Site menu:

Archived Latest Sightings:
March and April 2017.

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

Apr 30
1 Spotted Crake flushed and flew into reed bed - Red Rocks.
5 Black Tern, c10 Wheatear, 3 Whichat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Whimbrel, 1 Avocet, 1 Little Ringed Plover and 1 Greenshank - Connah's Quay Reserve.
17 Black Tern and 9 Little Tern off Hoylake as tide came in, also Redstart in seafront garden, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Little Ringed Plover and hundreds of hirundines.
4 Black Tern off west side, 28 Whimbrel, 1 Wood Warbler, 120+ Willow Warbler, 7 Tree Pipit and 1 Whinchat  - Hilbre, see Hilbre Bird Obs Blog for more details and some great photos.
10+ Whinchat and 25+ Wheatear - Leasowe Lighthouse.
7 Grasshopper Warbler along seawall between Cottage Lane and the Boathouse pub - Parkgate.
1 Cattle Egret and 3 Great White Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
3,000 Dunlin - Meols Shore as the tide dropped this afternoon.

Apr 29
1 Ring Ouzel (fem), 2 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Wheatear, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 7 Common Whitethroat and 2 Swift - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Whinchat on playing fields of Hilbre School - West Kirby.
1 Grasshopper Warbler - Denhall Quay.
1 Ring Ouzel male (over), 1 Tree Pipit, 3 Grasshopper Warbler and 10 Willow Warbler - Red Rocks.
2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 6,000 Dunlin, 300 Sandwich Tern, 3 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Wheatear - Hilbre, see Hilbre Bird Obs Blog for more details.
14 Common Whitethroat and 6 Lesser Whitethroat - Heswall/Thurstaston cliffs and fields.
15 Little Egret, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 56 Curlew, minimum 84 Whimbrel - Heswall Shore on rising tide.
200 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection (off Column Road).

Apr 28
1 Grasshopper Warbler and 3+ Sedge Warbler along Denhall Lane - Burton Marsh.
6+ Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Whinchat, 1 Wheatear and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Gayton/Parkgate Marsh over high tide.
1 Hooded Crow (briefly on field near helipad), c20 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover and 10 Common Sandpiper - Connah's Quay Reserve.
2 Eider (pair) and 1 Grasshopper Warbler, also a distinct passage of Swallows and Sand Martins - Red Rocks.
5,500 Dunlin roosted on top of the island by the lifeboat station at high tide, also 1 Little Gull, 3 Arctic Tern, 10 Guillemot, 2 Eider, 17 Whimbrel, 1 Manx Shearwater and 1 Fulmar - Hilbre, see Hilbre Bird Obs Blog for more details.
4 Spotted Redshank and 1 Common Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Ring Ouzel (fem), 2 Swift and 1 Whinchat - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Apr 27
1,500 Dunlin and 100 Ringed Plover on the shore, 10+ Gannet off shore - an hour before high tide at Hoylake.
400 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection (off Column Road).

Apr 26
1 Grasshopper close to Sheldrake's Restaurant this morning, also 97 Whimbrel off Heswall Fields NT as tide came in - Heswall Shore.
1 Arctic Tern, 2 Whimbrel, 7 Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Pintail, 1 Yellow Wagtail - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Whinchat, 5 Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Great White Egret, 3 reeling (2 seen) Grasshopper Warbler - Burton Point.
1 Great White Egret off Riverbank Road - Heswall Marsh.
3 Great White Egret and 2 Grasshopper Warbler - Denhall Lane, Burton Marsh.

Apr 25
1 Ring Ouzel (male) showing well this morning on playing fields at Hilbre School, West Kirby.
1 pair Eider, 1 Greenshank, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, minimum 79 Whimbrel, 2 Lesser Whitethroat - Heswall Shore.
1 Kingfisher, 1 Hen harrier, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Spotted Redshank, 2 Swift, 2 White Wagtail and 1 Yellow Wagtail -  Burton Mere Wetlands.
4 Whimbrel  near to West Hide, also 3 Common Sandpiper - Connah's Quay Reserve.

Apr 24
570 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection (off Column Road).
4 Wheatear and 1 Whinchat in fields inland of Park Lane, Meols.
3 Manx Shearwater, 70 Gannet, 40 Sandwich Tern, 1 Fulmar and 1 Arctic Skua - Hilbre.
13 Gannet (flying down the main channel, Gannets very rare this far up the estuary), 47 Grey Plover, 1650 Dunlin, 900 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 180 Curlew, 21 Whimbrel, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit - Heswall Shore.
25 Whimbrel roosting on rocks north of caueway - Thurstaston Shore.
6 Twite and 2 Whinchat - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Cuckoo *first of spring*, 400 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Spotted Redhank, 3 Ruff, 80 Avocet, 14 Dunlin, 4 Greenshank and 1 Common Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Apr 23
1 probable Black Kite heading east over Wirral Way by Thurstaston at 10am.
640 Black-tailed Godwit Caldy Wildfowl Collection (off Column Road), late afternoon.
100+ Common Tern, 1 Black Tern ( summer plumage ), 1 Redstart, 5 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Common Sandpiper, 21 Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Yellow Wagtail, and 1 Whinchat at Shotton Lagoons, early morning.
1 Common Redstart in garden - Lower Heswall.
1 Ring Ouzel - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Little Gull, 5 Spotted Redshank, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier and 20+ Wheatear - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Little Gull (2cy), 1 Redstart, 12 Wheatear, c15 Whimbrel and 8 Common Sandpiper - Connah's Quay Reserve.
3 Stonechat and 3 Whinchat - Burton Point.
1 Glaucous Gull late afternoon - Hilbre.

Apr 22
750 Black-tailed Godwit Caldy Wildfowl Collection (off Column Road) before 10am then flew to Caldy Shore.
1 Arctic Skua, 2 Common Tern, 120 Sandwich Tern and 50 Gannet - Hilbre.
3 Wheatear and 1 Whinchat in fields inland side of Park Lane, Meols.
60+ Common Tern, 1 Black Tern ( Summer Plumage ), 5 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whinchat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Avocet, and 2 House Martin. at Shotton Lagoons, early morning.
1 Arctic Skua off East Hoyle - Hoylake.
1 Hooded Crow - Queens Park, Hoylake.
1 Grasshopper Warbler by River Birket, Moreton.
3 Wheatear, 9 Spotted Redshank, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 8 Whimbrel - Burton Mere Wetlands.
7 Whimbrel - Thurstaston Shore.

Apr 21
254 Black-tailed Godwit looking glorious in full breeding plumage - Caldy Wildfowl Collection (off Column Road).
1 Ring Ouzel (fem), 2 Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Willow Warbler and 1 Grasshopper Warbler - Gilroy/Hoylake Langfields.
7 Wheatear east end of Park Lane and on sea defence, also pair Stonechat and 1 Whinchat - Leasowe Lighthouse.
5 White Wagtail and 1 Wheatear - Hoylake Shore by Lifeboat Station.

Apr 20
60 year anniversary of the founding of Hilbre Bird Observatory!!!
1 Glaucous Gull flew past, 24 Whimbrel and 1 Common Sandpiper - Hilbre, for more details and photos see Hilbre Obs Blog.
4 Whimbrel and 18 Twite - Connah's Quay Reserve.
3 Great White Egret - Burton Point.
1 Little Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Marsh Harrier and 6 Yellow Wagtail - Burton Mere Wetlands.

 Apr 19
68 Whimbrel and 380 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Shore on rising tide this afternoon.
1 Swift *first of spring* over Gilroy, West Kirby this morning.
1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Redstart, 1 Whinchat and 11 Wheatear (4 Greenland race) - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Redstart in private garden near Meols Common, also present yesterday.
Large passage of Swallow and Sand Martin, a small fall of Willow Warbler and 3+ Wheatear - Hilbre.
1 Whinchat, 1 Osprey, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 11 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Sandpiper, and 1 Green Sandpiper - Shotton Lagoons.
4 Whinchat drinking from stream on beach by Tinker's Dell, Thurstaston, this afternoon and 4/5 seen in field inland (probably same birds).

Apr 18
3 Whimbrel, 6 Wheatear, 275 Sandwich Tern and 540 Pinkfooted Geese - Hilbre, an exodus of Pink-footed Geese out of the estuary this morning with several flocks reported.
2 Grasshopper Warbler (reeling) and 7 Willow Warbler - Red Rocks.
1 Spoonbill, 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Little Gull and 3 Spotted Redshank coming into summer plumage - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Whinchat, 4 Common Redstart, 5+ Wheatear, 5 White Wagtail and 40+ Swallow, 2+ Sandwich Tern over the sea -  Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Peregrine, 1,350 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 530 Curlew, 34 Whimbrel, 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Heswall Shore this afternoon, also 475 Pink-footed Geese heading north early morning.

Apr 17
1 Woodcock over Park Lane, Meols, this evening.
1 Osprey flew down the estuary from Burton Marsh towards Heswall just before 4pm.
1 Grashopper Warbler reeling near duck pond - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Arctic Tern and 8 Common Tern - Shotton Lagoons.
1 Common Whitethroat - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
2 Gannet, 2 Little Gull, 1 Red-throated Diver and 32 Sandwich Tern - Leasowe Castle.
2 Short-eared Owl - Decca Pools.
11 Wheatear and 10 White Wagtail in ploughed field by junction of Heron Road and Oldfield Lane, Saughall Massie.
1 Cattle Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 8 Wheatear, 3 Spotted Redshank  - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Common Whitethroat - Shotwick Boating Lake.
1 Great White Egret and 1 Marsh Harrier - Burton Marsh.

Apr 16
1 Common Tern (First one back!) - Shotton Lagoons.
1 Lesser Whitethroat singing in Heswall Fields NT.
17 White Wagtail in ploughed fields between Riverbank Road and Banks Road - Heswall.
1 Peregrine, 45 Dunlin, 1850 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 6 Whimbrel - Heswall Shore.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Apr 15
1 Little Gull and 4 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Wheatear by the solar panels - Shotwick Boating Lake.
20 White Wagtail in ploughed fields between Riverbank Road and Banks Road - Heswall.

Apr 14
1 Black-throated Diver off north end, 1 Great Skua chasing gulls at high tide - Hilbre.
1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Merlin,  7 Blackcap, 7 Willow Warbler, 10+ Chiffchaff (all in good voice), 11 Wheatear and 1 Sedge Warbler - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Osprey over Burton Mere Wetlands this afternoon, also 1 Great White Egret, 500 Black-tailed Godwit, 50+ Sand Martin, 1 Marsh Harrier and a probable Reed Warbler singing.
1 Wheatear in fileld by Davenport Road, Heswall.

Apr 13
A record count of 121 Avocet this morning plus 1 adult Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier. 1 Egyptian Goose, 2 Black Swan and 1 Hen Harrier - Burton Mere Wetlands.
36 White Wagtail in ploughed fields between Riverbank Road and Banks Road - Heswall.
270 Shelduck, 1 Peregrine, c2000 Redshank, c600 Curlew, 3 Whimbrel - Heswall Shore on the rising tide.
2 Raven in fields inland of Denhall Lane, Burton.
2 Spotted Redshank - Connah's Quay Reserve.
18 Ringed Plover on Hoylake shore at low tide this morning.
2 Green Woodpecker on ground observed mating, and 1 Siskin over - Burton Village.
6 Mandarin Duck (3 pairs) in garden - Caldy.

Apr 12
65+ White Wagtail in ploughed fields between Riverbank Road and Banks Road - Heswall.
19 Red-breasted Merganser (12 males), 1 Peregrine, c2500 Redshank, c800 Curlew, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Lesser Redpoll flew W - Heswall Shore on the rising tide.
1 Spoonbill - Burton Mere Wetlands.,

Apr 11
123 White Wagtail in ploughed fields between Riverbank Road and Banks Road - Heswall.
1 Yellow Wagtail and 25 White Wagtail - Hilbre.
1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 2400 Redshank, 820 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel on the shore on rising tide, also 1 Sedge Warbler and 2 Willow Warbler at Target Rd - Heswall Shore.
1 Little Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler showing well and c500 Black-tailed Godwit - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Apr 10
32 White Wagtail in ploughed field behind Riverbank Road car park - Heswall.
10 White Wagtail - Hoylake Langfields/Gilroy.

Apr 9
1 Hooded Crow and 8 Carrion Crow flew over heading SSE, also 5 Wheatear -Hilbre.
5 Wheatear - Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Grasshopper Warbler - Leasowe Gunsite.
1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin and 2 Wheatear - Parkgate Old Baths.
1 Ring Ouzel, flew east from fields - Park Lane, Meols.
27 Wheatear, 1 Brambling, 2 Greenshank, 2 Swallow, 21 Redpoll (1 Common) and 11 White Wagtail - Red Rocks, early morning.
26 White Wagtail on shore by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake Shore.

Apr 8
37 White Wagtail on the beach at Red Rocks.
35+ White Wagtail with c100 Meadow Pipit on shore by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake Shore.
7 Wheatear in fields below Dungeon Wood - Thurstaston.
1 Little Gull - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Short-eared Owl (this evening), 1 Marsh Harrier (male) and 1 Merlin (this morning) - Parkgate Old Baths.
c20 White Wagtail and 5 Wheatear on ploughed field just north of Heswall Fields NT.
12 White Wagtail and 120 Brent Geese - Hilbre for more details see the Hilbre Obs Blog.

Apr 7
1pair Eider, 21 Red-breasted Merganser (12 males - in main river channel), 6 Great-crested Grebe, 24 Little Egret, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 2,150 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 565 Curlew, 1 Redpoll flew N - Heswall Shore.
6 White Wagtail and 3 Wheatear in ploughed field north of Heswall Fields NT.
1 Sedge Warbler - Gilroy Nature Park.
4 Wheatear and 1 Tree Pipit with a small passage of Sand Martins over - Hoylake Langfields.
35 White Wagtail and 5 Pied Wagtail just west of Lifeboat Staion this morning - Hoylake Shore.
2 Short-eared Owl this evening - Parkgate Old Baths.

Apr 6
1 Redstart (male) in field just south of Neston Old Quay late afternoon.
34 White Wagtail, 5 Pied Wagtail and 1 Wheatear - Hoylake Shore.
26 Little Egret, 75 Grey Plover, 90 Dunlin, 230 Knot, 2300 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 515 Curlew, off the boatyard 2 Rock Pipit, 1 summer plumage Water Pipit - Heswall Shore over high tide.
5 Guillemot, 1 Sandwich Tern and 1 Merlin - Hilbre.

Apr 5
1 Little Gull, 9 Spotted Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Mediterranean Gull and 1 Marsh Harrier - Burton Mere Wetlands.
35 Sandwich Tern and 3 Little Gull - Hilbre.

Apr 4
1 Cattle Egret, 1 Little Gull, 106 Avocet, 600+ Black-tailed godwit, 6 Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Decca Pools.
4 Wheatear and 80 Brent Geese - Hilbre.

Apr 3
1 Red Kite over Hilbre at 0930am, flew over East Hoyle Bank then towards Dove Point, Meols, also 214 Brent Geese and 1 Whimbrel, for photos and more details see the Hilbre Obs Blog.
1 Lapland Bunting - Red Rocks, flew towards Hilbre early morning.
1 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate.
2 Avocet - Decca Pools.

Apr 2
1 Cetti's Warbler showing well - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Apr 1
1 Ring Ouzel (male), 1 Osprey over, 5 Willow Warbler and 1 White Wagtail, 104 Curlew roosting at low tide - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Cattle Egret in trees, 1 Little Gull and 4 Redwing (at entance) - Burton Mere Wetlands.
3 Short-eared Owl at Parkgate at dusk.
2 Raven - Heswall Dales.

Mar 31
1 Little Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler (seen) and 1 willow Warbler - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Mar 30
4 Short-eared Owl (appeared after high tide), 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 1 Marsh Harrier, 220 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Great White Egret, 9 Fieldfare and 11 Red-breasted Merganser - Parkgate over high tide.
76 Brent Geese, 18 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 2 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Wheatear (in ploughed field) - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
3 Greenshank 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank (middle hide), 1 Wheatear and 20+ Twite - Connah's Quay Reserve.
2 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.

Mar 29
8 Brent Geese, 770 Shelduck, 8 Red-breasted Merganser (5m,3f), 17 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 2 Merlin, 2000 Redshank, 540 Curlew, 2 Raven - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
6+ Reed Bunting - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Pheasants don't usually feature on this page but a couple of interesting birds today - one on the rocks between the Hilbre islands was only the fourth record for Hilbre, another was observed swimming the channel off Heswall rather than flying!

Mar 28
1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) interacting over the marsh - Denhall Quay.
1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine and 1 Merlin - Hilbre, for more details see Hilbre Obs Blog.
6 Sand Martin and 1 Swallow flew west along Hoylake Shore.
19 Wheatear in horse paddocks -  Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 male Ring Ouzel on Caldy Golf Course at 6pm then flew off towards Dee SC.

Mar 27
1 House Martin *first of spring* and 2 Sandwich Tern *first of spring*, also 1 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Wheatear, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Swallow  - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Wheatear, 1 Merlin, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Stonechat - Burton Marsh.
1 drake Garganey on fenced off bit of River Birkett behind West Kirby Tip, bit difficult to get to!

Mar 26
2 Wheatear and Greenshank on groyne - Meols Common.
1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Wheatear, 1 Raven and 100+ Great Crested Grebe - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 11 Wigeon, 12 Golden Plover, 9 Grey Plover, 600 Knot, 2650 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 570 Curlew, 1 Wheatear - Heswall Shore on rising tide.
1 Drake Garganey, 1  Little Gull (1st winter), 1  Marsh Harrier and 1 Merlin - Burton Mere Wetlands.
7 Chiffchaff in song along Wirral Way between Heswall and Parkgate.

Mar 25
31 Little Gull, 1 Merlin, 1 Stonechat and small fall of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs - Hilbre.
1 Glaucous Gull on sea off Leasowe Lighthouse just before 11am.
5 Sand Martin and 1 Swallow over Gilroy, West Kirby.
3 Great White Egret - Burton Marsh.
1 Little Gull (1st year) - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Water Rail in full view on Meols Shore this morning.

Mar 24
11 Little Gull flying east - Leasowe Lighthouse.
3 Wheatear and 1 Stonechat by sheep pens - Burton Point.
7,000 Pink-footed Geese all in flight for a few minutes - Neston Marsh.
1 Willow Warbler in song - Frankby Cemetry.
2 Wheatear in field and 2 Sand Martin over - Newton, West Kirby.
2 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.
2 Short-eared Owl - Old Baths, Parkgate.
1 drake Goosander in Caldy Wildfowl Collection (off Column road) this afternoon but briefly - West Kirby.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 3 Great White Egret and 20 Whooper Swan - Burton Marsh.
1 Little Gull (1st year), 71 Avocet, 1 Marsh Harrier, 9 Chiffchaff and 1 Cetti's Warbler - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Mar 23
1 Little Gull (1st year) and 4 Sand Martin - Burton Mere Wetlands.
4 Wheatear and 1 Cattle Egret - Burton Point.

Mar 22
2 Whooper Swan flew east, 1 Shag flew west, 36 Common Scoter and 1 Red-throated Diver off East Hoyle Bank (Hoylake).
2 Short-eared Owl and 1 Great White Egret - Old Baths, Parkgate.
4 Wheatear in ploughed field next to Heswall Fields NT.
1 Wheatear, c100 Meadow Pipit, 5 Chiffchaff and 2 Stonechat, 1 Little Owl heard calling down Lingham Lane - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Mar 21
2 Great White Egret seen displaying off Parkgate.
1 Cattle Egret (in trees by mere), 1 Little Gull (1st year) and 3 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
30+ Twite by West Hide - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) flying north at 1pm - Gilroy, West Kirby.
c300 Brent Geese - Hilbre.

Mar 20
1 Little Gull (1st year) and 3 Sand Martin - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Greenshank - Dove Point, Meols.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Old Baths, Parkgate.

Mar 19
1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin and 1 Great White Egret - Parkgate.
Report of 1 Common Whitethroat heard singing along Wirral Way (this would be earliest ever for Cheshire and Wirral by at least 10 days, but as it was only heard has to go down as unconfirmed) - Gayton.
1 Little Gull (1st year) - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Treecreeper along Park Lane - Meols.
1 Willow Warbler singing in Bidston.
An escaped Red-tailed Hawk is still in the West Kirby area and has been for at least three years, I've put it in here as people are misidentifying it as Osprey/Red Kite/Buzzard. Over the past week or so it has been hanging around the Morrisons and Barclay Bank area - I think it's probably predating the feral pigeons.

Mar 18
1 Little Ringed Plover and 1 Little Gull - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Great White Egret - Denhall Quay.
1 Greenshank by groyne, 1 Wheatear in paddocks - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Great White Egret - Burton Point.

Mar 17
2 Willow Warbler *first of spring* 12 days earlier than last year, singing by Shotton.
1 Waxwing by Boathouse Pub, Parkgate.

Mar 16
1 Red Kite drifting east this morning, also 1 Wheatear and 1 White Wagtail - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Whimbrel (very early), 3 Wheatear and 1 Chiffchaff - Hilbre.
1 Waxwing at junction of Telegraph Road and Thurstaston Road, Heswall, feeding on Rowan Tree.

Mar 15
1 Red Kite showing well, had an ariel battle with a Buzzard and Marsh Harrier high overhead, also 4 Whooper Swan, 74 Avocet, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Hen Harrier, 3 Great White Egret and 2 Wheatear - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Black Redstart, in private garden Hoylake Promenade.
1 Cetti's Warbler - Red Rocks.
12+ Stonechat feeding along the damp ditches - Hoylake Langfields.
Singing Chiffchaffs being reported at several sites and there has obviously been a 'fall' over the past couple of days. 

Mar 14
1 Siberian Stonechat singing, also 12 Stonechat and 1 Wheatear, in paddocks west of Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Swallow *first of spring* 10 days earlier than last year,  over horse paddocks behind Meols Groyne, also 2 Greenshank on groyne which flew north.
1 Great White Egret - Burton Marsh.

Mar 13
2 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
110 Brent Geese off West Kirby Marsh at high tide, several Meadow Pipits displaying.
1 Ring Ouzel by Parkfield House, Leasowe.
1 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Great White Egret - Old Baths, Parkgate.

Mar 12
20,000 Common Scoter off Point of Ayr at high tide on flat calm sea.
1 Ring Ouzel (imm), 1 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Goosander - Red Rocks.
10 Waxwing in Pensby Road (jnt with Ridgwood Drive), Heswall.
3 Whooper Swan and 2 Great White Egret - Burton Marsh.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Great White Egret - Old Baths, Parkgate.
328 Brent Geese spread between Little Eye, Bird Rock and West Kirby on the rising tide, flat calm sea.

Mar 11
1 Wheatear *first of spring* 12 days earlier than last year, and 63 Avocet - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Sand Martin *first of spring* five days earlier than last year, 1 Long-tailed Duck (fem), 16 Goldcrest and 2 Stonechat (pair) - Hilbre, see Hilbre Obs Blog for details.
10 Waxwing in Pensby Road (jnt with Ridgwood Drive), Heswall.
1 Cetti's Warbler calling - Red Rocks reed-bed.
1 Ring Ouzel in west sheep field before flying north, first of spring and about three weeks earlier than last year - Connah's Quay Reserve.

Mar 10
6 Waxwing in Pensby Road (jnt with Ridgwood Drive), Heswall.
1 White-fronted Goose with 6,000 Pink-footed Geese - Burton Marsh.
1,000 Wigeon in River Dee channel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 48 Twite, 1 Spotted Redshank and 5 Greenshank - Connah's Quay Reserve.
10 Goldcrest and 7 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre, see more details on Hilbre Obs Blog.
180 Black-tailed Godwit - Gilroy scrape, West Kirby.

Mar 9
2 Waxwing in Pensby Road (jnt with Ridgwood Drive) in Rowan tree still full of berries, also report yesterday of flock of 8+ in Irby Road, Irby.
3 Spotted Redshank and 45 Twite - Connah's Quay Reserve.

Mar 8
1 Iceland Gull on grassland towards Shotwick Boating Lake, flew off towards Industrial Estate - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Great White Egret - Burton Point.
8+ Waxwing in private garden this morning - Irby.

Mar 7
2 Waxwing close to Pump House Lane roundabout - Greasby, early morning.
600+ Common Scoter at 1030am but no sign, yet, of the massive numbers seen here over the past three years, also 8 Scaup - Meols Shore.
300 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection (off A540).
1 Twite with Linnets and other finches - Denhall Quay.

Mar 6
2 Goosander, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Great Crested Grebe - West Kirby Marine Lake.
2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), pair Stonechat and 1 Twite - Denhall Quay.
c10 Marsh Harrier came into roost this evening, also Hen Harrier (male), Short-eared Owl and c15 Raven - Neston Marsh.

Mar 5
1 Hen Harrier (male), 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate.
1 Mediterranean Gull in flooded field - Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Goosander and 2 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Mar 4
1 White Wagtail *first of spring* and 11 days earlier than last year, other birds on spring passage were 3 Stonechat, 5 Jackdaw and 11 Pied Wagtail - Hilbre.
1 Mediterranean Gull in river channel, 1 Water Rail, c30 Twite, 3 Greenshank, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Great White Egret - Connah's Quay Reserve.
At least 7 and probably 12 Marsh Harrier going into the roost this evening - Neston Marsh, this evening.
2 Great White Egret and 2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail) - Neston Old Quay.
1 Short-eared Owl - Burton Point.
1 Marsh Harrier -  Old Baths, Parkgate.

Mar 3
3,000 Pintail in river channel, 1,200 Black-tailed Godwit, 2,000 Dunlin and 14 Twite - Oakenholt Marsh.
1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Water Rail - Connah's Quay Reserve.
Report of 7 Twite near Denhall Quay.
1 Goosander on Gilroy Duck Pond (present yesterday as well) - West Kirby.

Mar 2
300 Black-tailed Godwit in Caldy Wildfowl Collection (next to A540) and adjacent field this morning, half of which then flew to Gilroy Scrape in the afternoon.
1,600 Dunlin and 100 Redshank on rocks by  West Kirby Marine Lake at 10am.
1 Short-eared Owl (very close), 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Marsh Harrier (fem) - Parkgate late afternoon.
2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail) and up to 10 Marsh Harrier coming into roost - Neston Marsh.

Mar 1
2 Marsh Harrier (pair displaying), 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and male), 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Great White Egret amd 2 Stonechat (pair) - Old Baths, Parkgate.
9 Waxwing by Boathouse Pub, Parkgate, this morning.
13 Avocet, 3 Ruff, 1 Merlin, c40 Reed Bunting and 6 Siskin - Burton Mere Wetlands.
200+ Black-tailed Godwit in Caldy Wildfowl Collection (next to A540) and adjacent field.

Click here to see Archived latest sightings from September 2000.