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October Newsletter now published on this website featuring the Glossy Ibis Invasion, Colour Ring Report and September Bird News.
Newsletters going back to March 1998 can be read, they are indexed both month by month and by subject matter.

Oct 8 - New Event - High Tide Birdwatch at Riverbank Road, Heswall from 11.30 to 13.30hrs. High tide is at 12.29hrs, 9.8m (Liverpool). Join the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens at the Riverbank Road car park with great views out across the marsh and along Heswall gutter. One of the highlights will be thousands of Shelducks which peak this month in the estuary, as well as thousands of waders and other wildfowl such as Pink-footed Geese. The first Hen Harriers of the winter have arrived and there are likely to be Marsh Harriers and other raptors.

Oct 7
1 Great Skua on shore before high tide then flew west, 6 Curlew Sandpiper over high tide - Hoylake.
1 Scaup (juv) quite close in at Leasowe Lighthouse.
14 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank and 1 Greenshank on shore - Flint Castle.

Oct 6
19 Whooper Swans (six flew S at 07:30, thirteen on sea at high tide), 630 Pink-footed Geese, 4450 Shelduck, 160 Pintail, 460 Teal, 54 Golden Plover, 1100 Curlew, 3600 Redshank, 18 Greenshank - Heswall Shore.
6 Whooper Swan flew south past Parkgate.
1 Great Skua on sea west of Hilbre, then flew to Hoylake shore before heading into estuary and landing on sea off West Kirby Marsh.
1 juv curlew Sandpiper in wader roost east of Lifeboat Station, 5 Crossbill over Meols Drive - Hoylake.
13 Shag on the sea east side of Hilbre.

Oct 5
12 Leach's Petrel - Leasowe Gunsite.
15+ Leach's Perel, 1 Storm Petrel, 1 Sabine's Gull, 1 Great Skua, 20+ Kittiwake and 2 Little Gull - New Brighton.
6 Leach's Petrel (1 taken by a Peregrine) between 1040 and 1130am - Dove Point, Meols.
42 Leach’s Petrel, 1 Storm Petrel, 3 Manx Shearwater and 4 Arctic Skua - Hilbre.
7 Leach's Petrel, 1 Grey Phalarope, 1 Great Skua and 1 Sabine's Gull - Hoylake.
2 Leach's Petrel mid-morning, and 2 juv Arctic Skua flew along the beach - Point of Ayr.
5,800 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.
2 Hen Harrier, 33 Greenshank and 6 Spoonbill - Parkgate.
1 Great Skua feeding on dead gull on sea defence - Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Leach's Petrel late afternoon - Wallasey Shore.

Oct 4
1+ Leach's Petrel, 1 Storm Petrel (this afternoon), 1 probable juv male Northern Harrier came over off the sea, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Black Tern, 5 Arctic Tern, 1 Grey Phalarope landed on Mersey then flew to Marine Lake before flying west around noon to 1pm - New Brighton.
2 Arctic Skua, 2 Leach's Petrel and 1 Black Tern - Wallasey/Leasowe.
1 Black Tern - Hilbre.
2 Arctic Tern from Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

Oct 3
1 Slavonian Grebe this morning - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Oct 2
1 Slavonian Grebe, 11 Goosander and 1 Grey Wagtail this morning - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Oct 1
1 Slavonian Grebe this morning - West Kirby Marine Lake.
8 Spoonbill - Parkgate.
9 Red-throated Diver, 52 Gannet, 450 Common Scoter and 123 Brent Geese (1 dark-bellied) - Hilbre.

Sep 30
4 Glossy Ibis on Donkey Stand Flash this afternoon - Parkgate.
1 Slavonian Grebe this morning - West Kirby Marine Lake.
6,200 Pink-footed Geese left the overnight roost this morning and flew inland - Parkgate/Heswall.
1 Glossy Ibis late afternoon - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Sep 29
1 Slavonian Grebe at north end showing well most of the day - West Kirby Marine Lake.
275 Great Crested Grebe, 3,200 Common Scoter, 7 Red-throated Diver, 1 Guillemot, 16 Wigeon, 1 eider and 5 Red-breasted Merganser off East Hoyle - Hoylake.

Sep 28
1 Slavonian Grebe showing well this morning, also 232 Turnstone roosting on rocks - West Kirby Marine Lake.
600 Pink-footed Geese roosted overnight, 135 Pintail, 425 Teal, 32 Golden Plover, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 17 Greenshank - Heswall Shore.

Sep 27
1 Curlew Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Grey Phalarope off groyne, also 2 Greenshank - Leasowe Lighthouse.
5,160 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Osprey over flying south - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.
30 Sandwich Tern - Leasowe Bay.

Sep 26
1 Yellow-browed Warbler, early morning - Hilbre.
8 Spoonbill, 22 Greenshank and 51 Shoveler - Parkgate.
150 Turnstone roosting on rocks - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Sep 25
200 Pink-footed Geese in field by Wirral Way - Thurstaston.
1 Redwing - Lower Heswall.
7 Ruff in flooded fields - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Sep 24
2140 Pink-footed Geese (780 roosted overnight, 1360 arrived from N by 08:00), 5000 Shelduck, 52 Mallard, 12 Pintail, 150 Teal - Heswall Shore.
6 Ruff in flooded fields - Leasowe Lighthouse.
4 s/pl Red-throated Diver off East Hoyle Bank - Hoylake.
1 Scaup - Hilbre.

Sep 23
1 Nightjar flew out of Canoe Club Garden this morning but not relocated - Hilbre.
4 Green Sandpiper and 6 Ruff - Burton Mere Wetlands.
5,500 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.

Sep 22
2 Greenshank and 1 Mediterranean Gull on flooded fields - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Grey Phalarope on mud flats, East Hoyle Bank this afternoon - Hoylake.

Sep 21
1 Glossy Ibis and 3 Great White Egret flew in at dusk - Burton Mere Wetlands.
180 Pink-footed Geese, 4150 Shelduck, 145 Teal, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 125 Grey Plover, 8 Curlew Sandpiper, 1130 Curlew, 3000 Redshank, 23 Greenshank - Heswall Shore.
1 Grey Phalarope reported flying east - Hoylake.
4 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Whimbrel - Meols.
1 Arctic skua and 2 Manx Shearwater out to sea, 36 Little Egret on flooded fields, also 3 Greenshank - Leasowe Lighthouse.
700 Pink-footed Geese, 17 Spoonbill and 18 Greenshank - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.
1 Grey Phalarope - Point of Ayr.

Sep 20
16 Curlew Sandpiper, 21 Greenshank and 3,000 Redshank on rising tide - Heswall Shore.
14 Curlew Sandpiper - Meols.
1 Grey Phalarope flew east - Point of Ayr.

Sep 19
At least 8 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Little Stint - Meols.
4 Curlew Sandpiper - Heswall Shore.
24 Spoonbill - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.

Sep 18
7 juv Curlew Sandpiper, 1550 Shelduck, 3400 Oystercatcher, 32 Grey Plover, 6 Golden Plover, 580 Curlew, 2650 Redshank and 15 Greenshank - Heswall Shore.
At least 7 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Little Stint - Meols.
11 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Sep 17
4 Curlew Sandpiper - Meols.
2 Leach's Petrel - New Brighton.
24 Spoonbill (record count for Dee Estuary) - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.
1 juv Black Tern, 1 Bittern, 3 Green Sandpiper, 4+ Greenshank, 7 Ruff, 10 Knot, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Spotted Redshank, 1 Hobby, 1 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Sep 16
1 Pomarine Skua, 34 Leach's Petrel, 1 Black Tern, 1 Sabine's Gull, 65 Manx Shearwater, 14 Arctic Skua, 1 Great Northern Diver and 6 Arctic Tern - Hilbre.
15 Leach's Petrel, 3 Arctic Skua (sat on beach!), 2 Grey Phalarope, 1 Great Skua - Leasowe Lighthouse.
17 Leach's Petrel, 1 Grey Phalarope, 1 Black Tern and 2 Arctic Skua - Leasowe Gunsite.
19 Leach's Petrel, 10 Arctic Skua, 2 Great Skua, 3 Sabine's Gull and 1 Black Tern - Hoylake.
12 Leach's Petrel, 2 Sabine's Gull, 1 Great Skua and 1 Arctic Skua - coastguards, Wallasey.
1 Pomarine Skua, 4 Leach's Petrel and 4 Arctic Skua, 2 Curlew Sandpiper on shore - Dove Point, Meols.
5 Leach's Petrel, 1 Arctic Skua and 1 Sabine's Gull early morning, 1 Sabine's Gull early morning, 1 Sabine's Gull was watched flying down river past Rock Ferry and Egremont before flying out past Crosby and then flying west at 13.40 hrs, 1 Leach's Petrel and 3 Arctic Skua late afternoon - New Brighton.

Sep 15
2 Arctic Skua this morning, 4 Arctic Skua, 15+ Manx Shearwater and 3 Guillemot this afternoon - Leasowe Gunsite.
1 juv Sabine's Gull, 2 Leach's Petrel, 10 Manx Shearwater, 5 Arctic Skua, 1 Black Tern, 1 Fulmar - Hilbre.
1 Grey Phalarope flew out of Mersey mouth - New Brighton.
1 Leach's Petrel, 4 Arctic Skua and 10 Manx Shearwater, 1 Little Stint on the shore - Hoylake.
1 Curlew Sandpiper this afternoon - Meols.

Sep 14
8 Curlew Sandpiper, 11 Pintail, 9 Greenshank, 300 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore.
285 Little Egret left the overnight roost this morning - Heswall Fields.
2 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 8 Ruff, 400 Black-tailed Godwit, 180 Wigeon, 35 Pintail on flashes, also 2 juv Hobby, 1 Merlin and 1 Peregrine - Denhall Quay.
2 Little Stint - Burton Mere Wetlands.
3 Curlew Sandpiper this afternoon - Meols.

Sep 13
1 Leach's Petrel this afternoon.  22 Curlew Sandpiper west of Kings Gap over high tide - Hoylake.
3 Leach's Petrel, 65 Gannet. 4 Red-throated Diver, 6 Guillemot, 3 Razorbill, 1 Arctic Tern, 72 Sandwich Tern, 28 Common Tern and 400 Common Scoter - Hilbre.
1 Little Stint and 2 Curlew Sandpiper before high tide - Meols.
3 Leach's Petrel west past coastguards this afternoon - Wallasey Shore.
10 Brent Geese between Little Eye and West Kirby.
At least 2 Hobby - Burton Mere Wetlands.
25+ Great White Egret - Burton Marsh.

Sep 12
6 Curlew Sandpiper, 2450 Shelduck, 25 Knot, 1 Ruff, 2 Whimbrel, 3000 Redshank, 10 Greenshank, 1 ad Mediterranean Gull, 2 Wheatear on rising tide - Heswall Shore.
1 Leach's Petrel, 5 Gannet, 8 Manx Shearwater and 1 Eider out to sea, and 7 Curlew Sandpiper - Hoylake.

Sep 11
5 Black Tern flew west, 14 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Little Stint in wader roost - Hoylake.
1 Glossy Ibis flew south over Decca Pools then seen on Centenary Pool - Burton Mere Wetlands.
18 Spoonbill - Parkgate.

Sep 10
2 Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Arctic Skua over high tide - Hoylake.
6 Cattle Egret, 1 Little Stint and 1 Little Ringed Plover - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Sep 9
2 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Little Stint before high tide - Meols.
2 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Little Stint over high tide - Hoylake.
4 juv Curlew Sandpiper, 146 Grey Plover and 7 Greenshank on rising tide - Heswall Shore.
13 Wigeon, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Common Sandpiper over high tide - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
7 Curlew Sandpiper - Connah's Quay.

Sep 8
2 Curlew Sandpiper off Roman road at 0830 - Meols.
16 Spoonbill on Boathouse Flash - Parkgate.
1 juv Curlew Sandpiper, 1 juv Spotted Redshank, 4500 Redshank, 7 Whimbrel over high tide - Heswall.
350 Turnstone on pontoon - New Brighton Marine Lake.
1 Osprey high over Burton Woods.

Sep 7
1 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint, 130 Grey Plover, 3 Greenshank and 160 Common Tern - Hoylake.
5930 Black-tailed Godwit over high tide - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.
2 Curlew Sandpiper (Donkeystand Flash) and 14 Spoonbill (Boathouse Flash) this morning - Parkgate.
3 Curlew Sandpiper after high tide, and 3 Greenshank off Sandhey slipway - Meols.
2 Black Tern on tide edge this evening - Hilbre.

Sep 6
2 Curlew Sandpiper and 13 Spoonbill - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.
200 Pink-footed Geese (first ones!!) over Little Neston.
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Wheatear, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Hobby and 2 Cetti's Warbler - Burton Point.
1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Cattle Egret, 2 Green Sandpiper, 20 Yellow Wagtail and several Ruff - Burton Mere Wetlands.
12 Wheatear - Hilbre.

Sep 5
30 Glossy Ibis briefly on sand bank between Flint Castle and Parkgate just after mid-day, then flew south-west over Flint Castle before being lost to sight, earlier seen flying south past Formby Point and Crosby shore. We think this is the largest Glossy Ibis flock ever seen in the UK!
1 Great Egret, 2 Hobby, 3 Green Sandpiper and 1 Grasshopper Warbler - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Short-eared Owl showing well at 7.30pm over marsh off Heswall Golf Course.

Sep 4
1 juv Curlew Sandpiper (off Shore Cottage) and 9 Whimbrel at high tide - Thurstaston Shore.
9 Goosander this morning - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Common Redstart (fem type), 30 Ruff, 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper and 5 Greenshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Hobby (ad and 1st sum) and 1 Whinchat - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Wood Sandpiper (brief view) with Redshanks at 1300hrs - Donkeystand Flash, Parkgate.

Sep 3
8 Great Egret fishing in the stream outfall - Flint Point.
1 juv Curlew Sandpiper, 3050 Oystercatcher, 330 Ringed Plover, 45 Knot, 25 Dunlin, 13 Turnstone, 3000 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Mediterranean Gull over high tide - Thurstaston Shore.
14 Greenshank over high tide - Heswall Shore (off Heswall Fields NT).
200 Grey Plover roosting on shore off Cubbins Green - West Kirby.
1 Hobby over - Burton village.
2 Greenshank at Meols Groyne,  and 2 Whinchat - Leasowe Lighthouse.
20 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper and 20 plus Yellow Wagtail - Burton Mere Wetlands.
350 Sandwich Tern, 105 Common Tern and 26 Little Terns (terns mainly on West Hoyle Bank), also 75 Gannet feeding offshore - Hilbre.

Sep 2
2 Brent Geese (first ones of the autumn!) - Hilbre.
14 Spoonbill, 2 Ruff, 8 Greenshank and 1 Water Rail Boathouse flash - Parkgate.
29 Little Egret and 3 Grey Heron in the channel near the groyne - Meols.
15 Common Buzzard 'kettling' this morning over Greasby.
2 Whinchat and 1 Hobby west of Leasowe Lighthouse.
2+ Crossbill over, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Hobby and 25+ Yellow Wagtail - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Sep 1
4 Wheatear on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.