Dee Estuary Birding

Latest Sightings...

Archived Latest Sightings:
September and October 2024.

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

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Oct 31
1 Little Stint off Sandhey slipway - Meols.
1 Jack Snipe and 3 Rock Pipit in marsh - Hoylake Shore.

Oct 30
10,000+ Dunlin roosting in several flocks - Meols Shore.
2 Brambling, 500 Fieldfare and 600 Redwing (several flocks) over early morning - Little Neston.

Oct 29
2 Hawfinch over, low, flying towards Red Rocks - Hoylake Prom.
1 Red Kite over Column Road, came in off the estuary - West Kirby.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) flew towards Burton Marsh this afternoon - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Oct 28
2 Green Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Oct 27
3 Swallow over the sea, also 6 Red-throated Diver and 1 Mediterranean Gull - Hoylake.
1 female Merlin perched on top of mast on small boat, late afternoon - Thurstaston Shore.

Oct 26
7 Red-throated Diver and 1 Guillemot on sea off Hoylake.

Oct 25
1 Little Stint off Sandhey slipway - Meols.

Oct 24
34 Cattle Egret on main scrape early morning, 31 flew east - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Little Stint off Sandhey slipway - Meols.
6 Great White Egret, 2000+ Wigeon and c2,000 Lapwing - Burton Marsh.

Oct 23
2900 Pink-footed Geese, 5000 Shelduck, 320 Cormorant, 89 Golden Plover, 410 Lapwing early morning - Heswall Shore.
1 Little Stint off Sandhey slipway - Meols.
1 Willow Warbler (very late), 1 Barn Owl, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 6 Golden Plover and 3 Eider - Hilbre.
27 Cattle Egret on main scrape early morning, 2 Whooper Swan, 1 Kingfisher and 24 Great White Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
4 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.

Oct 22
1 Yellow-browed Warbler in Obs garden briefly - Hilbre.
2 Greenshank by groyne, and 80 Black-tailed Godwit on flood by Park Lane - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Little Stint off Sandhey slipway - Meols.
1 Black Tern over flashes north of Denhall Quay.

Oct 21
2 Kingfisher on shore by Dove Point, 1 Little Stint off Sandhey slipway - Meols.
1 Lapland Bunting in field but access difficult, 1 Swallow over and 1 Mediterranean Gull on shore - Heswall.
2 Pochard on Boathouse Flash - Parkgate.
1 Garganey on flood - Denhall, Burton Marsh.
1 Scaup - Point of Ayr.
150 Brent Geese, 292 Curlew and 2,000+ Oystercatcher - West Kirby Shore.

Oct 20
1 Little Stint - Hoylake.

Oct 19
1 Yellow-browed Warbler on footpath at rear of Roman Road, 1 Kingfisher flew towards Hoylake from Dove Point - Meols.
1 Little Stint and 1 Yellow-browed Warbler (in garden) - Hoylake.
1 Merlin - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

Oct 18
Some good visible migration this morning including flocks of Chaffinches, Skylarks, Starlings and Jackdaws over Thurstaston Visitor Centre plus 40 Redwing which dropped in, also 80 Redwing over Burton Mars and 50 Redwing over Lower Heswall, 3 Bramblings in hawthorns at Heswall Fields.
2 Short-eared Owl and 1 Yellow-browed Warbler - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Little Stint - Hoylake.
1 Short-eared Owl which headed west - Hilbre.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 5 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine - Denhall Quay.
1 Short-eared Owl (great views!), 4 Great White Egret and 3 Marsh Harrier - Old Baths, Parkgate.
1 Slavonian Grebe off Flint Castle.

Oct 17
3 Yellow-browed Warbler in sea-front garden (3 caught. 2 ringed and the third was a re-trap) - Hoylake.
1 Hen Harrier - Gronant.
1 Barn Owl (only sixth ever record for the island) - Hilbre.

Oct 16
26 Goosander, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Great-grested Grebe, 4 Common Tern on lake wall - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Oct 15
1 Bearded Tit in reedbed - Gronant.
26 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Hen Harrier (juv male) flew south between Hilbre and Red Rocks.

Oct 14
17 Goosander (2 drakes) - West Kirby Marine Lake,
1 Hen Harrier (grey male) and 11 Greenshank this moning, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) this evening - Parkgate.
1 Red Kite - Burton Marsh.

Oct 13
1 Yellow-browed Warbler near Benty Farm - Thurstaston Hill.
2+ Yellow-browed Warbler (1 Drummond Road, 1 in sea-front garden) - Hoylake.
1 Hen Harrier (grey male) - off Old Baths, Parkgate.
6 Goosander in channel east of groyne - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Oct 12
At least 3 Yellow-browed Warbler (1 briefly in sea-front garden and 2+ by old municipal golf course) - Hoylake.
1 Hen Harrier (grey male) - off Old Baths, Parkgate.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler - Grange Hill, West Kirby.

Oct 11
1 Yellow-browed Warbler in garden near sea-front - Hoylake.
1 Hen Harrier (grey male) - off Old Baths, Parkgate.
1 Shag, 2 Great Creseted Grebe and at least 12 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake,
1 Golden Plover and 6 Eider - Hilbre.
1 Hen Harrier (grey male), 4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Great Egret, 2 Greenshank (over) and 7 Stonechat - Denhall Quay.

Oct 10
1 Yellow-browed Warbler in garden near sea-front - Hoylake.
3 Kingfisher (1 on groyne and 2 along River Birkett - Leasowe Lighthouse.
4 Whooper Swan over flying W - West Kirby

Oct 9
1 Yellow-browed Warbler - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Oct 8
3 Yellow-browed Warbler in Obs garden - Hilbre.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler caught and ringed in sea-front garden - Hoylake.
1 Merlin near Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Kingfisher on Arrowe Brook - Moreton.
1 Hobby - Denhall Quay.

Oct 7
1 Yellow-browed Warbler in tit flock, 7 Cattle Egret from Border hide - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Yellow Browed Warbler in apple tree next to cycle track near bridge '1951' - Shotwick Range.
1 Hen Harrier (grey male) - Parkgate Marsh.
10 Spoonbill - Boathouse flash  Parkgate.
49 Golden Plover - Heswall Marsh.

Oct 6
1 Red Kite briefly on the sand and Little Eye before flying SW, also 1 Yellow-browed Warbler - Hilbre.
10 Spoonbill - Boathouse flash  Parkgate.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler in sea-front garden - Hoylake.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler along Lingham Lane - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Oct 5
1 Lapland Bunting on Middle Eye, 3 Great White Egret flew in from sea and landed on the whaleback rock before flying SW towards Wales - Hilbre.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Marsh Harrier - Hoylake Langfields.
1 Turtle Dove flew SW - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Kingfisher - Dove Point, Meols.
1 Hen Harrier (grey male) - Heswall Marsh.

Oct 4
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 8 Cattle Egret (with sheep seen from Burton Point) - Burton Marsh.
60 Redwing and 3 Fieldfare plus small movement of finches over flying S - Neston.

Oct 3
1 juv Shag and 19 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.
4 Redwing over Grange Hill - West Kirby.
10 Spoonbill and 23 Greenshank - Boathouse flash  Parkgate.
1 Avocet, 8,500 Oystercatcher, 233 Curlew, 251 Brent geese and 234 Shelduck over high tide - West Kirby Shore.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler in bird observatory garden  at 3pm - Hilbre.

Oct 2
10 Spoonbill,  4 Greenshank and 25 Swallow - Boathouse flash  Parkgate.
1 Osprey on tide line briefly - Meols Shore.

Oct 1
3,170 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.

Sep 29
3000 Pinkfeet (flew inland to feed), 3700 Shelduck, 360 Pintail, 4400 Oystercatcher, 42 Golden Plover, 240 Grey Plover, 100 Dunlin, 300 Knot, 580 Curlew, 7 Greenshank, 2900 Redshank over high tide - Heswall Shore.
55 Sandwich Tern on sand off clown roundabout - New Brighton Prom.

Sep 28
9 Spoonbill and 10+ Greenshank, 1 Hobby over - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.

Sep 27
158 Brent Geese, 5 Eider and 1 Shag - Hilbre.

Sep 26
11 Goosander this morning - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Kingfisher and 5 Wheatear (3 on Meols groyne) - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Sep 25
132 Sandwich Tern on sand bank off New Brighton Prom.
25 Ruff on flood off Denhall, also 5 Cattle Egret and 1 Spotted Redshank - Burton Marsh.
3,500 Pink-footed Geese were in the air then landed on Gayton marsh early morning with an additional 850 which roosted at the north end of the marsh before flying north (to feed?) - Heswall Marsh.

Sep 24
12 Spoonbill - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.
40 Little Egret on flooded fields by Park Lane, 1 Mediterranean Gull on the shore - Meols.
5 Cattle Egret by rifle range,  1,000 Wigeon, 800 Pintail, 4,000 Teal, 70 Shoveler, 40 Gadwall, 22 Great White Egret, 14 Raven and 4 Marsh Harrier - Burton Marsh.
12 Spoonbill, 2 Great White Egret, 35 Redshank, 1,000 Pink-footed Geese, 40 Shoveler and 4 Marsh Harrier - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.

Sep 22
11 Spoonbill - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.

Sep 21
8 Spoonbill, 1 Cattle Egret and 3 Hen Harrier (male and 2 ringtail) - Parkgate.
5 Cattle Egret in field with sheep - Burton Marsh.

Sep 20
1 Yellow-browed Warbler in Bird Observatory garden - Hilbre.

Sep 19
Another big influx of Pink-footed Geese this morning including 3,000 which flew in from the north over Heswall Shore.
1 Guillemot and 1 juv Shag - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Spotted Flycatcher (near duck pond), 4 Stonechat, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Mediterranean Gull (ad), 1 Shag (juv) and 35 Little Egret - Meols/Leasowe Lighthouse.

Sep 18
'Several thousand' Pink-footed Geese flew SE over North Wirral towards Parkgate this morning.
1 Osprey landed on East Hoyle Bank with a big fish this morning, then flew SE, also 1 Yellow-legged Gull and 50+ Great Black-backed Gull in gull roost at high tide - Hoylake.
3 Cattle Egret on marsh with sheep - one was riding on a sheep's back! - Burton Point.
1 Great White Egret on sand bank east of - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Sep 17
1000 Pink-footed Geese (700 arrived high from North), 75 Greylag, 385 Canada Geese, 18 Pintail, 10 Golden Plover, 190 Grey Plover, 170 Knot, 1080 Curlew, 3300 Redshank this morning - Heswall Shore.
1 s/pl Red-throated Diver and 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull, and 5,000 Common Scoter on a calm sea - Hoylake.
2 Hobby, 6 Spoonbill and 40 Greenshank at Boathouse Flash - Parkgate.

Sep 16
1,200 Pink-footed Geese left marsh early morning, also 3 Green Sandpiper, 1,080 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Grey Wagtail and 3 Yellow Wagtail - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Curlew Sandpiper off tennis courts - Hoylake Shore.
9 Spoonbill and 40 Greenshank at Boathouse Flash - Parkgate.

Sep 15
3,100 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl collection.

Sep 14
9 Spoonbill and 25 Greenshank at Boathouse Flash, also 1 Hobby, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1,750 Pink-footed Geese - Parkgate.
2 Ruddy Shelduck, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 3 Hobby, 1 Merlin and 150 Swallow - Burton Marsh.

Sep 13
87 Pink-footed Geese, 3650 Shelduck, 2 Pintail (first back), 6700 Oystercatcher, 420 Grey Plover, 9 Golden Plover, 115 Ringed Plover, 250 Knot, 630 Curlew, 3 Greenshank, 2600 Redshank - Heswall Shore.
Several skeins of Pink-footed Geese reported this morning including 230 over Lower Heswall.
3 Hobby and 1 Merlin on posts - Burton Marsh.

Sep 11
17 Leach's Petrel, 55 Manx Shearwater, 1 Grey Phalarope, 1 ad Sabine's Gull, 2 Fulmar, 3 Gannet, 3 Kittiwake and 3 Brent Geese - Hoylake Shore.
31 Leach's Petrel, 2 Sabine's Gull (juvs), 1 Great Skua, 6 Arctic Skua, 3 Fulmar, 67 Manx Shearwater and 2 Black Tern - Hilbre.
28+ Leach's Petrel, 1 Storm Petrel, 1 prob Long-tailed Skua, 9 Manx Shearwater, 1 Black Tern, 4 Fulmar, 3 Arctic Skua and 2 Golden Plover off Lifeguard Station - Wallasey Shore.
13 Leach's Petrel, 15 Manx Shearwater, 1 Grey Phalarope, 1 Great Skua, 3 Arctic Skua and 1 Arctic Tern - Leasowe Gunsite/Lighthouse.
9 Leach's Petrel - Point of Ayr.
9 Spoonbill, 25 Greenshank and 1 Hobby at Boathouse Flash, 100+ Pink-footed Geese on marsh - Parkgate.

Sep 10
8 Leach's Petrel, 2 Arctic Skua and 9 Manx Shearwater this morning - Hilbre.
6 Leach's Petrel, 10 Manx Shearwater and 1 Great Skua - Hoylake Shore.
3 Leach's Petrel - Meols.
1 Leach's Petrel and 1 Grey Phalarope - Leasowe/Wallasey.
40 Great Egret back of main scrape sheltering from wind, also 1 Green Sandpiper and lots of Ruff - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Sep 9
9 Spoonbill, 14 Greenshank and 1 Hobby - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.

Sep 8
1 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Black Tern - Point of Ayr.
7 Spoonbill  - Parkgate.

Sep 7
1 Kingfisher showed well on shore - Dove Point, Meols.
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Great White Egret - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
3 Whinchat, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Wheatear - Hoylake Langfields.

Sep 6
2 Little Stint and 2 Curlew Sandpiper - Hoylake Shore.
1 Black Tern - Point of Ayr.

Sep 5
1 Hudsonian Godwit with Black-tailed Godwits - Oakenholt Marsh.
6 Spoonbill  - Parkgate.

Sep 4
1 Hudsonian Godwit with Black-tailed Godwits - Oakenholt Marsh.

Sep 3
2 Little Stint and 1 ad Mediterranean Gull, 4 Wheatear on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.
1 Hudsonian Godwit with Black-tailed Godwits - Flint Castle.
7 Spoonbill and at least 1 Great White Egret - Parkgate.

Sep 2
1 juv Cuckoo in coastal paddocks, 1 whinchat and hundreds of hirudines (mainly Swallows) inland of Park Lane before the rain - Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 3 Wheatear and 1 Kingfisher at the groyne - Meols.
8 Wheatear and 3 Stonechat between bottom of Station road and the sheep pens - Burton Marsh.

Sep 1
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Garden Warbler and 13 Wheatear - Hilbre.
1 Hudsonian Godwit with Black-tailed Godwits - Flint Castle.
5 Black Tern flew west - Point of Ayr.
1 Greenshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 120 Ringed Plover, 14 House Martin and 41 Swallow between Meols Shore and Leasowe Lighthouse.
4390 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.