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Archived Latest Sightings:
September and October 2008.

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

October 31, 2008:
60+ Redwing, c20 Fieldfare and c200 Meadow Pipit on Hoylake Langfields.
2 Greenshank, c2,000 Knot, 163 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Peregrine and c125 Pintail - Heswall Shore.
A remarkable 94 Brent Geese (pale-bellied), plus 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 1 Great Northern Diver, 3 Red-throated diver and c320 Sanderling highlights from Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/

October 30, 2008:
1 Black Redstart, 89 Brent Geese (pale-bellied), Great Northern Diver, 11 Scaup, Merlin and 2 Whooper Swan highlights from Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/
20 Brent Geese - Hoylake Shore.
1 Short-eared Owl over Hoylake Langfields.
2 Mediterranean Gull (ads) and 1 Common Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
At least 6 Short-eared Owl -  Burton Marsh this afternoon around 4pm. hunting between Harp Inn and Burton.
1 Hen Harrier (fem) roosting at Parkgate, also 150+ Redwings in horse paddock/fields, 1 Peregrine and 1 Merlin.
1 Green-winged Teal - Inner Marsh Farm.

October 29, 2008:
6 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Goldeneye, 124 Redshank and 35 Turnstone on wall, 1 Raven over - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Marsh Harrier (1st win fem) over West Kirby from direction of Meols.
89 Brent Geese, 2 Merlin, 4 Purple Sandpiper, 10 Great Crested Grebe,
1 Red-throated Diver and 1 Shag - Hilbre, Brent count easily highest ever count for October.
4,000 Dunlin, 3,500 Knot, 350 Grey Plover and 77 Bar-tailed Godwit - West Kirby Shore at high tide.
c7,000 Knot and 40 Sanderling - Wallasey Shore as tide came in.
1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Water Rail and 2 Stonechat - Burton Marsh.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Merlin, 2 Greenshank, 2 Stonechat, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Little Egret, 1 Yellow Wagtail and c70 Pintail - Heswall, Riverbank Road.

October 28, 2008:
7 Short-eared Owl and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Marsh.
1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank, 6 Great-crested Grebe and 4 Little Grebe - Connah's Quay Reserve.
7 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.

October 27, 2008:
1 Snow Bunting, 1 Peregrine and 500 Curlew - West Kirby Shore, 250 Shelduck on the sea.
5+ Short-eared Owl, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Merlin and 3 Hen Harrier (3 ringtail) off Parkgate, Old Baths this evening.

October 26, 2008:
1 Greenshank on the breakwater at Leasowe at high tide.
c100 Mallard on Caldy Ponds, including 14 newly hatched chicks!
1 Leach's Petrel, 1 Manx Shearwater, 2 Red-throated Diver out to sea, 1 Goosander (drake), 1 Spotted Redshank, 5 Brent Geese (pale-bellied) and 1 Merlin in the lagoon - Point of Ayr.
14 Short-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Marsh.
1 Leach's Petrel (possibly 2), 49 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Peregrine and 6 Common Scoter - Hilbre.
1 Green-winged Teal - Inner Marsh Farm.
2 (possibly 3) Hen Harrier,1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 3 Kestrel and 2 Barn Owl off Parkgate, Old Baths this evening.

October 24, 2008:
46 Brent Geese, 1 Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre.
4 Short-eared Owl, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 2 Barn Owl and 2 Stonechat - Parkgate, Old Baths late afternoon.
3 Short-eared Owl, 1 Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin and 1 Peregrine off Denhall Lane, Burton Marsh.

October 23, 2008:
1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 3 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, c360 Wigeon and 2 Ringed Plover with large flock of Black-tailed Godwit and Knot - Connah's Quay Reserve.

October 22, 2008:
1 Grey Phalarope showing well this afternoon in River Mersey off New Brighton.
An influx of Grey Wagtails today with 3 on Hoylake Langfields, 2 on West Kirby Shore, 1 by the stream in Dungeon Wood, Thurstaston and 1 around my garden pond next to Stapledon Wood, Caldy!
3 Short-eared Owl, 2 Barn Owl and 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate, Old Baths this evening.

October 21, 2008:
45 Brent Geese, 1 Razorbill and 1 Guillemot highlights from Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/
3 Short-eared Owl and 1 Hen Harrier - Decca Pools, Burton Marsh.

October 20, 2008:
A distant Egret was seen today off Meols at about 2pm with very bright 'yellowish' lores, but too far out to ID, and light very poor.
Also 1 Peregrine, 20,000+ Knot, 82 Cormorant and 217 Shelduck - Meols Shore.

Having reviewed various comments made by the finder of the 'Snowy' Egret, and others, and looked at the rather distant photos (see below) - we conclude that there might well be a Snowy Egret out there. So take a second look at any Little Egrets you see! I know there are some more photos out there taken on Oct 18th, PLEASE could you send to me by  E-mail (richard at deeestuary dot co dot uk) . All we need is one good photo!
The bird seen on the 19th - a probable juv Little Egret with pale legs and greenish lores - may not have been the bird seen on the 18th. Paul Gutteridge, who saw both, is sure it wasn't!! But light conditions were very different.

October 19, 2008:
1 Merlin, 100+ Pink-footed Geese, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kingfisher, 3,000 Black-tailed Godwit,  10 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Scaup (fem) and 4 Twite - Connah's Quay Reserve.

October 18, 2008:
REPORT OF SNOWY EGRET OFF MEOLS THIS MORNING WITH GOOD DESCRIPTION!!!!!!!!!! Only heard about it this evening.

500 Fieldfare flying south over Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
7 Brent Geese, 800+ Black-tailed Godwit, 1,500+ Shelduck and c100 Common Scoter (offshore in several small parties) -  Point of Ayr.
Several hundred Redwing over Thingwall, nr Heswall, this morning.
2 Peregrine and 1 Merlin - Heswall Shore, c100 Jackdaw, c70 Fieldfare and 14 Redwing over heading north.
250 Redwing in trees around the Visitor Centre, Thurstaston.
1 Kingfisher - Lingham Lane, Moreton.
1 Peregrine, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank and at least 10 Greenshank - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Spoonbill seen briefly from Connah's Quay on the marsh on the far side of the Dee Channel ('White Sands' area).
1 Merlin, 1 Hen Harrier and 1 Peregrine - Burton Marsh.
2 Short Eared Owl and 1 Hen Harrier - Parkgate, Old Baths this evening.

October 17, 2008:
1 Greenshank, 2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and c7,000 Shelduck - Heswall Shore over high tide.
45 Brent Geese (pale-bellied), 42 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Purple Sandpiper and 1 Merlin highlights from Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Barn Owl and 1 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate, Old Baths, late afternoon.

October 16, 2008:
2,000+ Black-tailed Godwit, 1,500+ Knot, 1,000+ Redshank, c300 Dunlin, 7 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Curlew Sandpiper (juv), 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Peregrine (fem/imm) and 5 Twite - Connah's Quay Reserve.
8 Brent Geese off Heswall, Riverbank Road.

October 15, 2008:
6+ Short-eared Owl and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Marsh.
11 Greenshank and 2,000 Black-tailed Godwit - Connah's Quay Reserve.
3 Whooper Swan, 63 Golden Plover, 4 Ruff, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Merlin (fem) - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Raven over Heswall Fields NT, 110 Goldfinch and 4 Yellowhammer feeding in the field.
2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 7 Pink-footed Geese and 4 Red-breasted Merganser - Heswall Marsh.

October 14, 2008:
3 Greenshank, 2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 118 Pintail drifting down with the tide form Thurstaston, 4,000 Shelduck and many hundreds of Redshank and Oystercatcher - Heswall Shore.
35+ Fieldfare south, 1 Short-eared owl over the north end of the golf course, 1 Jack Snipe in the salt marsh, 2 Grey Wagtail over and at least 8 Pied Wagtail, 50+ Meadow Pipit, 6 Sky Lark, also a small passage of chaffinches and greenfinches. this morning at Red Rocks.

October 13, 2008:
26 Pink-footed Geese over Heswall, flying NW.
8 Brent Geese (pale-bellied) - Little Eye.
2 Sandwich Tern, 713 Curlew, 57 Bar-tailed Godwit, 197 Sanderling, 2 Peregrine, 2 Raven and 4 Stonechat, 300 Meadow Pipit over - West Kirby Shore.  

October 12, 2008:
1 Peregrine and at least 10 Buzzard up on the thermals over Hoylake Langfields, 12 Snipe in the flooded field at Gilroy. 
1 Barn Owl, 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 6 Mistle Thrush flew over, - Parkgate Marsh.

October 11, 2008:
1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine and 2 Curlew Sandpiper - Connah's Quay Reserve.
2 Brent Geese (pale-bellied) and 4 Little Egret - Leasowe Castle/Moreton Shore area.

October 10, 2008:
363 Black-tailed Godwit, 100+ Curlew, 21 Redshank, 18 Snipe, 14 Shoveler and 2 Chiffchaff - Hoylake Langfields.
A walk in the Thurstaston Wirral Way/Shore area this morning produced, 3 Common Buzzard above Dungeon Wood, 1 Green Woodpecker, 60 Goldfinch feeding on seeds on Heswall Fields, 4 Little Egret and 1 Peregrine.

October 9, 2008:
1 Curlew Sandpiper - Heswall Shore, early afternoon.
500 Redwing and 100 Fieldfare over Thornton Hough.

October 8, 2008:
285 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Shoveler, 23 Wigeon, 9 Teal and 11 Snipe, 75 Pink-footed Geese overhead - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
1 Hen Harrier (fem) and 2 Merlin - Heswall, Riverbank Road.
1 Wheatear (Greenland) - Wallasey Golf Course, next to embankment.

October 7, 2008:
1 Jack Snipe and 2 Water Rail (calling) - Red Rocks Marsh.
1 Spoonbill over the Connah's Quay Reserve at 1250hrs, flew towards Burton.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Merlin - Decca Pools, Burton Marsh.
300 Mallard and 1000 Common Gull - Hoylake Langfields.

October 6, 2008:
182 Chaffinch, 49 Skylark and 2 Mistle Thrush flew south in one hour this morning, also 2 Greenshank, 7 Pink-footed Geese (flying S), 2 Peregrine and 6 Grey Partridge - Heswall Shore.

October 5, 2008:
3,000 Pink-footed Geese over the sea off Hilbre (towards Formby Point), 1 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Merlin and 9 Brent Geese (pale-bellied) - Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) showing well, and 4 Common Buzzard - Parkgate Marsh.
1 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) on the embankment - Meols Shore.

October 4, 2008:
15 Goldcrest on the island, also 1 Merlin, 9 Brent Geese (pale-bellied), 100 Bar-tailed Godwit and 500 Knot, highlights from Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/
1 Spoonbill, 7 Spotted Redshank and 6 Greenshank - Connah's Quay Reserve.
3 Raven, 2 Peregrine, 38 Golden Plover and c120 Lapwing - Heswall Shore.
745 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Shoveler, 15 Teal and 19 Snipe - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.

October 3, 2008:
2 Pomarine Skua (ad) and 7 Leach's Petrel by 1030am - Hilbre.
2 Grey Phalarope, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 2 Arctic Skua -  New Brighton.

October 2, 2008:
See Leach's Petrel photos on home page.
107 Leach's Petrel, 1 Long-tailed Duck (drake), 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Little Gull and 4 Brent Goose - Hilbre, another great day on Hilbre - for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/
21 Leach's Petrel, 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Sabine's Gull, 1 Little Gull and 1 Arctic Skua - Leasowe Shore.
1 Long-tailed Duck (drake), 1 Long-tailed Skua (juv), 1 Pomarine Skua, 30 Leach's Petrel and 1 Great Skua - New Brighton.
2 Spoonbill, 10 Spotted Redshank and 4 Greenshank - Connah's Quay Reserve.
2 Hen Harrier and 1 Merlin - Parkgate Marsh.

October 1, 2008:
See Leach's Petrel photos on home page.
120 Leach's Petrel past Hilbre, also 1 Great Skua, it was a great day on Hilbre - for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/
At least 50 Leach's Petrel past New Brighton by high tide, also 14 Little Gull, 1 Long-tailed Skua (pale phase juv), 1 Pomarine Skua and 1 Sabine's Gull.
Smaller numbers of Leach's past Leasowe, Hoylake, Red Rocks, plus one over West Kirby Marine Lake.
4 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) just off salt march at West Kirby, also seen from Hilbre.
773 Black-tailed Godwit (easily the highest ever for this site, six were colour ringed), 61 Redshank, 14 Shoveler, 11 Teal and 9 Wigeon - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.

September 30, 2008:
1 Leach's Petrel past Red Rocks at 1150am, also 7 Gannet and 4 Scoter - should be more Leach's Petrels coming past over the next 3 days.
2,000+ Black-tailed Godwit, 1,000+ Knot, 750+ Redshank, 10 Spotted Redshank, 1 Peregrine and a distant view of 3 Spoonbill - Connah's Quay Reserve this morning.
11 Leach's Petrel past Hilbre.

September 29, 2008:
1 Swift over the M53 near Clatterbridge, 7.30am.
1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd winter) - New Brighton.
400 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Knot, 18 Snipe and 104 Redshank - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, 100 Redwing and 20 Fieldfare flew over.

September 28, 2008:
1 Mediterranean Gull (1st winter) and 1 Sandwich Tern - in 'the dips' at New Brighton.
9+ Wheatear and 1 Jack Snipe - West Kirby Marsh.

September 27, 2008:
182 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Guillemot between Hoylake and Meols on a flat calm sea, 4 Gannet just visible through the haze, also 1 Porpoise.
347 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Shoveler, 9 Teal, 11 Snipe and 4
Swallow at Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, 4 Raven over.
7 Wheatear and 2 Stonechat in the dunes/saltmarsh - West Kirby Shore, 6500 Oystercatcher, 46 Bar-tailed Godwit, 700 Knot and 650 Curlew at the high tide roost, c.500 Shelduck on the tide.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler at Red Rocks.
1 Dotterel over Hilbre, the first ever for Hilbre!
1 Barn Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Merlin, 3 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine and 2 Stonechat - Parkgate Marsh this evening.
2 Hobby and 1 Marsh Harrier - Inner Marsh Farm.
4 Wheatear, 2 Raven and 1 Hobby - Burton Marsh, this afternoon.
40 Great Crested Grebe counted on a mirror like sea along the Welsh Shore of the estuary.

September 26, 2008:
2 Yellow-browed Warbler at Red Rocks, early this morning.
1 Tree Pipit, c300 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Redwing over and 11 Swallow - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby and nearby field.
1 Avocet, 1 Marsh Harrier,1 Green-winged Teal, 1 Merlin, 1 Hobby, 6 Snipe and 3 Golden Plover - Inner Marsh Farm.
2 Raven, 1 Peregrine, 1 Greenshank and 1 Curlew Sandpiper, thousands of Redshank and Oystercatcher - Heswall Shore, 72 Meadow Pipit moving south in one hour, 40+ Goldfinch eating seeds in Heswall Fields NT.
5 Raven over Hilbre, together with a good sprinkling of migrants, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/

September 25, 2008:
1 Short-eared owl, 12 Snipe, 20+ Sky Lark and 50+ Meadow Pipit - West Kirby Marsh, early morning.
30 Redwing over, 14 Shoveler and 284 Black-tailed Godwit - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, Redstart (fem) and 4 Whitethroat in Gilroy NP.
1 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate Marsh.

September 24, 2008:
A pleasant trip on the Mersey Ferry RSPB Birdwatching trip today, but as you would expect in this still weather sea-watching was quiet with the only highlight 1 Mediterranean Gull among all the usual gulls and Cormorants - but, remarkably, there were 5 Spoonbill feeding on the tide edge on Crosby Beach, also on a sand bank on the Burbo Bank side of the channel were 54 Pink-footed Geese probably resting after their long journey from Iceland, also c300 Pink-footed Geese on the beach just north of the Alt Estuary along with a good selection of waders.
1 Peregrine, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 8 Grey Heron out on the sand, 12 Little Egret, 2 Stock Dove and 1 Whinchat - Heswall Shore.

September 23, 2008:
1 Merlin (male), 6 Little Egret and 14 Grey Heron (all juv) - Leasowe Lighthouse Embankment.
1 Richard's Pipit, West Kirby end of saltmarsh, seen clearly before being disturbed by dog and disappearing into the marsh, 2.30pm.
2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 1 Raven, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and a kettle of 10 Buzzard at Burton Marsh, this afternoon.

September 22, 2008:
1 Sabine's Gull (juv), seen from boat SW of Burbo Bank windfarm.
1 Kingfisher seen along brook near Shotwick village.
1 Kingfisher Lingham Lane, Moreton, plus 2 Stonechat on Meols Common.
1 Peregrine (ad on post) - Burton Marsh.
5 Wheatear, 14 Snipe, 500+ Lapwing, 13 Golden Plover, 8 Ruff, 3 Greenshank, 1 Hobby and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Inner Marsh Farm.

September 21, 2008:
278 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Shoveler and 1 Hobby over (juv) - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
300+ Meadow Pipit moving south - highlight from  Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/
1 Short-eared Owl flushed by dog from field near Dove Point, Meols.
2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Peregrine and 2 Common Tern - Point of Ayr.

September 20, 2008:
418 Black-tailed Godwit (2 colour ringed), 3 Knot (rare here) and 23 Snipe - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Greenshank, 1 Whinchat, 35 Little Egret and 1 Peregrine - Heswall Shore.
214 Great Crested Grebe off Dove Point, Meols at high tide.
14 Common Buzzard - in field just south of Harp Inn, Neston.

September 19, 2008:
1 Hobby (juv), 397 Black-tailed Godwit (3 colour ringed), 7 Knot (rare here) and 11 Shoveler - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, 8 Chiffchaff in Gilroy NP.
9 Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawk over Carr Lane, Hoylake Langfields.
2 Barn Owl, 1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail) and 1 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.

September 18, 2008:
341 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 14 Shoveler - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
1 Wood Sandpiper - Shotwick Boating Lake, this morning.
1 Cuckoo, still at Parkgate Marsh, Old Baths, also 1 Marsh Harrier, 240 Black-tailed Godwit and 30 Pintail.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Heswall, Riverbank Road.
1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) at Leasowe, this bird has a colour ring and was ringed in Belgium in May 2002.
2 Merlin, 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Barn Owl - Burton Marsh.

September 17, 2008:
1 Cuckoo, still at Parkgate Marsh, Old Baths, also 2 Hen Harrier and 1 Peregrine.
1 Osprey and 4 Curlew Sandpiper - Heswall Shore.
1 Peregrine, 2 Grey Wagtail, 101 Bar-tailed Godwit, 311 Curlew and 3,500 Oystercatcher -  West Kirby Shore.
410 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Hobby, 2 Common Sandpiper and 11 Shoveler - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
4 Wheatear - New Brighton.
100 Sandwich Tern on groyne by Leasowe Gunsite.
4 Wheatear and 4 Stonechat at Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Merlin (female), 1 Peregrine, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, at least 50 Snipe - Inner Marsh Farm.

September 16, 2008:
1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Grey Wagtail - Heswall, Riverbank Road.
1 Cuckoo, still at Parkgate Marsh, Old Baths.
6 Shag, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper and 65 Sandwich Tern - highlights from  Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/

September 15, 2008:
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Curlew Sandpiper (juv), 410 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Greenshank - Heswall Marsh/Shore, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 40+ Goldfinch in Heswall Fields NT.
327 Black-tailed Godwit and 7 Shoveler - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Pied Flycatcher (m) at Gilroy NP.
11 Wheatear - Hoylake Langfields.
307 Shelduck, 161 Bar-tailed Godwit, 93 Sanderling, 43 Common Tern and 119 Sandwich Tern - West Kirby Shore, plus good numbers Oystercatcher, Curlew, Knot and Dunlin.
1 Cuckoo, still at Parkgate Marsh, Old Baths, also 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail),  2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Hobby and 1 Peregrine.
1 Hobby, 1 Green-winged Teal (drake). 3 Curlew Sandpiper (juv), 13 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 50+ Snipe and 8 Ruff - Inner Marsh Farm.
3,000 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Spotted Redshank and 1,000 Knot - Connah's Quay Reserve.

September 14, 2008:
2 Curlew Sandpiper (juvs), 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 6,200 Redshank, 4,200 Shelduck and 1 Greenshank - Heswall Shore.
419 Black-tailed Godwit and 12 Shoveler - in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, 2 Raven over.
6,590 Oystercatcher, 119 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3,900 Dunlin, 425 Sanderling, 51 Sandwich Tern and 197 Shelduck - West Kirby Shore.
1 Cuckoo, still at Parkgate Marsh, Old Baths, also 1 Hen Harrier and 1 Raven, 1 probable Marsh Harrier but distant.
1 Osprey over  Hilbre this afternoon.

September 13, 2008:
4 Curlew Sandpiper (juvs), 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 2 Greenshank - Heswall Shore, 1 Hobby over Wirral Way.
3 Hen Harrier (ringtail - two together and one further down the estuary, all seen at same time), 1 Short Eared Owl, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Merlin and 1 Hobby - Burton Marsh.
1 Arctic Skua east at 9.35 close in, 60 Gannet offshore, 95 common Scoter, 17 Wigeon on the sea, Peregrine on the beach, 1 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, 2 Stonechats, 1 Yellow Wagtail in horse paddocks - Meols Shore/Common.

September 12, 2008:
1 Cuckoo, still at Parkgate Marsh, Old Baths.
1 White-winged Black Tern (juv), 1 Spoonbill this evening - Inner Marsh Farm.
15 Wheatear, 200+ Swallow, 33 Bar-tailed Godwit and 1 Peregrine - Leasowe Lighthouse/shore.
1 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Peregrine and 1 Raven - Heswall Shore.
1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, several sightings of at least 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Hobby hunting dragonfly and 1 Barn Owl, plus 8 Snipe over - Burton Marsh.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 2 Short-eared Owl and 1 Spoonbill - Parkgate Marsh (Old Baths), this evening.
1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Purple Sandpiper and 5 Shag - highlights from  Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/

September 11, 2008:
1 Cuckoo, still at Parkgate Marsh, Old Baths.
1 White-winged Black Tern (juv) - Shotwick Boating Lake, again this afternoon.
1 Marsh Harrier (fem), 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Hobby - Inner Marsh Farm.
271 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ruff and 12 Shoveler in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.

September 10, 2008:
5 Whimbrel, 291 Black-tailed Godwit and 14 Shoveler in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
1 Redstart (1st win male), 1 Water Rail heard and a late Swift, a movement of warblers, Swallows, House Martins and Meadow Pipits noted - Red Rocks this morning.
1 Greenshank - Heswall Shore.
1 White-winged Black Tern (juv) and 1 Black Tern (juv) this afternoon, report of Whiskered Tern appears to be erroneous (as reported by three very reliable observers, photo shows an Arctic Tern in winter plumage) - Shotwick Boating Lake, also the WWB Tern was seen briefly at Inner Marsh Farm early afternoon.
1 Cuckoo, still at Parkgate Marsh, Old Baths.

September 9, 2008:
1 Cuckoo - Parkgate Marsh, Old Baths.
11 Pintail in flooded field - Hoylake Langfields.
257 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Shoveler and 3 Teal in flooded field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
5 Wheatear and 1 Hobby - Leasowe Lighthouse.

September 8, 2008:
1 Cuckoo and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate Marsh, Old Baths.
1 White-winged Black Tern (juv) early afternoon - Shotwick Boating Lake.
8 Grey Wagtail, 1 Greenshank and 1 Marsh Harrier - Heswall/Thurstaston Shore.
2 Stonechat, c100 Swallow and c100 Goldfinch over and around Park House, Meols (next to the horse paddocks).
1 Hen Harrier (juv), 1 Merlin, 1 Marsh Harrier (f/juv), 5 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, 3 Stonechat and 1 Peregrine (juv) - Burton Marsh.

September 7, 2008:
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Heswall Marsh.
1 Cuckoo - Parkgate.
1 White-winged Black Tern (juv), 2 Black Tern and 1 Spotted Redshank which flew overhead, calling - Shotwick Boating Lake.
1 Hobby and 5 Barn Owl - Denhall Lane/Burton Marsh.

September 6, 2008:
1 White-winged Black Tern (juv), 1 Black Tern, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and a tatty looking Osprey - Shotwick Boating Lake.
2 Arctic Skua (juv), 4 Gannet and 1 Wheatear - Red Rocks at high tide.
1 Peregrine, 1 Wheatear, 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Raven and 1 Whimbrel - Heswall/Thurstaston Shore.
1 Spoonbill, 15 Greenshank, 3 Spotted Redshank and 2 Kingfisher - Connah's Quay Reserve.
8 Arctic Skua highlights from  Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/

September 5, 2008:
1 White-winged Black Tern (juv) - Shotwick Boating Lake, again this afternoon.

September 4, 2008:
1 Osprey over Little Eye this morning.
5 Wheatear and 1 Kingfisher - Leasowe Lighthouse.
12 Gannet and 22 Bar-tailed Godwit at Red Rocks before high tide and before the heavens opened!
1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 2 Wheatear, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit and 2 White Wagtail - Point of Ayr old colliery site.
1 White-winged Black Tern (juv) - Shotwick Boating Lake, again this afternoon.
1 Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Raven, 1 Peregrine and 1 Barn Owl - Burton Marsh.

September 3, 2008:
6 Wheatear, 1 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper and 17 Grey Heron, embankment by Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Cuckoo on sea wall just north of Old Baths, Parkgate, again, this morning.
44 Manx Shearwater and 20 Gannet in 30 mins before high tide - Red Rocks.
130 Grey Plover (many still in summer plumage), 44 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1,700 Knot, 3,000 Dunlin, 350 Ringed Plover and 200 Sanderling -  Hoylake Shore, over high tide.
1 Spoonbill, 13 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank and 1,200+ Black-tailed Godwit - Connah's Quay Reserve/Oakenholt Marsh RSPB.
1 White-winged Black Tern (juv) - Shotwick Boating Lake at 1630 hrs, still there at 1700hrs.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine and at least 5 Kestrel - Parkgate Marsh.

September 2, 2008:
1 Cuckoo on sea wall just north of Old Baths, Parkgate,  this morning.
393 Black-tailed Godwit and 7 Shoveler - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
8 Whimbrel, 500 Ringed Plover, 3,000 Dunlin, 73 Bar-tailed Godwit, 250 Sanderling, 700 Knot, 27 Grey Plover, 43 Great Black-backed Gull and 4 Arctic Skua - Hoylake Shore, over high tide.
1 Greenshank - Heswall Shore.
1 Hen Harrier (juv), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat and 2 Stonechat - Burton Marsh.

September 1, 2008:
347 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 colour ringed bird still there - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
5,000 Dunlin, 1,300 Knot, 250 Sanderling, 350 Ringed Plover, 74 Bar-tailed Godwit, 850 Oystercatcher and 90 Sandwich Tern on the beach, 2 Arctic Skua, 5 Common Scoter and 6 Gannet off shore - Hoylake Shore.
1 Arctic Skua and 1 Peregrine - Dove Point, Meols.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 5 Greenshank and 30 Little Egret - Parkgate Marsh.
4 Wheatear in horse paddocks, Leasowe Lighthouse.
At least 235 Gannet, 4 Arctic Skua and c700 Sandwich Tern highlights from  Hilbre, for further details see the Hilbre Bird Observatory latest sightings -  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/
1 Black Tern and 59 Little Egret - Heswall, Riverbank Road.

Click here to see Archived latest sightings from September 2000.