Dee Estuary Birds - birdwatching, birding and twitching

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The Dee Estuary, on the North Wales / North-West England border, is one of the United Kingdom's premier birding locations for wetland and shorebirds. This Website describes the best Dee Estuary birdwatching areas with detailed maps and latest bird news for dedicated twitchers and casual birdwatchers alike.

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January Newsletter now published on this website featuring Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens, Colour Ring Report and December Bird News.
Newsletters going back to March 1998 can be read, they are indexed both month by month and by subject matter.

Latest Sightings.... (more)

NOTE: Most of you know the problems we have had recently with people encroaching onto the marsh at Denhall Quay (Neston Marsh) in order to photograph the Short-eared Owls, causing much disturbance and driving the birds away. I would highly recommend to read Dan Trotman's article which has just been published on the RSPB website called 'Denhall Quay: What's owl the fuss about?'. https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/deeestuary/b/deeestuary-blog/posts/denhall-quay-what-s-owl-the-fuss-about

Jan 23
120 Sanderling, 500 Grey Plover, 7,000 Dunlin and 11,000 Knot at high tide (all estimates as distant), also 1 Snow Bunting - Hoylake.
3 Beiwck's Swan and 1 Whooper Swan - Shotwick Fields (also seen from Border hide at Burton Mere Wetlands).
Single Marsh Harriers recorded at both Burton Mere Wetlands and Burton Marsh.
21 Red-breasted Merganser, 4,740 Dunlin and 5,260 Oystercatcher over high tide - Heswall Shore.
3 Hen Harrier (2 grey males) - Parkgate.
1 Snow Bunting - Point of Ayr.

Jan 22
8+ Brambling with 200 Chaffinch and 180 Skylark - Thornton Hough.
7,000 Knot fed on edge of incoming tide - Meols Shore.
1 Bittern flew into roost - Neston Reedbed.
5 Snow Bunting - Wallasey Shore.
1 Snow Bunting on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.
1 Snow Bunting - Point of Ayr.

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Strangely plumaged Redwing near Target Road, Heswall, Janaury 22nd © Steve Hinde

Pale-bellied Brent Geese quite happily feeding withing a metre of Thurstaston Beach, January 18th © Richard Smith

Great Egret over Thurstaston Shore, January 17th © Matt Thomas

Snow Bunting at Hoylake, January 17th © Steve Round
https://www.stevenround-birdphotography.co.uk/

Whooper Swan at Burton Mere Wetlands, January 16th © Andrew Ingham

Snow Bunting on Wallasey Shore, January 14th © Bill Dickinson

Knot flock at Thurstaston, January 13th © Richard Smith

Barn Owl at Parkgate, January 9th © Ryan Williams

Bewick's Swan family with a Whooper Swan, Shotwick Fields, January 8th © Paul Ralston

Peregrine causing mayhem at Hoylake, January 6th © Peter Sutton

Great Egret at Burton Mere Wetlands, January 6th © Bill Wonderley

Siskin at Burton Mere Wetlands, January 5th © Les Hall

Yellowhammer near Thornton Hough, January 5th © Chris Wilding

Snow Bunting at Hoylake, January 4th © Les Hall

Snow Bunting by Derby Pool, Wallasey, January 3rd © Richard Steel

Tufted Ducks in Greenfield Valley, January 3rd © Alan Oates

Great Egret at Parkgate, January 1st © Richard Jones

Purple Sandpiper on Hilbre, December 31st © Alan Hitchmough

Great Egret at Parkgate, December 28th © Frank Burns

Short-eared Owl at Denhall Quay, December 23rd © Peter Morris

Waders on ebbing tide, Meols, December 23rd © Les Hall

Snow Bunting at Little Eye, December 23rd © Matt Thomas

Green Woodpecker at Burton Mere Wetlands, December 18th © Bill Wonderley

Snow Bunting at Leasowe, December 17th © Danny Carmichael

Little Egret at Thurstaston, December 17th © Richard Smith

Short-eared Owl from Denhall Quay, December 15th © Steve Morris

Knots over Thurstaston Shore, December 15th © Richard Smith

Goosander on West Kirby Marine Lake, December 15th © Steve Round
https://www.stevenround-birdphotography.co.uk/

Short-eared Owl at Neston, December 15th © Frank Burns

Snow Buntings on Wallasey Shore, December 14th © Sue Marsh

Short-eared Owls seen off Denhall Quay, December 9th © Mark Woodhead

Snow Bunting at Red rocks, December 9th © David Bradshaw

Hen Harrier over Heswall Marsh, December 5th © Richard Smyth

Purple Sandpiper at New Brighton Marine Lake, December 4th © Graham Parry

Hen Harrier at Parkgate, December 2nd © Mark Woodhead

Short-eared Owl off Denhall Quay, December 2nd © Jeff Cohen

Knots at Thurstaston, November 29th © Richard Smith

Goosander flock on West Kirby Marine Lake, November 28th © Les Hall

Fieldfare in Deeside Industrial Estate, November 28th © Jeff Cohen

One of many Redwings in field behind Parkgate Old Baths, November 27th © Carole Killikelly

Snow Bunting at Meols November 2nd - Left Graham Connolly, Right David Bradshaw

This is a wholly independent web site and unless where specifically stated has been written and maintained by myself, Richard Smith. I do receive articles for the newsletter from time to time for which I am very grateful, and also various people kindly donate photographs and sketches. l rely to a large extent on people keeping me informed about the birds they have seen - this, more than anything, is what keeps the website going. Note that everything on this website is subject to © copyright although some material may be available for non-commercial use - but please ask first! Lastly, 'Dee Estuary Birding' is just the name of this web site - it is not the name of an organisation or society.
Copyright © 2020 Richard Smith | Header Photograph of Black-tailed Godwits © Steve Round.