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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 Web site 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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October Newsletter now published on this website featuring Wetland Bird Survey 2016-17, Wirral Wader Festival 2018, Colour Ring Report Knot Special and Latest Events.

Latest Sightings.... (more)

Oct 21
1 Yellowhammer (a rare bird here these days), 4 Siskin, 1 Brambling, 3 Redwing, 20 Skylark, 10 Reed Bunting, 110 Chaffinch and 50 Greenfinch overhead at Leasowe Lighthouse this morning.
1,170 Chaffinch, 33 Brambling, 1,280 Starling, 100 Goldfinch, 135 Greenfinch, 14 Linnet, 1 Swallow, 43 Wood Pigeon, 72 Sky Lark, 4 Redwing, 26 Fielfare, 6 Mistle Thrush, 43 Jackdaw and 1 Grey Wagtail flew south over Red Rocks this morning.
1 Great Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier - Heswall Marsh.
1 Red Kite over marsh at 1pm, also 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrine and 1 Green Sandpiper - Decca Pools.

Oct 20
98 Great Crested Grebe and 2,500+ Common Scoter off Meols after high tide, 1 Greenshank by groyne.
As well as a few hundred Chaffinches there were 6 Brambling, 9 Siskin, 41 Fieldfare, 5 Mistle Thrushe, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and 42 Skylark over Red Rocks this morning.
5 Brambling, 7 Siskin and 3 Redpoll  over  Leasowe Lighthouse this morning.
c40 Fieldfare over Lower Heswall.
1 Little Stint, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 bRuff and 4 Snipe - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Great Egret and 1 Green Sandpiper - Decca Pools.

Oct 19
1 Peregrine, 83 Wigeon and 4 Pintail - Hilbre at first light.
340 Curlew - south of Little Eye/Tanskey Rocks.
2 Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Green Sandpiper between Decca Pools and Neston Old Quay.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtails) came into roost at Parkgate, plus 1 Raven over.
2 Cattle Egret, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrine and 1 Kingfisher - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Oct 18
Another good visible migration this morning included 1 Ring Ouzel, 80 Chaffinch, 7 Brambling, 9 Siskin, 60 Meadow Pipit, 52 Skylark, 40+ Fieldfare and 2 Tree Sparrow -  Red Rocks.
2 Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier together over Lingham Lane by Leasowe Lighthouse this morning.
1 Little Stint which narrowly escaped a Marsh Harrier, also 1 Hen harrier, 1 Merlin, 2 Cattle Egret and 1 Curlew Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Visible migration over Thurstaston Hill this morning included 84 Redwing and 220 Wood Pigeon, also 3 Ravens and 140 Pink-footed Geese over - Thurstaston Hill.
13 Marsh Harriers came into the Neston Reed Bed roost this evening, appeared to be 11 juveniles and 2 second calendar year males.

Oct 17
1 Chough showing well around Dee Sailing Club and beach below, Thurstaston.
1 Yellow-browed Warbler moving south, 1 Swift over plus 605 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 5 Siskin, 3 Tree Sparow, 45 Skylark, 23 Mistle Thrush and 51 Fieldfare, - Red Rocks.
1 Spoonbill, 1 Little Stint, 2 Curkew Sandpiper and 2 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Several flocks of Fieldfares reported including 50 over Heswall and 70 over Caldy.

Oct 16
1 Chough photographed on boulders on shore around 10am then from noon onwards either in flight, on the golf course or on the boulders at the bottom of the cliff, between Caldy steps and Dee SC.
1 Short-eared Owl near Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Hen Harrier this morning, 2 Marsh Harrier at lunch time and 1 Spoonbill over late afternoon - Parkgate.
2 Cattle Egret, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Hen Harrier and 2,500+ Pink-footed Geese - Burton Mere Wetlands.

The October Newsletter includes:
Wetland Bird Survey 2016-17, Wirral Wader Festival 2018, Colour Ring Report Knot Special and  Forthcoming Events.
Newsletters going back to March 1998 can be read, they are indexed both month by month and by subject matter.

Chough flying above the cliffs between Caldy and Thurstaston, October 16th © Steve Williams


Chough near the shore between Caldy and Thurstaston, October 16th © Alan Hitchmough


Juvenile Black-tailed Godwit on Meols Shore, October 9th © Paul McDonnell



Barn Owl at Parkgate, October 3rd © Frank Burns



Pink-footed Geese at Burton Mere Wetlands, September 30th © Mark Washington


Photographers - please note there is a wildlife photographers code of practice , also read Guidelines.
Please Maintain a safe working distance from all birds, particularly roosts, so as not to cause unnecessary disturbance.
"There is one hard and fast rule whose spirit must be observed at all times. The welfare of the subject is more important than the photograph."