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`The 2000/2001 WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) counts
for the Dee Estuary are now available - for both Wildfowl
and Waders. The counting area is the whole of the
Dee Estuary plus the North Wales shore between and including the Point of Ayr
and Gronant, and also the North Wirral shore. The WeBS counts from 1997 to
2000 are
still on the web site and can be seen via the Bird Counts
page.
The table below shows the maximum counts for the past four years (April to March) for some of the most important species on the estuary.
The 12 months from April 2000 to March 2001 were excellent for bird numbers on the estuary and for most species an increase on the previous 12 months. Amazingly we had record numbers of three species, Shelduck, Dunlin and Redshank (1). Oystercatchers showed a welcome increase after quite a steep decline since the early 1990's, this appears to be due to a recovery of at least some of the cockle beds(2). One species not doing too well is the Knot which reached a new low. However, it should be noted that low water counts are much higher suggesting that the birds are roosting outside the estuary (e.g. on the Alt estuary). Two other species not listed above have also shown similar declines to the Knot - Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover. Again indications are that low tide counts are much higher but it is pleasing to note that high tide counts for all three species have increased dramatically during the current winter - 2001/2002. A much more detailed and comprehensive account of the WeBS counts for 2000/2001 is given in the Dee Estuary WeBS annual report, available from Colin Wells, Burton Point Farm, Station Road, Burton, Cheshire for £4.50 including P&P, or £4.00 from the reception at Inner Marsh Farm. Please make cheques out to the RSPB, for more details ring 0151 336 7681. Note that the table above gives the maximum numbers for the whole 12 month period, including both the winter and passage (autumn/spring) periods - in the annual WeBS reports Wader maximum numbers are usually just given for the winter (November to March). 1. Cheshire Bird Report 2000 (published by CAWOS). |
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Wetland Bird Survey Count for Heswall Shore - (Kindly provided by the Wirral Ranger Service). 16th
December.
Maximum Wader counts for December at West
Kirby High tide roost (date in brackets), counted by the Dee
Estuary Voluntary Wardens. North Wirral
Shore Low Tide WeBS count, 9th December, kindly provided by Carl Clee.
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December Bird News | ||||
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The above photograph is just a very small portion of the high tide roost at Hoylake, off Kings Gap, showing Dunlin at the front, Knot in the middle and Bar-tailed Godwits at the back. On the 16th December Wetland Bird Survey a phenomenal 54,000 Knot were counted here, so on this single sand bank we had a quarter of the country's wintering Knot (based on typical December figures). On top of that we had large numbers of Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover, a welcome improvement on the previous four years. Another wader doing well is the Black-tailed Godwit with up to two thousand seen at low tide busy feeding on the mud between Heswall and Caldy, sometimes just a few feet from the beach - with similar numbers on the welsh side at Flint and Point of Ayr. Brent geese numbers have reached twenty seven so far, they seem to be all pale-bellied but with possibly one or two dark-bellied about too. Seventy five Bewick's Swan spent a lot of time on the salt-marsh at Shotton, and five Whooper Swan at Burton. The drake Smew returned to Inner Marsh Farm on cue, and for a time there was also another drake and red-head. Up to twenty one Goldeneye, twenty Red-breasted Merganser and two Scaup have been on West Kirby Marine Lake giving excellent viewing especially on a calm day. Two rare duck have been seen, a drake Green-winged Teal briefly at Inner Marsh Farm and a female Red-crested Pochard on one of the pools in Greenfield Valley most of the month.
The Greenfield Valley bird survey for 2001 is now complete. The total was 92 birds. Click here for the complete list. What to expect in January: Both Mute and Bewick's Swan peak in January, see them on the marsh between Burton and Connah's Quay. Expect to see over a hundred of each together with a handful of Whoopers. Small flocks of between fifty and a hundred Pink-footed Geese are often seen feeding in fields at Burton or Shotwick. This time last year we had an invasion of Waxwings into the country, some of which reached Wirral. These irruptions, as they are called, only occur every few years and are caused by a good breeding season followed by a shortage of food in their more normal wintering area, Scandinavia. It is probably too much to hope for to have another irruption this year, but you never know your luck! Other than that expect to see much the same as December, although the exact numbers of waders is very much dependent on the weather - we can get large cold weather movements if there is a hard winter on the continent. Look out for huge clouds of Knot way out in the estuary at low tide, each one 10,000 strong. Lapwings can suddenly appear in their thousands if inland fields are snow covered. Many thanks go to Colin Wells, Dave Wilde, Paul Swales, Alan Jupp, D Kilby, 'Ernie', John Baker, Colin Jones, Martin Walls, Mark Feltham, Thomas Giles, Randal Hughes, David Steer, John Clarke, Mike Hart, Frank Huband, John Kirkland, Eoin Jennings, Jeff Clarke, Chris Butterworth, Bill Owens, Cathy McGrath, David Esther, Dave Harrington, Martyn Jaimeson, Carl Clee, Jane Turner, Brian Roberts, Gareth Stamp and the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens for their sightings during December. I rely on the goodwill of people like this, unlike some commercial sites I cannot offer financial inducements! |
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Forthcoming Events | ||
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January Highest Spring Tides Forthcoming Events (organised by the
Wirral Ranger Service, Flintshire Countryside Service and/or the
RSPB):
Saturday 19th January 12 noon Birdwatch at Banks Road, Heswall.
Saturday 2nd February 12 noon High Tide at Flint Foreshore.
Sunday 17th February 11:15am Birdwatch at Banks Road, Heswall. Note: Many of these forthcoming events are extracted from 'Birdwatchers Diary 2002', which covers both the Dee and Mersey regions. Copies available from the visitor centre at Thurstaston, Wirral Country Park 0151 648 4371 or by from myself. |
