston.
2 Snow Bunting - Little Eye.
135 Brent Geese (130 pale-bellied, 5 dark-bellied) and 12+ Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre.

1 Great White Egret - on marsh off Neston Reed Bed at 9.30am, seen briefly with 3 Little Egret, then flew towards Burton.
1 Water Pipit, 4 Jack Snipe, 4-5 Water Rail, 1 Merlin (fem), c60 Pink-footed Geese, c300 Pintail and c500 Wigeon - Neston Old Quay/Marsh.
7 Spotted Redshank - Inner Marsh Farm.

1 Great White Egret - on marsh off Neston Reed Bed at 1030am, and further north towards Parkgate in the afternoon.
2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker showing well at Lees Lane Car Park, Wirral Way, Neston.
2 Snow Bunting - Little Eye.
118 Brent Goose - Hilbre.
1 Hen Harrier - first seen at Neston Reed Bed then again at Denhall Quay and lost to view on Burton outer marsh, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1st yr bird seen from Denhall Quay loosely associating with Hen Harrier then roosted at Neston Reed Bed, also 43 Little Egret, 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 Peregrine and 2 Merlin.
2 Water Rail - Parkgate Marsh, south end.

2 Snow Bunting - Little Eye.
c3,500 Knot, 40 Golden Plover, 80 Linnet and 600 Lapwing - Heswall/Thurstaston Shore.

1 Snow Bunting - Hilbre.
1 Peregrine, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 800 Lapwing and 2 Yellowhammer - Burton Marsh, Decca Pools.

1 Great White Egret seen at dusk, also 50+ Bewick's Swan - Burton Marsh.
1 Razorbill, 1 Guillemot, 40+ Purple Sandpiper, 1-2 Shag, 1-2 Red-throated Diver, 1 f Peregrine, 50+ Brent Geese (total not counted) and at least 50 Great Crested Grebe - Hilbre.

1 Cattle Egret - Burton Marsh, walk north from Denhall Lane to just beyond the farm, near Decca Pools, present all morning then disappeared inland - but where??
57 Moorhen (in field), 2 Water Rail, 9 Siskin, 2 Stonechat and  c80 House Sparrow - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
3 Common Buzzard, 1 Raven, 1 Woodcock and 3 Little Egret - Hoylake Langfields.
1 Kingfisher along Arrowe Brook near Upton.
8 Purple Sandpiper - Wallasey Shore, on rocks by Lifeguard Station.
c300 Common Scoter flying west in many small flocks - Point of Ayr.
73 Brent Geese - West Kirby Shore.

1 Cattle Egret - Burton Marsh, walk north from Denhall Lane, near Decca Pools, seen between 10am and 1pm but not since, also 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Short-eared Owl.
1 Short-eared Owl - Gronant.
250 Pink-footed Geese on edge of marsh, a Raven had a go at a female Peregrine then vice versa! - Parkgate Marsh.
2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 320 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Spotted Redshank and 20 Whooper Swan - Inner Marsh Farm.
6 Purple Sandpiper and 100+ Turnstone on platform on New Brighton Marine Lake, another 3 Purple Sandpiper on the rocks at the end of Harrison Drive.
25 Twite, 1 Peregrine and 1 Merlin at Flint Castle this afternoon.
320 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 58 Little Egret and 2 Stonechat between Denhall Quay and south end of Parkgate.
2 Snow Bunting - Little Eye.

1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 250 Pinkfooted Geese, 50-60 Skylark, c2,000 Curlew and c1,000 Lapwing - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
1 Arctic Skua off West Kirby, 1 Greenshank, 100+ Turnstone and 50+ Redshank on Marine Lake wall.
A few Little Gulls past Leasowe Gunsite, also 20 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Blackcap seen on approach to car park.

1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 3 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 250 Pinkfooted Geese, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Stonechat - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

2 Snow Bunting, 3 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat, 2,000 Oystercatcher and 310 Curlew - West Kirby Shore/Marsh just before high tide.
c110 Brent Geese in sea off Little Eye at high tide.
450 Cormorant, 47 Common Scoter, 1,500 Herring Gull, 250 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 20 Great Black-backed Gull on sea off Hoylake at high tide.
50 Brent Geese - Bird Rock, Red Rocks at high tide.
1 Greenshank, c1,000 Curlew, c3,500 Oystercatcher, 2,000 Knot, c500 Redshank, c750 Lapwing, 2 Peregrine and 66 Pintail - Heswall Marsh as tide came in, also 4 Bullfinch in hedgerow next to marsh.
2 Little Egret feeding in fields, 3 Grey Partridge, 23 Moorhen and 1 Raven by Wirral Way, Heswall. 

5,500 Oystercatcher, 229 Curlew and 120 Brent Geese - West Kirby Shore just before high tide.
75 Black-tailed Godwit, 95 Knot, 11 Snipe, 2 Ruff, 300+ Lapwing, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Pintail and 1 Brambling  - Inner Marsh Farm.
15 Brambling - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Raven, 2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate Marsh, the Raven was picking up golf balls from the golf course and caching them in the marsh!

1 Purple Sandpiper on rocks and 1 Little Egret on the shore- Meols Shore.
1 Blackcap (fem) in garden in Neston.

2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 Merlin (2m) and at least 5 Water Rail - Neston Reedbed.
2 Little Egret - Caldy Shore.

c7,000 Oystercatcher, c5,000 Knot and c200 Pintail - Thurstaston Shore.
5 Ruff and 4 Siskin - Inner Marsh Farm.
2 Peregrine and at least 1,000 Lapwing - Burton Marsh.

7 Red-legged Partridge, 135 Curlew and 6 Bullfinch, 150 Pink-footed Geese flew NW up the estuary - Thurstaston.

500 Pink-footed Geese flying north over West Kirby, 1030am.
100+ Meadow Pipit and 30 Pied Wagtail - Hoylake Langfields.
162 Brent Geese (incl 4 dark-bellied) - Hilbre this morning.
7 Ruff, 1 Peregrine, 2 Merlin, 11 Snipe and 700+ Lapwing - Inner Marsh Farm.

61 Golden Plover, 83 Redshank, 152 Curlew, 46 Moorhen, 5 Water Rail, 15 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Peregrine and 1 Blackcap (m) - Hoylake Langfields.
3 Purple Sandpiper roosting with Turnstones and Redshanks on ramp in New Brighton Marine Lake.
c1200 Knot, c800 Dunlin, c50 Grey Plover, 41 Sanderling, 6 Ringed Plover, 25 Brent Geese and 1 Peregrine - Point of Ayr over high tide.
1 Marsh Harrier, 20+ Little Egret and 1 Barn Owl - Burton Marsh late afternoon.

No news of Cattle Egret this morning at Neston.
172 Brent Geese on the sea at high tide, the highest ever count!!!, also 2 Snow Bunting before high tide - Little Eye.
1,300 Lapwing, 133 Golden Plover, 420 Pintail and 2 Peregrine - Heswall Shore before high tide.
32 Mandarin Duck and 7 Barnacle Geese in fields, pond near Stapledon Wood, Caldy.
4 Purple Sandpiper and 1 Mediterranean Gull -  Wallasey Shore.
1 Red-throated Diver - West Kirby Marine Lake this morning.
1 Marsh Harrier (fem) and 1 Peregrine - Burton Marsh.
2 Peregrine and 6+ Brambling - Connah's Quay Reserve.

No sign of Cattle Egret this morning at Neston.
1 Kingfisher, 12 Goldeneye and 17 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake, also 119 Turnstone and 83 Redshank on lake wall.
602 Cormorant and 45 Common Scoter off Meols at high tide.
250 Sanderling, 4,000 Dunlin. 5,000 Knot and 490 Grey Plover - Hoylake Shore at high tide.
122 Brent Geese - Little Eye, 25 Pink-footed Geese over.
92 Great Crested Grebe counted from Middle Hilbre.
At least 4 Water Rail in Red Rocks Marsh, also 1 Stonechat.
2 Blackcap (pr) in garden by Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, 1 Peregrine over.
1 Marsh Harrier (fem), 2 Merlin and 3 Brambling - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Peregrine - Burton Marsh.

1 Cattle Egret - Neston, in field next to Ashfield Hall Farm,  just off A540 near double set of traffic lights (where Thornton Hough/Neston roads cross A540).
11 Purple Sandpiper on rocks below Wallasey Lifeguard Station.
6 Red Breasted Merganser, 1 Merlin and 1 Peregrine - Heswall Marsh.
122 Brent Geese - West Kirby Shore at high tide.
500 Cormorant - Little Eye.

January Newsletter Now Published - please note extra birdwatching event on Feb 10th at West Kirby - click here.

Dates for Birdwatching Events on the Dee Estuary for January to April 2008 now available.

1 Cattle Egret - Neston, in field just off A540 near double set of traffic lights (where Thornton Hough/Neston roads cross A540) - see Jan 7th for details of where to park.
74 Brent Geese (incl 3 dark-bellied), 6,000 Oystercatcher and 242 Curlew - West Kirby Shore at high tide.
83 Brent Geese and a remarkable 1,000+ Cormorant - Little Eye, Cormorants flew from North Wirral across to Little Eye in three large flocks.
17 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Goldeneye and 2 Great Crested Grebe - West Kirby Marine Lake.

1 Cattle Egret - Neston, in field just off A540 near double set of traffic lights (where Thornton Hough/Neston roads cross A540) - see Jan 7th for details of where to park.
450 Pintail - Thurstaston Shore as tide was going out.
1 Greenshank, 103 Redshank, 96 Curlew and 41 Moorhen in field opposite Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, at least 6 Stonechat in nearby fields.
1 Short-eared Owl - Neston Old Quay.

1 Cattle Egret - Neston, in field just off A540 near double set of traffic lights (where Thornton Hough/Neston roads cross A540) - to park turn down B5136 towards Neston turning first right to park behind petrol station. Walk back to A540 and walk north past Aldi traffic lights, you will see a footpath that runs alongside the A540, walk along here for about 150 yards, the bird is usually either in the field next to this path, or in a small field immediately in front of the farm buildings. Farmer is now allowing birders up his farm track and some good photos have been taken. Please only go as far as the gate, and do not park on the track.
1 Marsh Harrier (juv), 58 Golden Plover, 2 Goldeneye (fem) and 1 Brambling - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Short-eared Owl - Neston Old Quay.
7 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton.
1 Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank - Connah's Quay Reserve.

9 Red-breasted Merganser and 6 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Blackcap (m) in garden in Pensby.
1 Water Pipit and 1 Marsh Harrier - Neston Old Quay.
2 Marsh Harrier (1 ad fem and 1 first win), 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 2 Peregrine, 19 Bewick's Swan and 75 Little Egret (egrets flying in to roost) - Burton Marsh.
1 Mediterranean Gull - New Brighton.

1 Long-tailed Duck (1st win male), 108 Brent Geese (3 dark, 105 light), 14 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Little Egret, 4 Great Crested Grebe and several Scoter - Hilbre.
2,100 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Spotted Redshank, 1 Peregrine and 650 Lapwing - Connah's Quay Reserve.
61 Whooper Swan, 44 Mute Swan and 2 Bewick's Swan - Shotwick Fields.
11 Ruff, 50+ Snipe, 2 Gadwall, 185+ Wigeon, 32 Pintail, 27+ Shoveler and 1 Raven - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Water Pipit and 3 Rock Pipit (Scandinavian race) - Neston Old Quay.
1 Marsh Harrier (ad fem), 1 Merlin and 140+ Pink-footed Geese - Parkgate Marsh.
4 Short-eared Owl, 23 Bewick's Swan and 1 Peregrine - Burton Marsh, Barn Owl flew out at dusk.