Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens

Why not join us?

As little as three hours a month on the beach at West Kirby would be a great help, more would be even better. You don't have to be an expert birdwatcher - our most important task is to prevent disturbance to the birds. Mainly this means just chatting to people, explaining how the shore is a major roost for the birds and why they shouldn't be disturbed. You will be in a team of three people and will get as much training as you want. There is some great birdwatching to be had and you will meet some very knowledgeable birders who will be only too pleased to pass on some of their expertise.

If you are interested either me or ring the Coastal Ranger on 0151-678 5488.

There is lot more information about the DEVW on the wardens page on this web site. 

John Gittins Plaque

On 1st September a plaque was unveiled in memory of John Gittins who died last December. For those wishing to see the plaque it is located on the east wall of the Wirral Borough Council sailing school building at the north end of West Kirby Marine lake, overlooking the road. The main plaque has the inscription "Renowned 'Birdman' and humorist, John Charles Gittins 1928-2001, Donated by  his friends everywhere". 

Below it is a smaller plaque with the inscription "Well known and popular person in West Kirby and Hoylake. Founder member and director of Hilbre Bird Observatory and ornithological expert. Friend of students and children making learning fun. Expedition leader in Greenland, Iceland and Foula for Brathay. Liverpool University prize winner and part time coastguard. Life member of Liverpool Ornithologists and Wirral Bird Club."

That about says it all! The one thing I would add is that he was also a Dee Estuary Voluntary Warden at West Kirby for many years where he, of course, made many friends. We still remember him with great affection.

Bird Counts

Wetland Bird Survey Count for Connah's Quay and Flint - (Kindly provided by Brian Grey), 8th September.
4 Little Grebe, 81Cormorant, 12 Little Egret, 264 Canada Goose, 208 Shelduck, 320 Teal, 3300 Oystercatcher, 190 Lapwing, 250 Dunlin, 2000 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Spotted Redshank, 1830 Redshank, 11 Greenshank, 1 Turnstone, 1 Curlew Sandpiper.

Hilbre Island, count on 14th September kindly provided by Steve Williams of the Hilbre Bird Observatory.
35 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 30 Wheatears, 2 Whinchat, 2 Redstart, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Sedge Warbler, 20 Whitethroat, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 500 Meadow Pipits, 20 White Wagtails, 12 Grey Wagtails, 100 Swallows.

I said we needed gales - and what did we get? The most windless September most of us can remember! So no Leach's Petrel and only a few Skuas. However, the gentle east and south winds meant that it was a very good month for visible migration of land birds. Although we didn't get any particularly large 'falls' there were good numbers all month, highlights include - 17 Yellow Wagtails (Hoylake), 500 Meadow Pipit, 30 Wheatear, 2 Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 21 Grey Wagtail (all Hilbre), 30 Wheatear (Leasowe) and 15 Chiffchaff (Caldy Hill). A Barred Warbler was an unexpected but welcome visitor to the Point of Ayr sand dunes. 

The run of good birds at Inner Marsh Farm continued with the appearance of a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper for a couple of days mid-month. This vagrant is in fact the 'commonest' of the American waders with a few usually turning up every year in the north-west England/ North Wales region. By far the most obvious wader in the mouth of the estuary was the Oystercatcher with a maximum count of 8,000 at West Kirby. Further in to the estuary Black-tailed Godwits have already built up to  a very impressive 3,000 off Flint. Fifty five Greenshank made a splendid sight at Parkgate and 14 Spotted Redshank was a good number for Connah's Quay. Curlew Sandpipers trickled through all month with three or four at Heswall and Inner Marsh Farm. Low tide off Leasowe is always worth a visit and I was lucky enough to see a passage of 360 Sanderling along with many Grey Plover still in summer plumage.

Duck numbers increased during the month - the most numerous being Shelduck off Thurstaston (best seen at low tide) with a maximum of 7,560. Pintail reached 4,800 off Flint by the end of the month and 2,500 Teal were counted both off Flint and at Inner Marsh Farm. 

There have been a few Ospreys passing through on their way to Africa, one just off Hilbre caught a fish then went on to a sand bank to eat it - in full view of two lucky birders! The high tide birdwatchers at Heswall had a very good view of a Marsh Harrier hunting over the marsh, Peregrines are seen here daily usually sitting on one of the posts out on the marsh.

What to expect in October: 

Sea watching can be excellent given some strong westerly winds. It's not too late to see a few Leach's Petrel and many Skuas of all four species should be passing by out to sea. On a good day we can get hundreds of Guillemots and Common Scoter and the last two years have brought Velvet Scoters. Last year we also had an excellent selection of rare gulls.

In contrast to sea-watching the best conditions to see migrating land birds is a light SE wind with low cloud and cool temperature. October is the peak time for this migration but you really need to get out by dawn as the majority of birds are seen in the first two hours after sunrise. A quick look at the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens Report 2001 reveals these peak daily (or hourly) counts over West Kirby Shore last October - 264 Skylark, 100 per hour Meadow Pipit, 2,500 per hour Fieldfare, 500 Redwing, 50 Siskin, 94 Linnet and 34 Reed Bunting. This is just a small selection, birds tend to hug the coastline so this is where to go.  

We are a bit in between as far as waders are concerned - between the September peak of Icelandic and local breeders (such as Redshank and Curlew) and the mid winter peak of arctic breeders such as Knot and Dunlin. But the autumn passage of Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint often continues well into October and both Greenshank and Spotted Redshank should still be about.

Duck numbers will increase dramatically, especially Shelduck best seen off the top of the cliff at Thurstaston at low tide or two hours before high tide at Heswall. The Dee Estuary is one of the top three locations in the country for this species - expect up to 12,000. Pintail often peak in October and one of the best places to see these is at low tide off Flint point with up to 6,000 birds - the Dee is the most important site in the country for Pintail.

October sees the return of the Parkgate high tide birdwatches and with some very high tides forecast we should have some great birdwatching with Short-eared Owls and Water Rails, along with the usual thousands of waders and duck. But we definitely need a change in the weather from September!

Many thanks go to  Karen Leeming, John Harrison,  Brian Grey, Jean Morgan, 'Alan K',  Mike Hart,  Stephen Williams,  Chris Butterworth,  Martyn Jaimeson,  David Esther, Keith Lester, Marilyn Kavanagh, Mark Feltham, Ian Dyer, Peter Button, Nigel Troup, Mark Smith and Janet Meakin for their sightings during September. All sightings are gratefully received.