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Archived Latest Sightings -
October and November 2001.

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November 30

2,000 Black-tailed Godwit - Oakenholt Marsh.
2 Short-eared Owl and 1 Little Owl - Leasowe Lighthouse.

November 29

28 Bewick's Swan and 1 Egyptian Goose - Inner Marsh Farm.
5 Goldeneye and 20 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby marine lake.
9 Little Egret -  Denhall Quay.
2 Water Pipit and 1 Little Egret - Neston Old Quay.
18 Brent Goose, 150 Shelduck and 2,000 Oystercatcher - Little Eye.
250 Grey Plover, 800 Dunlin, 15 Bar-tailed Godwit, 130 Redshank, 40 Ringed Plover, 200 Oystercatcher and 6 Grey Heron - West Kirby High tide roost, counted by DEVW.
3 Short-eared Owl and 2 Stonechat - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 female Black Redstart, 7 Scaup, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Merlin, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Short-eared Owls - Point of Ayr.

November 28

5,500 Shelduck and 1,200 Black-tailed Godwit -  Heswall/ Thurstaston Shore, two hours after high tide.
5 Goldeneye and 20 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby marine lake.
8 Little Egret -  Denhall Quay.
8 Short-eared Owls - Point of Ayr.

November 27

13 Little Egret -  Denhall Quay.
1 Water Pipit - Neston Old Quay.
2 Stonechat - Burton Marsh.

November 26

4 Short-eared Owl - fields near Leasowe Lighthouse.
Large numbers of waders seen yesterday at low tide along  North Wirral Shore still present today, best seen from North Wirral coastal park at the Green Lane car park (off A554) - see map/directions link on North Wirral page.
8 Little Egret -  Denhall Quay.
6 Bewick's Swan - Inner Marsh Farm.
5 Jack Snipe - Gronant.

Low tide counts on Parkgate and Burton Marshes have been undertaken last 3 days, highlights as follows - 10,000 Dunlin, 292 Grey Plover, 3,340 Teal and 189 Snipe.

November 25

2 Short-eared Owl - fields near Leasowe Lighthouse.
7,944 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1,056 Grey Plover and 19,900 Knot - low tide count along  North Wirral Shore.
9 Little Egret -  Denhall Quay.
3 Water Pipit - Neston Old Quay.
1 Red-throated Diver, 8 Great-crested Grebe, 12 Brent Goose (pale-bellied), 188 Scaup and 1 Rock Pipit - Hilbre Island.

November 24

3 Short-eared Owl - fields near Leasowe Lighthouse, and an estimated 2,000 Bar-tailed Godwit on the shore.
Barn Owl - field behind Burton Marsh.
6 Little Egret - Parkgate Boathouse Flash.
12 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) - Hilbre Island.

November 23

7 Goldeneye and 7 Red-breasted Merganser -  West Kirby marine lake
13 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine Falcon and 2 Bewick's Swan -  Denhall Quay.
3 Water Pipit - Neston Old Quay.
2 Little Egret - Parkgate Boathouse Flash.

November 22

5 Brent Geese (pale bellied) -  Hilbre Island.
5,200 Dunlin and 580 Grey Plover - Tanskey Rocks.

November 20

10 Little Egret -  Denhall Quay.
5 Little Egret - Parkgate Boathouse Flash.
1 Peregrine Falcon, 3 Stonechat and 2 Short-eared Owl - fields near Leasowe Lighthouse.

November 19

1 Ring-billed Gull (1st Winter - sighting confirmed) - Hoylake Shore.
4 Stonechat and 4 Ruff - Inner Marsh Farm.

November 18

2,000 Oystercatcher, 376 Grey Plover, 1,000 Knot, 6,000 Dunlin, 90 Ringed Plover, 50 Bar-tailed Godwit, 330 Redshank and 1 Snipe - West Kirby High tide roost, counted by DEVW.
5 Goldeneye and 14 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby marine lake.
4 Stonechat (2 pairs) and 1 Water Rail - Inner Marsh Farm.

November 17

1 Stonechat - Hilbre Island
A very late Wheatear - West Kirby Shore.
17 Bewick's Swan - Inner Marsh Farm.
Up to 21 Little Egret (possible double counting) -  Denhall Quay.

November 16

4 Water Pipit - Neston Old Quay.
14 Little Egret and 1 Stonechat - Denhall Quay.
1,442 Oystercatcher, 175 Sanderling, 500 Redshank, 1,200 Grey Plover, 10,000 Dunlin and 6,300 Knot - Hoylake Shore at high tide.
5 Scaup, 1 Merlin and 1 Greenshank - Point of Ayr.
A very late Wheatear - West Kirby Shore.

November 15

2,400 Dunlin, 60 ringed Plover, 99 Grey Plover and 40 Bar-tailed Godwit - West Kirby High tide roost, counted by DEVW.
4 Goldeneye and 12 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby marine lake.
3 Brent Goose, 2,000 Oystercatcher and 130 Cormorant - Little Eye.

November 14

1,100 Dunlin, 50 ringed Plover, 300 Knot, 605 Grey Plover, 50 Bar-tailed Godwit, 73 Curlew, 80 Oystercatcher and 4 Heron - West Kirby High tide roost, counted by DEVW.
4 Goldeneye and 9 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby marine lake.
3 Brent Goose - Little Eye.
30 Twite and 2 Little Egret - Parkgate Marsh.
8 Little Egret - Burton Marsh

November 13

3 Water Pipit - Neston Old Quay.
8 Little Egret - Denhall Quay.
3 Brent Goose - West Kirby Shore, and 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult) on house roof near Gilroy pool.

November 12

3 Goldeneye and 9 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby marine lake.
11 Little Egret - Denhall Quay.
4 Ruff and 4 Water Rail - Inner Marsh Farm.
3 Short-eared Owl - fields west of Leasowe Lighthouse.

November 11

22 Great-crested Grebe, 143 Cormorant, 7 Common Scoter, 2,500 Knot and 1 Snow Bunting - Hilbre Island.
1 Greenshank seen from Meols promenade.

November 10

4 Goldeneye and 10 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby marine lake.
1 Red-crested Pochard (female) - Greenfield Valley.
2 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Shag and 1 Stonechat - Hilbre Island.

November 9

2 Green Sandpiper - Shotwick Fields.
3 Ruff, 2 Shoveler, 350+ Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Water Rail - Inner Marsh Farm.
600 Black-tailed Godwit - Connah's Quay Reserve, note a record 3,900 Black-tailed Godwit here on the 4th Nov., probably the biggest flock in the UK ever!!!
1,500 Wigeon, 500 Pintail and 500 Black-tailed Godwit off Flint Castle.

November 8

1 Common Buzzard - flying over West Kirby shore.

November 7

1 Green Winged Teal (drake) - Inner Marsh Farm.

November 6

Similar number and species of wader as seen on the 4th on Hoylake Shore, but too far out to count.
220 Redshank and 8 Turnstone - roosting on West Kirby Marine Lake wall.
1 Red-crested Pochard (female) - Greenfield Valley.

November 5

1 Scandinavian Herring Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Ring-billed Gull (2nd winter), 2 Goosander and 1,500 Grey Plover - Hoylake Shore.
1 Peregrine Falcon, 4 Bewick's Swan, 1 Water Rail, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint and 3 Ruff - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Great White Egret and 5 Little Egret- Denhall Quay.
2 Water Pipit - Neston Old Quay.
1 Red-crested Pochard (female) - Greenfield Valley.
27 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre Island.

November 4

2,000 Oystercatcher and 70 Cormorant - Little Eye.
29,000 Dunlin, 6,000 Knot, 400 Sanderling and 1,500 Grey Plover- total numbers off waders estimated to be 39,000 - Hoylake Shore.
1 Great White Egret, 7 Little Egret and 1 Merlin- Denhall Quay.
1 Green Winged Teal (drake) - Inner Marsh Farm.

November 3

1 Great White Egret and 1 Little Egret - Neston Old Quay.
1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Greenshank, 5 Spotted Redshank, 1,550 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Peregrine Falcon - Connah's Quay reserve.
2 Brent Goose (plumage intermediate between dark bellied and Black Brant), 2 Eider and 1 Black-throated Diver - Hoylake Shore.
1 Little Egret - Little Eye.

November 2

1 Great White Egret and 1 Little Egret - Neston Old Quay.
7 Little Egret - Denhall Quay.
1 late Swallow - Talacre.
120 Golden Plover and 200 Sanderling - Gronant beach.

November 1

110 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint and a Sparrowhawk hunting along the path - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Great White Egret and 4 Little Egret - Denhall Quay.
Possible *Chimney Swift* by Wirral Way at Thurstaston, seen by Ranger. 

October 31

4 Leach's Petrel, 3 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Storm Petrel, 2 White-fronted Goose (Greenland race) and 1 Eider (drake) - Point of Ayr.
2 Scaup - Talacre Pools. 
1 Great White Egret, 1 Greenshank, 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint, 3 Ruff and 1 Peregrine Falcon - Inner Marsh Farm.

October 30

1,900 Oystercatcher on West Kirby Shore with another 2,000 on Little Eye, 1 Peregrine Falcon flew over, high and fast. 
1 Great White Egret - Denhall Quay.

October 28

6 Little Egret, 4 Short-eared Owl and 1 Great White Egret - Denhall Quay.
75 species seen today from a sea-front garden at Hoylake, highlights as follows - 3 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 436 Common Scoter, 1 Velvet Scoter, 75 Sanderling, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Puffin and 5,000 Guillemot. 
2 Brambling, 1 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Little Stint - Inner Marsh Farm.
2 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre Island. 

October 27

2 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Little Stint - Inner Marsh Farm.
6 Little Egret, 3 Short-eared Owl and 1 Great White Egret - Denhall Quay.
1 Little Egret and 1 Green Sandpiper - Point of Ayr.

October 26

2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Crake, 2 Ruff, 1 Water Rail, 120 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Stonechat - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Merlin, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 5 Little Egret, 3 Short-eared Owl and 2 Peregrine Falcon - Denhall Quay.
3,000 Pintail, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (adult) and 2,500 Black-tailed Godwit - off Flint Castle.

October 25

3 Water Pipit - Neston Old Quay.
1 Great White Egret, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 10 Little Egret, 1 Short-eared Owl and 2 Peregrine Falcon - Denhall Quay.

October 24

2,500 Fieldfare, 500 Redwing, 30 Chaffinch, 50 Goldfinch and 20+ Siskin - West Kirby shore early this morning.
3 Stonechat, 1 Water Rail and 1 Grey Wagtail - Red Rocks.
1 Goosander (male) - West Kirby Marine Lake.
Water Pipit and 2 Little Egret - Neston Old Quay.
2 Ruff, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Bewick's Swan, 2 Little Stint, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Sparrowhawk - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Short-eared Owl, 4 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine Falcon and 1 Stonechat - Denhall Quay, in total 24 species seen and that's without the usual Shelduck, Sparrowhawk or Cormorant!

October 23

6 Little Egret and 1 Hen Harrier (ring-tail) - Neston Marsh, Denhall Quay.
2 Water Pipit, 3 Little Egret and 4 Tree Sparrow - Neston Old Quay.

October 22

1 Ring-billed Gull (2nd Winter) - no sign of the Am. Herring Gull - Hoylake Shore.
4 Water Pipit, 7 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail and 1 Greenshank - Neston Old Quay.
8 Little Egret - Neston Marsh, Denhall Quay.
4,000 Pintail - off Flint Castle.
2 Short-eared Owl - west of Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Hen Harrier (ring-tail), 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine Falcon and 2 Ruff - Burton Marsh, Denhall Lane.
1 Curlew Sandpiper, 11 Bewick's Swan and 150+ Black-tailed godwit - Inner Marsh Farm.
6 Rock Pipits and 1 Lapland Bunting (male) - Hilbre Island. 

October 21

1 Great White Egret, 5 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat and a good passage of Redwing and Fieldfare - Burton Marsh (Denhall Lane).
American Herring Gull (1st winter) - Hoylake Shore.
1 Great White Egret and 7 Little Egret - Neston Marsh, seen from near Harp Inn.

October 20

1900 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Little Egret - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Great White Egret, 4 Little Egret, 1 Short-eared Owl and Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Neston Marsh, seen from near Harp Inn.
5 Little Egret, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Mediterranean Gull (1st winter), 2 Greenshank, 21 Eider and 1 Spotted Redshank - Point of Ayr. Eider number very high for Dee Estuary, observers confident of ID, the birds were a mixture of adult females and first winter females and males.
3 Spotted Redshank and 7 Curlew Sandpiper -  Inner Marsh Farm.
2 Short-eared Owl and 2 Peregrine Falcon - Burton Marsh (Denhall Lane).
3 Yellow-legged Gull (adult) and Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Flint Castle.
2 Wheatear - West Kirby Shore.

October 19

4 Little Egret and 1 Hen Harrier (ring tail) - Neston Old Quay.
1 Spotted Crake, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 'many' Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Peregrine Falcon -  Inner Marsh Farm.
2 Wheatear and 2 Stonechat - Leasowe.
1 Great White Egret, 3 Little Egret and 1 Hen Harrier (ring tail) - Neston Marsh (Denhall Gutter).
5 Red-breasted Merganser, 55 Sanderling, 1 Great-crested Grebe and 1 Wheatear - West Kirby shore.
5,000+ Oystercatcher next to Little Eye as the tide came in.
3 Red-throated Diver and 80+ Razorbill - Hilbre Island. 

October 18

2 Little Egret, 3 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Merlin, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Short-eared Owl, 3 Water Rail, 2 Jack Snipe, 2000+ Wigeon and thousands of the usual Redshank and Shelduck etc. seen during an excellent Parkgate High Tide Bird Watch, the tide came right in!
22 Twite, 1 Little Egret and  2 Yellow legged Gull (adult) - Flint Castle.
70 Sanderling - Point of Ayr.
2000+ Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 4 Spotted Redshank, 3 Curlew Sandpiper and 5000+ Pintail - Connah's Quay Reserve.
2 Great Skua, 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 Scaup, 4 Rock Pipits and 2 Australian Shelduck (!!) - Hilbre Island. 

October 17

1 Whimbrel, 1 Spotted Redshank, 12 Red-breasted Merganser, 1,250 Wigeon, 150 Linnet, 1 Peregrine Falcon and 1 Sparrowhawk  - Parkgate High Tide Bird Watch.
1 Great White Egret - Neston Marsh.
1 Brent Goose (dark-bellied) - West Kirby Shore.
1 Spotted Crake and 1 Hobby - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Water Rail - Red Rocks Marsh.

October 16

1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Pomarine Skua and 1 Brent Goose (dark-bellied) - Hilbre Island.
1 Great White Egret and 1 Little Egret - Neston Marsh.
6 Little Egret, 1 Brent Goose (pale bellied) and 2 Peregrine Falcon - Point of Ayr.

October 15

1 Black Tern, 1 Brent Goose (dark bellied) and 1 Wheatear - Hilbre Island.
1 Hen Harrier (ring tail), 1 Spotted Crake, 1 Hobby, 1 Water Rail and 95 Black-tailed Godwit - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Great White Egret and 1 Little Egret - Neston Old Quay.
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult) - Flint Castle.
1 Peregrine Falcon and 1 Merlin - Parkgate Marsh.

October 14

1 Long-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 200 Grey Plover and 500 Dunlin - Hilbre Island.
1 Long-eared Owl - West Kirby Shore.
1 Spotted Crake - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Great White Egret and 3 Little Egret - Neston Marsh, Denhall Gutter,

October 13

1 Great White Egret - Neston Marsh seen from Neston Old Quay.
1 Short-eared Owl - flying over sand dunes behind Red rocks Marsh.
4 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Tree Pipit, 10 Goldcrest and a late Sandwich Tern - Hilbre Island.

October 12

2 Little Egret - Parkgate Marsh, Boathouse Flash.
4 Little Egret - Burton Marsh, off Denhall Lane.
1 Water Rail, 5 Common Buzzard and 1 Puna Teal (I think we can assume the last one is an escape!) - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Sparrowhawk and 5 Little Egret  - Neston Marsh seen from Harp Inn/ Denhall Quay.
3 Little Egret, 2 Greenshanks and 1 Common Buzzard - Connah's Quay Reserve.

October 11

1 Great White Egret, 3 Little Egret and 1 Merlin - Neston Marsh, Denhall Gutter (seen from car park to north of Harp Inn).
7,000 Oystercatcher off Caldy and a further 3,000 off Thurstaston, both at low tide.
2 Hobby, 3 Little Stint, 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Common Buzzard and ca. 25 Black-tailed Godwit - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Hobby (adult) - Greenfield Valley.

October 10

6 Little Egret - Parkgate Marsh, Boathouse Flash.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Marsh, off Denhall Lane.
1 Great White Egret - Neston Marsh, Denhall Gutter.
1 Hobby - Inner Marsh Farm.

October 9

8 Little Egret - Parkgate Marsh, Boathouse Flash.
Pair of Stonechat by Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Yellow-legged Gull (adult), 3,000 Pintail, 2,000 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank and 1 Peregrine Falcon - Flint Castle.

October 8

At least 8,000 Shelduck observed from the top of Thurstaston cliffs at low tide.
1 Firecrest - Moreton, Lingham Lane north of footbridge.
1 Great White Egret - Neston Marsh, Denhall Gutter, viewed from car park to north of Harp Inn.
1 Hobby, 1 Curlew Sandpiper and 3 Little Stint - Inner Marsh Farm.

October 7

5,000 Oystercatcher - Little Eye.
1 Arctic Skua - Red Rocks.
8,470 Shelduck, 2,080 Curlew and 5,050 Redshank - Heswall at high tide, also possible Curlew Sandpiper. 
8 Little Egret, 2,250 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Spotted Redshank, 17 Greenshank and 1 Curlew Sandpiper - Connah's Quay Reserve.

October 6

4 Curlew Sandpipers, 20 Spotted Redshank, 8 Greenshank and 2 Little Egret - Connah's Quay Reserve.
3 Great-crested Grebe, 100 Meadow Pipit and a late Sandwich Tern - Hilbre Island.

October 5

1 Hobby - Inner Marsh Farm.
11 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank, 1 Little Stint, 1 Little Egret and 2,200 Black-tailed Godwit - Connah's Quay Reserve.
9 Little Stint and 1 Little Egret - Burton Marsh.

October 4

3 Little Egret - Parkgate Marsh, Boathouse Flash.
2 Red-throated Diver, 8 Great-crested Grebe, 5 Gannet, 2 Shag, 5,000 Oystercatcher, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Great Skua and 2 Arctic Skua - Hilbre Island.

October 3

3,500 Oystercatcher - West Kirby shore - no sign of Laughing Gull. 
2 Little Egret and 16 Greenshank - Parkgate Marsh, Boathouse Flash.
1 Great White Egret and 1 Little Egret - Burton Marsh.

October 2

1 Laughing Gull (1st winter) and 1 adult Mediterranean Gull - West Kirby shore (off beach between Marine Lake and Red Rocks). Best seen high tide, but at low tide many gulls on Tanskey Rocks (south of Little Eye).
2,400 Oystercatcher - Little Eye.
6 Little Egret, 1 Scaup, 1 Long-tailed Skua, 1 Arctic Skua and 1 Peregrine Falcon - Point of Ayr.

October 1

1 Adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Raven and 1,100 Oystercatcher - West Kirby shore.
2,000 Oystercatcher - Little Eye.
4 Crossbill - Golf Course behind West Kirby beach.
1 Bewick's Swan and 4 Little Stint - Inner Marsh Farm.

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