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The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) 1996-97 for the whole of the British Isles has just been published. This is organised and funded by the BTO, RSPB, WWT and JNCC, the book can be purchased from NHBS for £15. Below is a summary in relation to the Dee Estuary: The Dee Estuary has internationally important numbers* of 12 species, namely Shelduck, Teal, Pintail, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank and Turnstone. Only the Ribble and Chichester Harbour have more internationally important species. The Dee Estuary holds the highest numbers of Pintail (5749) and Sandwich Terns (2090), and has the second highest counts of Shelduck (8047), Curlew (4583), Redshank (6226) and Turnstone (1193). The highest count for total number of Dee Estuary wetland birds during 1996-97 was 141743 - this breaks down into 28239 Wildfowl and 113504 Waders. The 5 year average for total numbers of wetland birds is 122787. The book also has details of low water WeBS counts on the estuary which are performed at infrequent intervals. These will be detailed in the next newsletter. The latest Dee Estuary WeBS counts for the whole of 1998 can be seen on this Web site for Waders (Shorebirds)/Terns and Wildfowl. More recent WeBS counts are detailed below. *Numbers of a species at a particular location are deemed to be Internationally Important if they constitute 1% or more of the total population of that species. |
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Bird Counts | ||
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WeBS Count for Heswall Shore - 21st March 1999. The WeBS counts take place during the high tide period but often larger numbers of birds can be seen on the mudflats off Heswall and Thurstaston at low tide. In the week prior to the above WeBS count the following birds were counted: Curlew 1000, Oystercatchers 5000, Knot 10000, Dunlin 10000 and Grey Plover 200. 2 Hen Harriers were seen coming in to roost in the Heswall/Gayton area during the same period. Counts for Inner Burton Marsh during 19th and 20th March 1999. Report from Hilbre Island thanks to Steve Williams of the Hilbre Bird Observatory. |
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March Bird News | ||
| With the coming of Spring there is already a noticeable drop in the number of birds on the estuary. However Spring brings the migrants, both those on the estuary passing through on their way to the Arctic and land migrants arriving to breed in the local woods and hills. The first Wheatear was seen on Hilbre on the 12th followed by Chiff-chaffs on the cliffs at Thurstaston (17th) and Sand Martins again on Hilbre on the 27th. The most unusual birds during March were undoubtedly a pair of Common Cranes flying over Irby, my home village but I was ten miles away at the time! Another rarity was a Firecrest at nearby Stapledon Wood. Inner Marsh Farm had it's usual crop of goodies, including a pair of Smew, a drake Green-winged Teal, up to 7 Spotted Redshank, Little Egret, Mediterranean Gull, a brief visit of 14 Pink-feet Geese and a Spoonbill. The latter is a Mauritanian Spoonbill (Balsaci race). A pair of Hen Harrier still frequent the marshes, coming into roost at Gayton in the evening. A pair of Peregrine are usually seen hunting over the marshes and mudflats off Heswall, they always seem to fly inland in the same direction after hunting, towards Birkenhead. These are most likely the pair currently nesting in Hamilton Square. |
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Forthcoming Events | ||||
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Next Spring High Tides 17th April, 1301hrs 10.3m. 18th April, 1344hrs, 10.2m.
Forthcoming Events (organised by the Wirral Ranger Service, Flintshire Countryside Service and/or the RSPB):
7th April. Wepre Reborn. 10am to 12pm. 17th(11am) and 18th (1145am) April. High Tide Birdwatch at Parkgate, experts on hand at Old Baths. Note exceptionally high tide on the 17th, 10.3m!
18th April. Rocky Shore survey. Early Morning.
24th April. A Guided Walk to the Hilbre Islands.
2nd May. Dawn Chorus Day.
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