Wetland Bird Survey Count for Heswall Shore - (Kindly provided by the Wirral Ranger Service), 17th November.
19 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 1,699 Shelduck, 5 Wigeon, 585 Teal, 27 Mallard, 416 Pintail, 4,190 Oystercatcher, 3 Golden Plover, 372 Lapwing, 2,550 Knot, 4,810 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 1,210 Black-tailed Godwit, 1,080 Curlew, 1,920 Redshank, 428 Black-headed Gull, 16 Common Gull, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 77 Herring Gull and 8 Great Black-backed Gull. 1 Merlin and 3 Peregrine also present. 

Waders on the West Kirby Shore high tide wader roost, counted by the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens. Maximum counts for November, dates in brackets.
3,500 Oystercatcher (2nd), 7,700 Dunlin (20th), 129 Bar-tailed Godwit (20th), 715 Curlew (20th), 210 Grey Plover (23rd), 95 Sanderling (20th), 150 Knot (21st), 24 Ringed Plover (20th) and 160 Redshank (18th).

A few Snow Buntings have been seen along the North Wirral coast with four at Leasowe/ Wallasey and two at West Kirby. Strangely no reports from their usual haunt at the Point of Ayr and Gronant. The rarer Lapland Bunting was also seen briefly at Leasowe.

The Hoylake Langfields (between West Kirby and Hoylake) have been flooded with all the recent rain, attracting a good selection of birds. Unfortunately as the local Golf Course has also been flooded drainage work to clear the River Birket of its reeds will probable take place fairly soon and the water, with its birds, will disappear. The highlight was undoubtedly five White-fronted Geese (European race), small parties do visit the north-west region occasionally but more usually the Mersey marshes rather than Wirral. Other birds seen on the floods included 2 Whooper Swan, 20 Snipe, 1,200 Lapwing, 7 Water Rail, 28 Yellowhammer, 23 Tree Sparrow and a good selection of duck. 

We had two excellent Parkgate high tide birdwatches at the beginning of the month with some superb bird watching. 3,000 Teal, 6,000 Wigeon, 4+ Short-eared Owls on the first day, then the big surprise on the second day - a Spotted Crake which swam right up to the car park wall and parked itself on a clump of grass for the duration of the high tide, under the gaze of the assembled throng of birders. 

We had a late passage of Curlew Sandpipers with one or two present at Inner Marsh Farm right up to the 17th. Good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits spent most of their time at Oakenholt and Flint, I don't have a total estuary count for November but it probably didn't quite reach October's all time record of 4,231. We had the usual large flocks of Dunlin and Knot along the north Wirral coast with up to 15,000 of each. The rarest wader was a Long-billed Dowitcher briefly seen at Inner Marsh Farm, a vagrant which breeds in North America and eastern Siberia.

Two Scaup were rare visitors to West Kirby Marine Lake, a drake Green-winged Teal was seen several times at Inner Marsh Farm and eleven Brent Geese put in an appearance at Hilbre right at the end of the month. There were two sightings of Marsh Harriers and three of Hen Harriers. Other birds of particular note included a Firecrest on Hilbre and two Black Redstarts at Point of Ayr, with another one at Wallasey.  

What to expect in December
This time last year we had massive numbers of waders, particularly along the north Wirral coast. This included 32,000 Dunlin, 8,000 Bar-tailed Godwits and a single flock of 50,000 Knot at Hoylake - an amazing sight. These waders are best seen either at low tide off Leasowe or high tide at Hoylake or Point of Ayr, but Thurstaston at low tide can also be spectacular, where the muddier conditions attract a thousand or so Black-tailed Godwit rather than Bar-tailed.    

Smew have been turning up regularly for the past few winters, usually seen either at Inner Marsh Farm or Shotwick boating lake. Expect at least one drake, but often a pair or two of these lovely duck are present. If we go by the pattern of the past two years about 20 Brent Geese, mostly pale-breasted birds, should be seen off Hilbre Island. They often spend high tide around Little Eye or across the estuary at the Point of Ayr

The daylight hunting Short-eared Owl can sometimes be seen over the marsh at Burton, or the sand dunes at Point of Ayr and Leasowe. If the beginning of the month brings a strong west wind and low atm. pressure get down to Parkgate to see the birds driven off the marsh at high tide, the 4th and 5th should be best.

Forthcoming Events (organised by the Wirral Ranger Service, Flintshire Countryside Service and/or the RSPB):
All these events and walks have bird interest, even those not advertised specifically for birdwatching. No need to book for these events unless specified - please check below.

Also see the Birdwatchers Diary 2003, now published in full on this web site.

Saturday 7th December 10:30am, High Tide at Point of Ayr. 
Join the RSPB warden to experience an impressive array of waders and wildfowl. Winter specialties may include Brent Goose and Short-eared Owl but be prepared that no two visits are quite the same at the Point of Air. (HW 12:45, 9.4m). No need to book, just turn up. Meet at the end of Station Rd, Talacre. Further information contact RSPB tel. 0151 336 7681.

Saturday 21st December 9:00am, Heswall High Tide Birdwatch.
Superb birding on the rising tide brings thousands of waders close to the shore. Black-tailed Godwits mingle with Dunlin, Redshanks and Curlew. Catch this wave of birds as they move up the estuary in search of safe high tide roosts. (HW 12:06, 9.00m) Meet at Banks Road car park, Lower Heswall, near Sheldrakes Restaurant. Further details tel. 0151 648 4371/3884.

Wednesday 1st January, 9:00am - 12:00noon, 
New Years Day Bird Race.
A guided walk from Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre, Thurstaston, across farmland, grassland, woodland and foreshore in search of 50 species of bird to start your 2003 yearlist. Warm waterproof clothing and stout footwear are essential. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Booking essential. Tel: 0151 648 4371/3884

Saturday 4th  January, 11:00am, Rails of the River Bank. 
A fantastic place to see birds of the estuary. Huge flocks of ducks and waders swirl around in the sky while there's always the chance of seeing a Water Rail as it's flushed out of the saltmarsh by the rising tide. Expect to see Merlin, Peregrine and maybe Short-eared Owl. Meet at River Bank Road car park, Lower Heswall. (HW 12:11, 9.5m) No need to book. For further details contact the RSPB on 0151 336 7681.

Sunday 12th January 2:30pm - 4pm. North Wirral Coastal Park.
Join the Ranger for a walk around the North Wirral Coastal Park in search for winter birdlife, including wading birds and possibly Short-eared Owls. Please wear suitable warm clothing and footwear. Booking essential, ring 0151 648 4371.

Note: Many of these forthcoming events are extracted from the 'Birdwatchers Diary 2003', which covers both the Dee and Mersey regions. Hard copies available from the visitor centre at Thurstaston, Wirral Country Park 0151 648 4371.