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Archived Latest Sightings:
November and December 2019.

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



Dec 31
25 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
15,000 Knot roosting off Tinker's Dell early morning - Thurstaston Shore.
5 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Dec 30
1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 1 Great Egret, around 15 Snipe and 7 Little Grebe at Donkeystand Flash this morning, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Short-eared Owl and 4 Stonechat (2 pair) this afternoon - Parkgate.
1 Water Rail calling, 3 Peregrine (2 fighting and the third calling), 1 Short-eared Owl and 2 Raven - Denhall Quay.
3 Shag and 3 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Dec 29
890 Pink-footed Geese flew inland at first light, 1040 Shelduck, 810 Pintail, 1 Greenshank and 3,750 Knot - Thurstaston Shore.
1 Merlin (male), 1 male Hen Harrier, 1 Short-eared Owl and several Great Egret - Denhall Quay.
1 Kingfisher by stream near Flint Dock.
2 Goosander - Meols Pond (next to Meols Station).
1 Long-tailed Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake.
1 male Hen Harrier and 1 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate.
3 Shag - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Peregrine, 70 Redshank, 9,000 Knot, 230 Grey Plover and 320 Curlew - Hilbre.
5 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.

Dec 28
100+ Brent Geese - Point of Ayr.
2 Goosander - Meols Pond (next to Meols Station).
1 Greenshank on pool near model flying club - Burton Outer Marsh.
1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Cetti's Warbler - by path near Shotwick village.
1 Greenshank - Heswall Shore.

Dec 27
1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin - Heswall Marsh.
1 Bittern, 15+ Marsh Harrier and 3 Hen Harrier (2 ringtail and 1 grey male) flew into roost, also 2 Great Egret - Neston Reedbed.
2 Shag, 4 Goosander and 3 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
235 Pintail - Thurstaston Shore.

Dec 26
2 Goosander - Meols Pond (next to Meols Station).
150 Curlew and 6 Little Egret in fields east of Ness.

Dec 25
1 Black-throated Diver, 6 Red-throated Diver, 4 Velvet Scoter (fem type) on sea, also 7 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Shag and 3 Rock Pipit - Hilbre.
3 Shag - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Dec 24
1 Long-tailed Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake.
c300 Pink-footed Geese in field by Station Road - Thurstaston.
1 Green Sandpiper in wet field south of Harp Inn, Neston.
1 Great Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Black Guillemot flew west past north end - Hilbre.

Dec 22
2 Shag, 1 Goldeneye (male), 10+ Goosander and 1 Rock Pipit - West Kirby Marine Lake.
515 Pink-footed Geese, 180 Brent Geese, 1740 Shelduck, 685 Pintail, 530 Teal, 3400 Oystercatcher, 870 Lapwing, 131 Golden Plover, 90 Grey Plover, 10000 Knot, 4000 Dunlin, 605 Curlew, 123 Bar-tailed Godwit, 700 Redshank, 2 Greenshank - Heswall Shore, this morning.
2+ Marsh Harrier, 1 Great Egret and 2 Stonechat (pair, Bevyl Rd area) - Parkgate.

Dec 21
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 4 Marsh Harrier together, 1 Great Egret and 150 Redwing - Parkgate.
2 Shag, 11 Goosander, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 9 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.

Dec 20
835 Pink-footed Geese flew inland, 420 Teal, 780 Lapwing, 91 Golden Plover - Heswall Shore at first light.
2 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 10 Marsh Harrier (mostly over Neston Reed-bed),and 2 Great Egret - Parkgate.
2 Shag, 7 Goosander and 17 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
22 Brent Geese - Hoylake Shore.

Dec 19
1 Shag, 10 Goosander, 6 Red-breasted Merganser and 40 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
6 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier (ringtails) and 1 Merlin - Parkgate.

Dec 18
2 Shag, 5 Goosander , 6 Red-breasted Merganser and 29 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Long-tailed Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake.
5 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Great Egret - Parkgate.

Dec 17
1 Long-tailed Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake.
1 Bittern flew into roost - Neston Reedbed.
20 Brent Geese on shore by Dove Point, Meols.
2 Shag - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Dec 16
1 Long-tailed Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake.
2 Great Egret - Burton Marsh.
1 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate.
1 Cattle Egret with cattle in field by track to Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Goosander, 1 Merlin and 1 Greenshank - Point of Ayr.
1 Ring Ouzel - Connah's Quay Reserve.

Dec 15
NOTE: If you left a tripod at Parkgate today it will be available to pick up at Burton Mere Wetlands in the morning (Dec 16th).
1 Common Sandpiper by River Dee at Queensferry.
1,500 Pink-footed Geese over heading NE - Column Road, West Kirby.
940 Cormorant flew out of estuary past Hilbre.
4 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Shag - West Kirby Marine Lake.
3 Goosander - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
2 Goosander - Denhall Quay.
1 Greenshank in flooded field by Park Lane, Meols.
1 Water Pipit - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Red-throated Diver flew past Red Rocks.
1 Merlin, 1 Short-eared Owl and 7 Grey Plover - Point of Ayr.
4 Great Egret and 35 Brent Geese - Riverbank Road, Heswall over high tide.
3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 2 Kestrel, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Great Egret and 200+ Lapwing, 1 grey male Hen Harrier and 2 Marsh Harrier came in to roost - Parkgate.
1 grey male Hen Harrier, 1 Merlin, 6 Great Egret and 8 Marsh Harrier - Denhall Quay.

 Dec 14
8 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
2 grey male Hen Harrier - Parkgate.

Dec 13
3 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate.
1 grey male Hen Harrier off Harp Inn, Neston.
10 Brent Geese - Hoylake Shore.

Dec 12
138 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Great Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
6 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.

Dec 11
1 Marsh Harrier (fem), 350+ Wigeon, 1 Kingfisher. 2 Raven and 1 Stonechat - Oakenholt Marsh.
1 Water Pipit - Burton Mere Wetlands.
At least 2 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Great Egret - Parkgate.
6 Great Egret - Burton Marsh.

Dec 10
210 Shelduck and 420 Cormorant - Hilbre.


Dec 9
580 Pink-footed Geese flew inland from roost, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1730 Shelduck, 370 Pintail, 1 Dabchick, 51 Little Egret left roost, 620 Lapwing, 39 Golden Plover - Heswall Shore.

Dec 8
7 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
1 Shag, 9 Goosander, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 15 Brent Geese, 1 Rock Pipit on wall - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Bittern at dusk, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 6 Marsh Harrier in air together - Neston Reedbed.
1 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 ringtail Hen Harrier late afternoon - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
19,000 Knot and 112 Golden Plover - Heswall Shore.

Dec 7
1 Shag, 10 Goosander, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1,500 Cormorant flew out of estuary first light.
570 Pink-footed Geese, 19000 Knot, 3000 Dunlin, 680 Curlew, 1270 Redshank - Thurstaston Shore.
1 Long-tailed Duck and 97 Tufted Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake.
1 Woodcock - Heswall Fields.
2 Woodcock flew up from field by Target Road, Heswall.


Dec 6
8 Goosander, 6 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Peregrine (fem), 50 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing and 55 Goldfinch - east side of Hoylake Langfields.

Dec 5
6 Goosander, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Goldeneye and 57 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Merlin, 4 Marsh Harrier and 1 Ringtail Hen Harrier - Parkgate.

Dec 4
2,300 Cormorant, 1 Raven, 3 Rock Pipit (including 1 on Middle Eye) and 5 Siskin - Hilbre.
3 Goosander, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Goldeneye and 45 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Bittern - Neston Reedbed at dusk.
1 Merlin, 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 ringtail Hen Harrier - Parkgate.
4 Short-eared Owl and 1 Merlin - Denhall Quay.
20,000 Knot spooked by a Marsh Harrier - Thurstaston Shore.

Dec 3
343 Brent Geese - Hilbre.
1 Long-tailed Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake.
1 Shag, 1 Goldeneye and 37 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
15,000 Knot (10,000 roosting, 5,000 out on Dawpool Bank) - Thurstaston Shore.
1 Woodcock over Frankby Road and onto Hilbre School field - West Kirby.
2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Short-eared Owl, 1 Raven and 1 Ringtail Hen Harrier - Denhall Quay.

Dec 2
1 Kingfisher on rocks along New Brighton Promenade.
235 Cormorant and 250+ Brent Geese at first light - Hilbre.

Dec 1
1 Kingfisher on groyne this morning - Meols Common.
4 Whooper Swan in field by Pump Lane - Greasby.
1 Scaup, 1 Purple Sandpiper and 3 Peregrine - Hilbre.
1 Snow Bunting - Point of Ayr.
1 Long-tailed Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake.
2 Egyptian Duck - Burton Marsh.
1 Bittern and 15+ Marsh Harrier including eight in the air together - Neston Reedbed at dusk.
2 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and male) flew north at dusk, and 2 Raven - Parkgate.

Nov 30
PLEASE COULD PHOTOGRAPHERS KEEP OFF THE MARSH INCUDING AT NESTON (Denhall Quay) - many thanks. People are just pushing the birds away from the best viewpoint which is Denhall Quay.
5 Purple Sandpiper on pontoon - New Brighton Marine Lake.
1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine and c2,000 Knot, c180 Pink-footed Geese heading north out to sea - Meols Shore.
1 Merlin sat on Bird Rock - Red Rocks.
1 Snow Bunting - Point of Ayr.
1 Long-tailed Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake.
2 Bittern came in to roost - Neston Reedbed at dusk.
1 grey male Hen Harrier gave superb views, also 2 Short-eared Owl and 1 Merlin - Denhall Quay.

Nov 29
1 Long-tailed Duck and c60 Tufted Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake.
4,700 Common Scoter over high tide, also 1 Raven which flew out to sea in direction of Isle of Man and 1 Peregrine which caught an Oystercatcher off the sand - Meols Shore.
1 Bittern flew in, 1+ Bearded Tit (1 calling, 1 in flight) and c20 Marsh Harrier - Neston Reedbed at dusk.

Nov 27
685 Pintail - Thurstaston Shore.
3 Bearded Tit and 1 Great Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Shag and 1 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.
7 Snow Bunting (4 male/3 fem) on beach - Point of Ayr.
2 Mediterranean Gull (ads)  - Meols Shore.
1 Bittern, 1 Hen Harrier (male), 1 Merlin, 1 Perehrine and several Marsh Harrier - Neston Reedbed.

Nov 26
1 Short-eared Owl over sand dunes - Gronant.
1 Bittern, 5+ Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) flew into Neston Reedbed at dusk, also 1 Great Egret.
8+ Great Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine and 1 Merlin - Riverbank Road, Heswall at high tide.
3 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.

Nov 25
1 Swallow over prom at Hoylake.
1 Long-tailed Duck (fem) -  Shotwick Boating Lake.
1 Firecrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Merlin with large flocks of Lapwings - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Snow Bunting on tide line at dusk - Leasowe.

Nov 24
1 Cattle Egret, 1 Kingfisher and c50 Golden Plover - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Great Egret - Burton Marsh.
c15,000 Knot, in the air then half flew to Hoylake before high tide - West Kirby Shore.
1 Long-tailed Duck (fem) -  Shotwick Boating Lake.
1 Bittern flew into Neston Reedbed at dusk.
300+ Fieldfare in Deeside Industrial Park.
6 Purple Sandpiper and 1 dark-bellied Brent Goose - Hilbre.

Nov 23
670 Lapwing, 56 Golden Plover, 420 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank - Thurstaston Shore.
5 Great Egret and 1,300 Lapwing btween Denhall Lane and Harp Inn - Burton Marsh.
1 Long-tailed Duck (fem) - Shotwick Boating Lake.

Nov 22
20 Brent Geese by the causeway this afternoon, 370 Pintail, 3500 Knot, 236 Bar-tailed Godwit, 390 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Mediterranean Gull (2ad, 1 2nd winter), 450 Black-headed Gull this morning - Thurstaston Shore.
6 Crossbill over Kings Walk, West Kirby.
1 Long-tailed Duck (fem) and 1 Scaup (fem) - Shotwick Boating Lake.
1 Goldeneye and 7 Goosander  - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Nov 21
1 Goldeneye, 4 Goosander, 3 Red Breasted Merganser and 30 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Great Egret - Burton Marsh.
1 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.

Nov 20
2 Great White Egret on outer marsh, also 200-300 Brent Geese which flew up from a gutter before returning - unusual this far into the estuary - off Decca Pools.

Nov 19
1 Rock Pipit on wall, also 3 Goosander, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 40 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
9,650 Knot - Thurstaston Shore.
1 Great Northern Diver (off north end before flying north, 2 Goosander and 10 Redwing - Hilbre.

Nov 18
2 Snow Bunting - Gronant.
1 Shag (juv), 2 Red-breasted Merganser and 20 Brent Geese - West Kirby Marine Lake.
7,800 Knot - Thurstaston Shore.
1 Bittern and 6 Marsh Harrier flew into Neston Reedbed at dusk.
300 Brent Geese, 450 Sanderling, 140 Redshank, 1 Peregrine, 2 Rock Pipit and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Hilbre.
2 Hen Harrier (1 grey male), 2 Merlin, 1 Short-eared Owl and several Marsh Harriers - Parkgate.

Nov 17
25 Brent Geese early morning, also 1 juv Shag and 2 Red-breasted Merganser -  West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Bittern flew into Neston Reedbed at dusk.

Nov 16
1 Snow Bunting - Gronant.
27 Brent Geese -  West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Avocet - Oakenholt Marsh.
2 grey male Hen Harrier - Parkgate.
1 Bittern flew into Neston Reedbed at dusk, also 1 grey male Hen Harrier, 3 Marsh Harrier, 3 Short-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine, 2 Merlin and 3 Kestrel this afternoon.

Nov 15
1 Slavonian Grebe - Shotwick Boating Lake.
2 Great Egret, 2 Merlin, 1 Peregrine and 5 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate.
28 Brent Geese south end of  West Kirby Marine Lake at high tide.
2 Short-eared Owl this afternoon - Denhall Quay.
1 Bittern flew into Neston Reedbed at dusk.

Nov 14
1 Bittern flew into Neston Reedbed at dusk.

Nov 13
5 Marsh Harrier, 2 Great Egret, 2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail) and 2 Merlin - Parkgate.
1 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.
2 Bittern flew into Neston Reedbed at dusk.
5 Red-throated Diver, 1 Whooper Swan, 1 Shag and 1 Velvet Scoter - Hilbre.

Nov 12
200 Pink-footed Geese, 33 Brent Geese, 1 Great Egret, 1 grey male Hen Harrier, 1 imm Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin - Riverbank Road, Heswall, at high tide.

Nov 11
1 Bittern flew into Neston Reedbed at dusk.

Nov 10
1 Merlin, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Goosander, 133 Shelduck, 208 Curlew, 108 Bar-tailed Godwit and 150 Turnstone - Hilbre.
1 Greenshank by the groyne, 1 Jack Snipe in ditch by approach road, 1 Snow Bunting in Leasowe Bay flew towards the Lighthouse, 30 Siskin and 1 Mediterranean Gull - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Short-eared Owl, 4 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and male) - Parkgate.
2 Egyptian Geese on marsh, 1 Little Owl Burton Point - Burton Marsh.
4 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and male) late afternoon - Neston Reed Bed.
7 Goosander and 1 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Goosander on the duck pond - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.

Nov 9
6 Goosander and 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Goldeneye flew over - West Kirby Marine Lake.
225 Pink-footed Geese, 3800 Shelduck, 320 Pintail, 1 redhead Goosander, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 1500 Oystercatcher, 630 Lapwing, 57 Golden Plover, 11000 Knot, 700 Dunlin, 220 Bar-tailed Godwit, 95 Black-tailed Godwit, 640 Curlew, 1800 Redshank, 1 Greenshank - Heswall/Thurstaston Shore early morning.
1 Crossbill, 15 Linnet, 48 Redwing, 30 Fieldfare, 13 Chaffinch and 1 Grey Wagtail - visible migration early morning at Lower Heswall.
2 Goosander - Burton Mere Wetlands.
70+ Siskin plus small numbers of thrushes/Starlings over, 440 Cormorant, 620 Shelduck, 480 Curlew, 230 Grey Plover and 125 Rimged Plover - early morning at Hilbre.

Nov 8
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult) coming to bread at Hoylake Promenade this morning.
4 Goosander and 1 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
4 Whooper Swan (2 ads with 2 young) - Oakenholt Marsh.
6 Marsh Harrier together at Parkgate, also at least 2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail) and 1 Peregrine.

Nov 6
1 Greenshank, 83 Bar-tailed Godwit, 90 Black-tailed Godwit and 7,850 Knot roosting in channel just off Tinker's Dell, Thurstaston Shore, early morning.
1 Goldeneye and 6 Little Grebe - DonkeyStand Flash, Parkgate.
1 Bittern, 1 grey male Hen Harrier and 3+ Marsh Harrier - Neston Reed Bed.

Nov 5
7,500+ Knot roosting off Tinker's Dell, Thurstaston Shore, early morning.

Nov 4
1 Black Redstart on cliff south of Tinker's Dell - Thurstaston Shore.
1 Short-eared Owl and 5 Brambling over Little Neston this morning.
c50 Siskin feeding on Alder, 2 Redpoll moving through and 2 Cetti's Warbler in marsh - Red Rocks.
2 Merlin chasing Siskins, 55 Siskin, 3 Redwing, 216 Redshank and 278 Brent Geese - Hilbre.
29 Great Egret came in to roost this evening - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Nov 3
1 Black Redstart south of Tinker's Dell, can be elusive, also 1 Raven- Thurstaston Shore.
1 Redpoll, 1 Brambling and 25 Siskin over - Leasowe Lighthouse.
2+ Crossbill over plus a big movement of Skylarks - Lower Heswall.
1 Marsh Harrier (female) - Heswall Marsh.
2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail), 5 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 5 Great Egret and thousands of Pink-footed Geese - Parkgate.

Nov 2
15 Great Egret at dusk - Parkgate.
1 Black Redstart this morning on cliff 200m south of Tinker's Dell, Thurstaston Shore.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler SW of Thurstaston Visitor Centre.
1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk and 277 Brent Geese - Hilbre.
1 grey male Hen Harrier flew south, 1 Greenshank in channel - Target Road, Heswall.

Nov 1
2 Shorelark and at least 1 Snow Bunting on the shore - Gronant.
2 male Hen Harrier (1juv, 1 grey) and 1 Bittern flew in this evening - Neston Reedbed.


Click Here to see Archived latest sightings from September 2000.