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.

Please send any sightings to:

January Newsletter now published on this website featuring Species Spotlight - Shoveler, 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)

Jan 17
2 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.
1 Scaup - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Siberian Chiffchaff - Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate.

Jan 16
1 Shorelark at 3pm, just off north end - West Kirby Marine Lake.
24 Brent Geese on beach below Dee Sailing club on ebbing tide - Thurstaston.
2 Snow Bunting - Gronant.
1 Siberian Chiffchaff with 3 Chiffchaff - Leasowe Lighthouse.
4 Short-eared Owl (one came very close to the Old Baths) this afternoon - Parkgate.

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Brent Geese at Thurstaston, January 16th © Richard Smith

Chiffchaff (Siberian/tristis?) by Leasowe Lighthouse, January 15th © Sean O'Hara

Brent Geese (note dark-bellied left of centre) on West Kirby Marine Lake, January 14th © Steve Williams

Drake Scaup on West Kirby Marine Lake, January 11th © Jeremy Bradshaw

Drake Teals at Thurstaston, January 10th © Richard Smith

Brent Geese on West Kirby Marine Lake, January 10th © Carole Killikelly

Pink-footed Geese flying into the estuary over Thurstaston, January 10th © Richard Smith

Short-eared Owl off Denhall Quay, January 9th © Jake Goswell

Redwing at Parkgate, January 6th © Nigel Favager

Stonechat at Denhall Quay, January 5th © Paul Liversage

Goosander and Scaup, West Kirby Marine Lake, January 5th © Steve Williams

Purple Sandpiper, Hilbre, January 3rd © Elliot Montieth

Pink-footed Goose and Teal at Parkgate, January 2nd © John Kane

Brent Geese on West Kirby Marine Lake, December 30th © Bruce Hogan

Goldeneye (drake) on West Kirby Marine Lake, December 29th © Alan Hitchmough

Goldeneye (female) on West Kirby Marine Lake, December 28th © Joe Downing

Redwing by Old Baths, Parkgate, December 26th © Carole Killikelly

Fieldfare near Denhall, December 24th © Nigel Favager

Short-eared Owl off Old Baths, Parkgate, December 23rd © Frank Burns

Short-eared Owl on Neston Marsh, December 16th © Mark Woodhead

Common Snipe at Parkgate, December 16th © Joe Downing

Short-eared Owl at Denhall Quay, December 11th © Jeff Cohen

Bufflehead at Point of Ayr, December 8th © Mike Pollard

Tawny Owl at Burton Mere Wetlands, December 8th © John Hewitt

Peregrine with prey (a Knot), Meols, December 6th © Rob Pettitt

Big Knot flock on rising tide, Meols, December 5th © Richard Smith

Short-eared Owl at Neston Old Quay, Novmber 30th © Jake Goswell

Waders at high tide, Flint Castle, November 24th © Jeff Cohen

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.