Site menu:

Archived Latest Sightings:
January and February 2019.

Back to Latest Sightings.
Click here to see list of Archived latest sightings from September 2000.

Feb 28
1 White Wagtail in horse paddocks *first of spring and 15 days earlier than last year* - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Bittern seen in flight then later heard booming, 3 Hen Harrier and 2 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate.
3 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
3 Eider (1 drake) - Hilbre.

Feb 27
1 Wheatear *first of spring and 11 days earlier than last year* - Hoylake Langfields, Hoylake end.
3 Goosander (1m and 2 f) and 30 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
2 Eider, 122 Redshank, 2 Rook over and 2,500 Knot which flew high off towards the NW at first light - Hilbre.
50 Avocet - Burton Mere Wetlands.
3 Cattle Egret by Puddington Lane - Puddington.
1 Sand Martin - Denhall Quay.
1 Great Egret - Donkeystand Flash, Parkgate.

Feb 26
6 Short-eared Owl, 1 Hen Harrier (grey male) and 1 Great Egret - Old Baths, Parkgate late afternoon.
8 Raven, 7 Stonechat and 11 Skylark - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Feb 25
48 Avocet, 5 Spotted Redshank, 258 Shoveler, 3 Pochard and 8 Cetti's Warbler - Burton Mere Wetlands.
5 Short-eared Owl, 1 Merlin and 1 Marsh Harrier this afternoon - Parkgate.

Feb 24
7 Scaup - Hilbre.
5 Short-eared Owl, 3 Great Egret, 2+ Marsh Harrier and 3 Hen Harrier (1 grey male) - Parkgate.
3 Short-eared Owl - Neston Old Quay.
3+ Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.

Feb 23
1 Bean Goose with Pink-footed Geese in Shotwick Fields, also 3 Egyptian Geese.
5 Spotted Redshank and 3 Bewick's Swan - Burton Mere Wetlands.
6 Short-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine, 4 Hen Harrier, 1 Merlin, 4 Great Egret and 2 Green Sandpiper late afternoon - Parkgate.
3 Eider, 400 Common Scoter, 7 Purple Sandpiper and 1 Great Northern Diver - Hilbre.

1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Hen Harrier (both males went to roost off Burton Point), 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Raven and 6 Whooper Swan (flew off Saltmarsh at dusk) - Burton Marsh.

Feb 22
1 grey male Hen Harrier and 1 merlin female over high tide today - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
5 Great Egret, 2 Short-eared Owl and 3 Hen Harrier (2 ringtail and 1 male, late afternoon at Parkgate.
1 Greenshank, 700 Knot, 14 Grey Plover, 30 Golden Plover, 750 Wigeon, 100 Pintail, 8 Shoveler, 6 Brent Geese, 2  Rock Pipit, 1 Chiffchaff singing - Point of Ayr.

Feb 21
6 Great Egret, 5 Marsh Harrier, 3 Hen Harrier, 4 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 3 Short-eared Owl and 1 Jack Snipe over high tide at Parkgate, tide came up to the wall despite no wind.
5+ Short-eared Owl off Heswall Golf Course/Cottage Lane over high tide.
3 Mediterranean Gull - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Great Egret - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
1 Cattle Egret - Puddington.
9 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
1 Barn Owl off Denhall Lane at 5.10pm then flew inland over Net's Cafe - Burton Marsh.

Feb 20
Hen Harriers included three grey males, also 7+ Short-eared Owl - Parkgate.
3 Avocet - Burton Mere Wetlands.
3 Eider (1 drake) and 287 Brent Geese (1 dark-bellied) - Hilbre.

Feb 19
231 Great Crested Grebe and about 2,000 Common Scoter on rising tide - Leasowe Lighthouse.
430 Pink-footed Geese, 14 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 650 Pintail, 11 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Great Egret, 1 grey male Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 600 Redshank - Riverbank Road, Heswall, over high tide.
7 Great Egret, 1 Bittern, 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 grey male Hen Harrier and 2 Stonechat (pair) - Parkgate.

Feb 18
1 Fulmar and 3 Eider - Hilbre.
2 Bewick's Swan and 3 Egyptian Geese - Shotwick Fields.
27 Brent Geese (including 1 dark-bellied) - Thurstaston Shore by Dee Sailing Club slipway.

Feb 17
1 Greenshank on groyne and 1 Kingfisher along River Birket - Leasowe Lighthouse.
3 male Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail over, 3 Eider and 2 Peregrine - Hilbre.
2 Water Rail - Red Rocks Marsh.
120 Bar-tailed Godwit flying south, also 1 Merlin, 32 Pink-footed Geese (over), 11,000 Knot, 4,500 Dunlin, 422 Curlew, 185 Grey Plover, 78 Ringed Plover and 7,500 Oystercatcher - Tanskey Rocks/Middle Eye/West Kirby Shore at first light.
2 Crossbill - Burton Mere Wetlands.
4 Short-eared Owl and 3 Hen Harrier (2 grey males) - Parkgate.

Feb 16
1 Sand Martin VERY EARLY and earliest ever for Cheshire and  Wirral, watched flying for about half an hour - by Fort Perch, New Brighton.
1 grey male Hen Harrier - Heswall Marsh.
c30 Twite over  Lower Heswall flying towards Heswall Marsh this morning, identified by call.
615 Pink-footed Geese, 900 Oystercatcher, 1000 Knot, 3000 Dunlin, 760 Redshank, 260 Bar-tailed Godwit, 85 Black-tailed Godwit, 780 Curlew, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Raven - Heswall Shore.
1 Green Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.
At least 1 Bearded Tit heard, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Bittern flew into roost at north end of reedbed at 5.30pm, 2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail), 3 Marsh Harrier and 1 Short-eared Owl - Neston Reedbed late afternoon.
2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Hen Harrier and 3 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate.

Feb 15
1,200 Pink-footed Geese in fields below Dungeon Wood - Thurstaston.
2 Short-eared Owl showing well, 6+ Marsh Harrier, 3 Hen Harrier (1 male), 4 Great Egret and 1 male Stonechat - Parkgate.
3 Eider (1 drake), 1 Peregrine and 1 Rock Pipit - Hilbre.
17 Whooper Swan - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Feb 14
1 Avocet on main scrape, first record of the year, also 2 Pochard on Bridge Pool - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Short-eared Owl again showing well, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 (male (distant) and female) Hen Harrier, 1 Great Egret and 1 male Stonechat - Parkgate.

Feb 13
14 Common Scoter, 230 Brent Geese and 1 Eider - Hilbre.
1 Common Sandpiper by the old blue Queensferry bridge, appears to be over-wintering - River Dee.
3 Short-eared Owl (some really lovely aerial acrobatics), 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, and 1 Bittern - Parkgate.

Feb 12
1 Short-eared Owl and 1 male Hen Harrier - Denhall Quay.
1 Bittern flew into roost by Boathouse pub, 1 Hen Harrrier, 2 Marsh Harrier and 1 Barn Owl at dusk - Parkgate.
616 Pink-footed Geese over (most flying north), 242 Brent Geese (1 dark-bellied) and 2 Eider - Hilbre.

Feb 11
1 Bittern flew to roost, 3 Short-eared Owl, c5 Marsh Harrier, 4 Hen Harrier (2 grey male), 1 Merlin, 2 Great Egret, 2 Stonechat and 2 Barn Owl - Parkgate.
30 Brent Geese, 2 Goosander (redhead), 2 Goldeneye and 3 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Water Pipit on filter beds - Neston Sewage Works.

Feb 10
1 male Crossbill - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Bewick's Swan and 6 Whooper Swan - Shotwick Fields.
200+ Brent Geese, 2 Eider, 348 Curlew, 11,000 Dunlin and 6,000 Knot - Hilbre/West Kirby shore/Tansky rocks on flood tide.

Feb 9
1 Little Gull - Oakenholt Marsh.
8 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
1 Bittern, 2 Great Egret, 2 Hen Harrier (1 male), 5 (approx) Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Peregrine and 2 Stonechat - Parkgate.
3 fem Marsh Harrier and 3 Hen Harrier (1 male) putting on a great display early evening - Heswall Marsh.

Feb 8
3 Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Red-breasted Merganser and 29 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake, another 200+ Brent on nearby shore with good numbers of waders.
7 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Feb 7
1 Greenshank, 8 Purple Sandpiper, 30 Dunlin, 160 Turnstone and 700 Redshank - New Brighton Marine Lake an hour before high tide.
3 Goosander (redhead), 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 drake Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
2 Great Egret, 3 Raven, 2 Hen Harrier (1 male), 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Short-eared Owl, 4,000 Lapwing, 3,500 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Stonechat and 80 Black-tailed Godwit - Parkgate.

Feb 6
28 Brent Geese, 4 Red Breasted Merganser (1 drake), 2 Goosander (redheads) and 1 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) on Wallacre playing field, Wallasey this morning.
2 Brambling in Chaffinch flock (first field north of footbridge over end Brooklands Road) - Wirral Way,  Parkgate.
3 Hen Harrier (1 grey male), 4+ Marsh Harrier, 2 Great Egret and 3 Short-eared Owl  - Parkgate.
11,000 Knot off Middle Eye and north shore at first light - Hilbre.
1,050 Pink-footed Geese flew inland early morning from Heswall Marsh.
1 Water Pipit in fields between Harp Inn and Neston sewage works, 1 Hen Harrier, 3 Marsh Harrier and 3 Great Egret - Neston Marsh.

Feb 5
200+ Brent Geese, 1 Peregrine, 1 Great Northern diver (landed on east side of Hilbre), 11,500 Dunlin, 7,500 Knot and 7,500 Oystercatcher - Hilbre/Tanskey Rocks/Red Rocks.
1 Jack Snipe - West Kirby Marsh.
5 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier (1 male), 2 Merlin and 1 Peregrine - Parkgate.

Feb 4
3 Brent Geese briefly on Donkey Stand Flash, 1 Bittern, 1 Barn Owl, 5 Hen Harrier incl 2  Grey Males, 5 Marsh Harrier, 3,690 Pink-footed Geese, 200 Wigeon, 170 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Great Egret, 1 Merlin, 3 Short-eared Owl and 2 Stonechat -  Parkgate.
1 Merlin - Denhall Quay.
2 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Goldeneye and 5 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Feb 2
2 Bewick's Swan and 23 Whooper Swan - Shotwick Lake/Fields.
4 Bearded Tit and 1 Marsh Harrier - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Feb 1
670 Pink-footed Geese (flew inland at first light), 4000 Oystercatcher, 115 Golden Plover, 3000 Dunlin, 3300 Knot, 880 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 325 Black-tailed Godwit, 106 Bar-tailed Godwit, 875 Curlew - Heswall Shore at high tide.
5 Bearded Tit, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Water Pipit, 50+ Redwing, 500 Wigeon, 80 Shoveler and 2 Bewick's Swan - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Marsh Harrier between Gronant and Talacre.
3 Water Pipit - Neston Old Quay.
1 Bittern, 3 Short-eared Owl, 3 Hen Harrier (1 grey male), 6 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Great Egret and 2 Stonechat - Parkgate.

Jan 31
7 Short-eared owl, 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 male Hen Harrier and 7 Great Egret, 1 Bittern came into Old Baths reedbed late afternoon - Parkgate.
245 Brent Geese and 2 Eider - Hilbre.

Jan 30
1 Barn Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail) - Decca Pools.
1 Mediterranean Gull - Hoylake Shore.
3+ Short-eared Owl (1 got into a fight with a male Kestrel) and 1 Barn Owl - Parkgate.
3 Raven - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Jan 28
1 Spotted Redshank and 1 Hen Harrier - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Cattle Egret in field by Puddington.
1 Bittern flew into roost - Neston Reed Bed.
4+ Short-eared Owl - Parkgate.

Jan 27
2 Brambling in Chaffinch flock - Wirral Way, Parkgate.
9 Great Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Bewick's Swan and 10+ Whooper Swan - Shotwick Fields.

Jan 26
1 Brambling in Chaffinch flock - Wirral Way, Parkgate.

Jan 25
2 Merlin, 4+ Marsh Harrier, 4 Hen Harrier (1 grey male), 4 Great Egret and 1 Barn Owl - Parkgate.
8 Purple Sandpiper and 1 Greenshank - New Brighton Marine Lake.

Jan 24
1 short-eared Owl - Gronant.
1 Scaup - Shotwick Lake.
3 Peregrine, 4 Great Egret, 2 Hen Harrier (1 grey male) and 2 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate over high tide.

Jan 23
2 Hen Harrier and 2 Marsh Harrier - Heswall Marsh.
1 Barn Owl, 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Great Egret - Denhall Quay.
4 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Goldeneye and at least 28 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Little Stint - Hoylake Shore.
2 Bittern, 3 Great Egret, 3 Short-eared Owl and 4 Hen Harrier - Parkgate over high tide.
1 short-eared Owl - Gronant.

Jan 22
2 grey male Hen Harrier - Parkgate.

Jan 21
2 Cattle Egret - Puddington.
1 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Greenshank - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
3 Bewick's Swan - Shotwick Lake.

Jan 20
1 Water Rail seen swimming across Gilroy duck pond, also 1 Goosander (redhead) - West Kirby.
502 Sanderling, 542 Grey Plover, 4,000 Knot and 8,500 Dunlin - West Kirby Shore.

Jan 19
2 Barn Owl - Denhall Quay.
2 Short-eared Owl off Heswall Golf course.
3 Great Egret, 8 Marsh Harrier, 2 Short-eared Owl, 3 Hen Harrier (1 male), 1 Peregrine and 1 Merlin - Parkgate.
11 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier (1 male), 1 Cetti's Warbler and  2 Water Rail - Neston Reedbed.

Jan 18
1 Bittern went to roost plus 6+ Marsh Harrier - Neston Reedbed.
22 Whooper Swan - Shotwick Fields.

Jan 17
1 Black Redstart - Shotwick Lake.
2 Barn Owl (at same time) and 1 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay/Decca Pools.
4 Bearded Tit -  Burton Mere Wetlands.
4 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate.

Jan 16
1 Bittern came in to roost - Neston Reedbed.

Jan 15
A good morning at Burton Mere Wetlands with 4 Bearded Tit, 9 Water Pipit and 5 Jack Snipe.
3 Goldeneye, 4 Red--breasted Merganser and c40 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
3 Short-eared Owl and 3 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate.

Jan 14
1 Short-eared Owl, 8+ Whooper Swan and 2 Egyptian Goose - Burton Mere Wetlands.
41 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
8 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
5 Hen Harrier incl 1 male , 12 Marsh Harrier , 1 Male Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5,000 Lapwing 5000, 500 Wigeon and 3 Great Egret  - Neston Marsh.

Jan 13
3 Great White Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Jan 12
1 American Wigeon (drake) - Denhall Quay.
2+ Bearded Tit, 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 female Goosander, 11 Spotted Redshank, 2 Egyptian Geese and 2 Great White Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Jan 11

1 Black Redstart on fence of Shotwick Boating Lake and Solar farm, also 17 Whooper Swan.
690 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore.

Jan 10
1 Bittern seen at Parkgate this afternoon, then flew into reedbed at Neston at Dusk.

1 Brambling with 200 Chaffinch, 2,000 Dunlin, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Greenshank, 400 Wigeon and 1 Merlin - Oakenholt Marsh.

Jan 9
900 Pink-footed Geese in field West Kirby side of Pump Lane, Greasby, this morning.
1 Yellow-legged Gull (3rd winter) on beach - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 drake Goldeneye, 3 Red Breasted Merganser and 24 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
5 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and grey male) and many Marsh Harriers with at least three continously in the air together - Parkgate.

Jan 8
4 Bewick's Swan (2ad and 2 juv), 1 Mediterranean Gull (1st win), 2 Bearded Tit, 1 Red Kite over, 1 Green Sandpiper and and 2 Egyptian Goose - Burton Mere Wetlands.
9 Greenshank - Connah's Quay Reserve.

Jan 7
1 Water Pipit and and 1 Egyptian Goose - Burton Mere Wetlands.
7 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
1 Black Redstart near Shotwick Boating Lake.

Jan 6
1 Bearded Tit - reedbed screen, and 1 Egyptian Goose at IMF hide this morning, 6 Bearded Tit late afternoon plus report of a Willow Tit on feeder - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Black Redstart near Shotwick Boating Lake.
2 Water Pipit - Neston Sewage Works.
1 Bittern - Neston Reed Bed at dusk.

Jan 5
2-3 Bearded Tits - reedbed screen, also 1 Egyptian Goose - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1600 Pink-footed Geese roosted and flew inland at first light, 730 Shelduck, 900 Pintail, 350 Teal, 11 Red-breasted Merganser, 57 Golden Plover, 1 Greenshank, 700 Redshank, 370 Black-tailed Godwit, 245 Bar-tailed Godwit, 890 Curlew - Heswall Shore this morning on rising tide.
1 Black Redstart, 1 ad Bewick's Swan and 2 Whooper Swan this morning, 16 Whooper Swan, 1 Bewick Swan and 2 Black Swan in fields at 4pm -  Shotwick Boating Lake.
1 Bittern, 2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 3 Short-eared Owl, 1 Great White Egret and 4 Hen Harrier - Parkgate.
2 Water Pipit - Neston Sewage Works.
5 Brent Geese, 5 Red Breasted Mergansers (4 females and 1 male) and a single male Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Green Sandpiper - Neston Marsh by Harp Inn.

Jan 4
I male Goldeneye, 4 Red-breasted Merganser (1 male) and 12 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
5 Bearded Tits showing well this morning - reedbed screen, Burton Mere Wetlands.
253 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Peregrine off Leasowe Lighthouse at high tide.
1 Black Redstart near Shotwick Boating Lake this afternoon.
1 Bittern, 1 Merlin, 1 Short-eared Owl, 8 Marsh Harrier, and 4 Great Egret - Neston Old Quay late afternoon.

Jan 3
6 Bearded Tits showing well this morning - reedbed screen, Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Short-eared owl, 1 Barn Owl, 2 ring-tail Hen Harrier, 2 Great Egret and many Marsh Harriers - Parkgate Old Baths.
22 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Jan 2
720 Cormorant flew out of estuary, 478 Curlew, 4,500 Knot and 1 Peregrine - Hilbre/East Hoyle Bank at first light.
At least 3,000 Pink-footed Geese flew inland from Heswall Marsh at first light.
1 drake Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
2 Water Rail, 2 Stonechat (pair) and 1 Jack Snipe - Red Rocks Marsh.
2 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate Old Baths this afternoon.
1 Bittern in reedbed and 1 Water Pipit by sewage works - Neston Old Quay late afternoon.

Jan 1
1500 Pink-footed Geese (flew inland at first light), 630 Pintail, 400 Teal, 6500 Oystercatcher, 11000 knot, 800 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 760 Curlew, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Heswall/Thurstaston Shore on the ebbing tide.
2 Barn Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 1 Peregrine - Neston Old Quay.

Click Here to see Archived latest sightings from September 2000.