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This site index includes a list of articles written in the monthly newsletters which have been ongoing since March 1998, see the past newsletters page for a full list.

The articles cover a large range of subjects but all have some connection with the birds of the Dee Estuary. Many have been written by people other then myself (Richard Smith) for which I am very grateful. Recurring themes include bird reports (two of which have been published complete on this website), Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens (information and data), species spotlights and site guides. The dates in brackets refer to when each particular newsletter containing the article was published. Links without dates refer to web pages elsewhere within this website.

"An Outsiders View" , article by the late Victor Smith about the birds of the Dee Estuary (Jun '99).

"A String in the tale" , an amusing tale of birders by Mark Feltham (Oct '03).

Best time to go to the estuary.
    The right place at the right time .
    Time and tide wait for no man (Feb '99).

Bibliography.

Bird Cruise (Apr '03).

Bird Races.
    Wirral Hundred Bird Race 1999 (Apr '99).
    Wirral RSPB Bird Race 2000 results (Jul '00).

Bird Reports
    Cheshire/Wirral Bird Report, reviews: 1999 , 2000 , 2002 , 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
    Hilbre Bird Report, reviews: 1998 , 1999 , 2001 , 2003, 2005, 2006.
    Clwyd Bird Report, reviews: 1993 to 1995 , 1999 , 2001, 2002, 2003.
    North-East Wales Bird Report, reviews: 2004-2006.
    DEVW Annual Report 2000 , review, (Mar '01)
    Hoylake Bird Observatory Report 2000/2001 (Feb '02 and Apr '02) by Jane Turner, whole report.
    DEVW Bird Report 2001 (June '02 and July '02) by Chris Butterworth, whole report, covers West
    Kirby and Red Rocks.
    Merseyside Ringing Group 50th Anniversary Report - Review (Aug '05).

Birdwatching Walks
    A Curlew Walk (Jan '99)
    A Christmas Walk (Dec '98)

Boating on the Estuary (Aug '99).

The Dee and the 20th Century, physical and ornithological changes (Dec '99)

The Dee Estuary Strategy (Oct '00) by Dr A Jemmett .

Colour Ringed Waders (Jan '05)

Conservation and Wildfowling (Sep '05)

Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens
    Description of role and appeal for new wardens (Sep '99)
    West Kirby High Tide Roost Counts 1986 to 1999 (Dec '99)
    West Kirby High Tide Roost Counts 1999/2000 (May '00)
    The role of DEVW in stopping bird disturbances at West Kirby (Nov '00), by Karen Leeming.
    DEVW Annual Report 2000 (Mar '01)
    West Kirby High Tide Roost Counts 2000/2001 (May '01)
    History of the DEVW (September '01)
    The Wardening Year 2001 (May '02)
    DEVW Bird Report 2001 (June '02 and July '02), by Chris Butterworth - whole report.
    Lovebirds! (Dec '02) by John Pugh.
    Appeal for Wardens (Sep '03), and (Sep '04).
    West Kirby High Tide Roost Counts 2004/2005 (May '05), and July '05.
    West Kirby Review of season 2005/2006 (Sep '06)

Friends of Hilbre (Aug '02), by Sue Craggs.

Tribute to John Gittins (Jan '02) and John Gittins Plaque (Oct '02)

Gronant - appeal for voluntary wardens (May '05)

Hilbre Bird Observatory 50 Years of Ringing and Recording (Feb '08).

Hoylake Bird Observatory Article (Jun '01), by Jane Turner.

Irruptions, Influxes, Invasions and Large Passages (Oct '04)

Lies and Little Auks (Apr '99 )

Low Tide Birdwatching (Feb '05 )

Migration
    Migration Watch '99, list of birds seen and map of migration routes (Nov '99)
    Spring migration 2000 (March '00)
    Spring migration 2000 (April '00)
    Migration Watch 2002 (Dec '02)

Month by Month Guide to the Dee Estuary.

Protection on the Estuary, Legislation and Reserves (Aug '01)

Reflections on 5 years of Internet Birdwatching (Mar '03)

Reviews
    Wirral Birding booklet (Aug '03).
    Rare Birds in Cheshire & Wirral (May '04) - also extract (June '04), second extract (Oct '05).

RSPB 25 Years on the Estuary, (Jan '04), by John Harrison.

RSPB Makes Investment in Dee Wildlife, (Jan '07), by Colin Wells.

Site Guides
    Gronant (Jul 99), Hilbre Island (Sep '98), Heswall Shore (Nov '98),
    North Wirral Shore (Oct '99), Greenfield Valley (Feb '01) by Brian Roberts, 
    Connah's Quay Reserve (Nov '02), High Tide at Parkgate (Dec '01) by Dave Jowitt,
    Point of Ayr sea watching (May '03) by Gareth Stamp,
    Lingham Lane and Leasowe Lighthouse (Nov '03) by Allan Conlin.
    The Magic of Parkgate (Oct '05) by David Esther, Liverpool Bay (Jan '06),
    Gilroy Nature Park and the Langfields (May '06), Point of Ayr (Jul '06),
    Heswall and Thurstaston (Aug '07).
    Also see Site Guides page. 

Sounds of the Estuary (Jul '01), article by W. Victor Smith.

Species Spotlight
    Curlew Sandpiper (Sep '00),   Knot (Apr '00),   Redshank (Aug '00), 
    Little Terns at Gronant (Aug '01), Leach's Petrel (Oct '01), Shelduck (Nov '01), 
    Wheatear (Mar '02) by Steve Williams, Sandwich Tern (Aug '02), The Godwits (Sep '02),
    Brent Geese (Oct '02) by Chris Butterworth, White-throated Sparrow (Jun '03),
    A Golden Age for Raptors (Jul '03), Dunlin (Dec '03),
    Colour ringed Godwits (Jan'04) by John Harrison, Little Egret (Apr' 04), Common Terns (May '04).
    Ruddy Shelduck (Jul '04), 'Sands and Shanks' on passage (Aug '04),
    Am. Golden Plover (Sep '04), Turnstone (Nov '04), Oystercatcher (Apr '05).
    Cetti's Warbler (Jun '05), Barn Owls (Dec '05), Migration - Ringed Plover, Little Gull and
    White Wagtail (Apr '06), Little Tern (Jun '06), Gannet (Oct '06),
    A Golden Age for Raptors Part 2 (Nov '06), Black-tailed Godwit (Dec '06),
    Leach's Petrel Wreck (Jan '06), WeBS and Waders (Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit) (May ''07).
    Manx Shearwater (Jun '07), Rare Shearwaters (Sep '07), Pintail (Oct '07).
    Radde's Warbler (Jan '08), Gronant Little Terns (May '08), Storm Petrel (Jun '08).
    Common Scoter, Liverpool Bay SPA and Windfarms (Jul '08).

Wader Roosts (Dec '05).

Wetland Bird Survey
    WeBS review - low tide counts '96/'97 (May '99)
    WeBS Counts - 97/98 to 01/02, tabulated counts month by month.
    Wetland Bird Survey Counts for 1999 (Dec '00)
    Dee Estuary WeBS Reports,  99/00, 00/01, 01/02, 03/04, 04/05, 05/06 reviews.
    National WeBS Counts Reports - 96/97, 97/98, 98/99, 99/00, 00/01, 01 to 04, 04/05 Reviews  
    including discussions of trends relevant to the Dee Estuary.
   Wetland Bird Surveys (National 05/06 and Dee Estuary 06/07) (Apr '08).

The Dee from A Canadian Perspective (Dec '01).

Ten Years of deeestuary.co.uk (Mar '08)

The Hilbre Party - The days of Eric Hosking's et. al. visits to Hilbre (Nov '99)

Website of the Year 2001 (Dec '01).

Web Surfing
    Estuary Web sites across the world (Jun '00)

Year Highlights
    March 1998 to Feb 1999 ('Mar '99)    March 1999 to Feb 2000 ('Mar '00)
    March 2000 to Feb 2001 (Mar '01)     March 2001 to Feb 2002 (Mar '02)
    March 2002 to Feb 2003 (Mar '03)     March 2003 to Feb 2004 (Mar '04)
    March 2004 to Feb 2005 (Mar '05)     March 2005 to Feb 2006 (Mar '06)
    March 2006 to Feb 2007 (Mar '07)     March 2007 to Feb 2008 (Mar '08)