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Archived Latest Sightings:
November and December 2014.

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Click here to see list of Archived latest sightings from September 2000.


Dec 31
3 Black-necked Grebe - Shotwick Lake, 11 Whooper Swan in nearby fields.
c200 Pink-footed Geese over Thurstaston Shore this morning.
2 Snow Bunting and 2 Stonechat - Leasowe Bay.
1 Woodcock flushed from flooded field - Carr Lane, Meols.
6 Red-breasted Merganser and 6 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Dec 30
1 Shag and 6 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
26 Little Egret, 153 Golden Plover, 460 Lapwing,  5000+ Knot, 25 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1,450 Black-tailed Godwit - Heswall/Thurstaston Shore this morning, also 32 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail and 4 Chiffchaff at Target Rd Sewage Works.
2 Black-necked Grebe - Shotwick Lake, 11 Bewick's Swan and 5 Whooper Swan in adjacent fields.

Dec 29
3 Black-necked Grebe - Shotwick Lake.
190 Pink-footed Geese feeding in field off Wirral Way, Thurstaston.
10,000 Knot and 800 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore this morning.

Dec 28
3 Black-necked Grebe - Shotwick Lake, also 4 Bewick's Swan and 14 Whooper Swan in adjacent fields.
175 Pink-footed Geese feeding in field off Wirral Way, Thurstaston.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate Marsh, early morning, 2 Great White Egret this afternoon.

Dec 27
2 Great White Egret this morning, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine this evening- Parkgate Marsh.
1 Black-necked Grebe - Shotwick Lake.
670 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Knot and 60 Redshank - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
300 Pink-footed Geese feeding in field off Wirral Way, Thurstaston.

Dec 26
2 Great White Egret - Burton Marsh.
1 Black-necked Grebe, 4 Whooper Swan and 4 Bewick's Swan - Shotwick Lake.
1 Greenshank by groyne, 1 Peregrine hunting over sand bank and 1 Kingfisher along River Birket - Leasowe Lighthouse.
18 Little Egret, 2200 Oystercatcher, 158 Golden Plover, 490 Lapwing, 400 Dunlin, 600 Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 890 Black-tailed Godwit, 530 Curlew - Heswall Shore.

Dec 24
2 Great White Egret - Burton Marsh.
138 Golden Plover, 340 Lapwing, 700 Dunlin, 780 Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 620 Curlew - Heswall Shore as tide came in.

Dec 23
10 Purple Sandpiper, 230 Turnstone, 850 Redshank and 60 Dunlin - New Brighton Marine Lake at high tide.
70+ Fieldfare over Heswall Golf  Course at high tide.
1 Black Guillemot, 5 Red-throated Diver, 1 Shag and 3 Gannet - Hilbre, for details see http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/.

Dec 22
5 Spotted Redshank, 1000+ Dunlin and 2 Rock Pipit - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Black-necked Grebe - Shotwick Lake, east end.
140 Brent Geese - West Kirby shore at high tide.

Dec 21
10 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
1 Greenshank on groyne, also 1 Peregrine - Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Snow Bunting west end of Leasowe Bay, at least one of these birds thought to be different from those in November, see Lighthouse Blog for photos.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate Marsh.
1 Peregrine and 1 Cetti's Warbler - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Dec 20
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail) at first light - Parkgate Marsh.

Dec 19
c650 Black-tailed Godwit - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
1 Shag and 2 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Cetti's Warbler showed briefly at the first screen hide this morning, also 1 Hen Hrrier (ringtail) and 1 Marsh Harrier (juv) - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Marsh.

Dec 18
1,000 Black-tailed Godwit - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
248 Pink-footed Geese in field below Dungeon Wood - Thurstaston.
1 Shag - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Great White Egret - Burton Marsh.

Dec 17
1,900 Black-tailed Godwit - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
2 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate Marsh at noon.
1 Shag - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Dec 16
1 Shag - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1,880 Black-tailed Godwit in field by Newton playing fields, West Kirby.
1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Green Sandpiper - Flint Sewage Works.
c5,000 Pink-footed Geese feeding on Oakenholt Marsh.
1,518 Cormorant flew out of the estuary, also 1 Rock Pipit - Hilbre, for details see http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/.

Dec 15
2 Marsh Harrier (both juv) and 2 Peregrine on Oakenholt Marsh...a juvenile female Peregrine caught a Teal and carried it on to Oakenholt Marsh. One of the harriers pursued the Peregrine and knocked it off the prey, claiming the duck for itself. A few second later the second Marsh Marrier tried to muscle in on the stolen quarry and in the ensuing struggle, the Teal incredibly flew off seemingly unhurt!
5 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank and 1 Kingfisher - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Shag - West Kirby Marine Lake.
262 Brent Geese (incl 1 dark-bellied) - Hilbre, for details see http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/.

Dec 14
1,600 Black-tailed Godwit in field by Newton playing fields, West Kirby.
2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and  1 Water Rail - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Marsh Harrier - Old Baths, Parkgate.

Dec 13
156 Brent Geese on west side of Middle Eye before high tide.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Old Baths, Parkgate.
2 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier and 2 Water Rail - Burton Mere Wetlands.
10 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake pontoon.

Dec 12
710 Pintail - Thurstaston Shore.
112 Pink-footed Geese in field below Dungeon Wood, Thurstaston.
1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Water Rail - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Dec 11
1 Marsh Harrier this morning and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 2 Marsh Harrier (fem) this afternoon - Parkgate Marsh.
175 Lapwing, 120 eal and 10 Shoveler flushed by the Marsh Harrier from Bevyl Road Flash, Parkgate, this morning.
Good numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings in Parkgate area.
1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Peregrine and 1 Cattle Egret (now associating with sheep) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Dec 10
10 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake pontoon.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail) came in to the roost - Old Baths, Parkgate.

Dec 9
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Peregrine, 1 Cattle Egret, c1,000 Pink-footed Geese, 80+ Golden Plover and 1 Water Rail - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2,000 Knot, 4,000 Dunlin and 168 Brent Geese - West Kirby shore at high tide with a further 67 Brent Geese off Little Eye giving total 235 which is highest count of winter.

Dec 8
2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine and 1 Cattle Egret with sheep as cattle have been taken on for winter - Burton Mere Wetlands.
10 Purple Sandpiper, 140 Turnstone and 510 Redshank - New Brighton Marine Lake pontoon.
186 Brent Geese - West Kirby shore at high tide.

Dec 7
59 Little Egret, 28 Pink-footed Geese, 560 Pintail, 470 Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank - Heswall Shore this morning.
2 Marsh Harrier over, 3 Peregrine and 50+ Twite - Connah's Quay Reserve.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Merlin and 1 Peregrine - Old Baths, Parkgate, this afternoon.
3,700 Dunlin, c6,500 Knot, 421 Grey Plover, 537 Sanderling and 71 Bar-tailed Godwit - Hoylake Shore at high tide.
Possible 3 or 4 Long-tailed Duck off Meols at high tide but wind and waves made viewing very difficult.
1 Cattle Egret, 1 Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Merlin - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Dec 6
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Marsh Harrier seen sparring in the air - Burton Mere Wetlands.
10-12 Long-tailed Duck off Meols, two small groups flying plus a few singles, at high tide, also 1 Velvet Scoter.
600+ Common Scoter off shore, 1 Greenshank on groyne - Leasowe Lighthouse.
151 Golden Plover, 640 Lapwing, 350 Dunlin, 310 Redshank, 1200 Black-tailed Godwit (11 colour ringed) - Heswall Shore before high tide.
90 Pink-footed Geese feeding in field below Dungeon Wood, Thurstaston.
3 Goldeneye and 11 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake early morning.

Dec 5
8 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Goldeneye, 1 Kingfisher, 2000+ Dunlin and 250 Pink-footed Geese (over) - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Cattle Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin and 1 Peregrine - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Dec 4
160+ Twite - Connah's Quay Reserve, West Hide area.
1 Cattle Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Mere Wetlands.
230 Great Crested Grebe and 2,600 Common Scoter on a mirror like sea - Dove Point, Meols at high tide.
660 Pintail, 5,000 Knot and 1,500 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore as high tide went out with many birds feeding close to the beach.

Dec 3
At Least 11 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Whooper Swan on sand off Red Rocks.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate Marsh, early morning.
15 Twite, 1 Kingfisher, 10 Spotted Redshank, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and 1300 Dunlin - Connah's Quay Reserve over high tide.
1 Snow Bunting, 1 Water Rail and 1 Cetti's Warbler - Gronant.

Dec 2
1 Cattle Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier and 1 Merlin - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Dec 1
1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Kingfisher - Burton Mere Wetlands.
181 Brent Geese (incl 1 dark-nellied) and 4 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre.

Nov 30
1 Cattle Egret, 2 Great White Egret, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Merlin and 1 Marsh Harrier - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Hen Harrier and 1 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate Marsh.
2 Snow Bunting - Gronant beach.
2 Great White Egret and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Marsh.
2 Whooper Swan over and several Stonechats present - Leasowe Lighthouse, see Lighthouse blog for details.

Nov 29
1 Cattle Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1,380 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore.
2,000 Common Scoter, 346 Great Crested Grebe and 34 Teal off Leasowe Lighthouse over high tide, see Lighthouse blog for details.

Nov 28
1 Swallow over Thurstaston Visitor Centre.
c1,500 Black-tailed Godwit, 310 Bar-tailed Godwit, c8,000 Knot and 520 Pintail - Thurstaston Shore as tide came in, several small flocks Pink-footed Geese over c250 in total.
11 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Goldeneye on lake, 107 Turnstone, 249 Dunlin and 86 Redshank on rocks - West Kirby Marine Lake.
c15,000 Knot and 3,000 Dunlin - West Kirby Shore.
1 Ring-necked Parakeet - Claremont Road, West Kirby, also seen yesterday.

Nov 27
1,650 Black-tailed Godwit and 300+ Pintail - Thurstaston Shore as tide came in.
1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier (1juv, 1 adult F) and 1 Peregrine - Neston Reed Bed this afternoon.
5 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
189 Brent Geese - Hilbre.

Nov 26
10 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1,000+ Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore.
1 Curlew Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.
138 Brent Geese - West Kirby Shore.

Nov 25
75+ Twite - Connah's Quay Nature Reserve seen from West Hide.
2 Great White Egret flew into roost - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Short-eared Owl spent 45 minutes flying over the waves off Leasowe Lighthouse before flying west.


Nov 24
80+ Twite - Connah's Quay Nature Reserve seen from West Hide.
700 Black-tailed Godwit and 280 Pintail - Thurstaston Shore as tide came in.
1 Cattle Egret, 1 ring-tail Hen Harrier and 1 Marsh Harrier - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Nov 23
2 Marsh Harrier (juvs), 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Kingfisher and 100+ Pinkfooted Geese - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Old Baths, Parkgate, this afternoon.
1 Kingfisher - New Brighton Marine Lake, flew off west along coast.

Nov 22
1 Cattle Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Mere Wetlands.
115+ Twite - Connah's Quay Nature Reserve seen from West Hide.
1 Greenshank on groyne - Meols Shore.
250 Common Scoter and 1 Red-throated Diver - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) came into roost, also 1 Merlin - Old Baths, Parkgate.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Merlin - Denhall Quay this afternoon.

Nov 21
210 Turnstone, 300 Redshank and 1,000 Dunlin on rocks at West Kirby Marine Lake at high tide, 8 Red-breasted Merganser this afternoon.

Nov 20
73 Twite, 1 Rock Pipit, 1200+ Dunlin, 1200+ Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Peregrine - Connah's Quay Nature Reserve seen from West Hide.
120 Golden Plover, 120 Bar-tailed Godwit and 1,100 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore after high tide.
100+ Fieldfare in Deeside Industrial Estate.
1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Cattle Egret and 1 Marsh Harrier - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Nov 19
1 Velvet Scoter flew past Hilbre.

Nov 18
9,600 Knot roosting at low tide in channel - Thurstaston Shore.

Nov 17
9 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
71 Little Egret, 124 Golden Plover, 519 Lapwing, 700 Redshank and c2000 Knot - Heswall Shore this morning.
1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Neston Reedbed.
1 Cattle Egret, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail),  1 Marsh Harrier and 300 Teal, 2 Cattle Egret and 221 Little Egret came into roost - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Nov 16
2 Snow Bunting on embankment by Leasowe Castle, but becoming elusive.
1 Cattle Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 2 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Whooper Swan flew over,  5 Brambling and 6 Stonechat (2 from Reception hide, 4 at Inner Marsh Farm) - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Greenshank on shore - Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Marsh Harrier and 1 Merlin which caught a bird right in front of the car park - Old Baths, Parkgate, at dusk.

Nov 15
2 Snow Bunting still on embankment by Leasowe Castle.
73 Little Egret left roost on Heswall Fields at dawn, 540 Black-tailed Godwit and 2,000 Knot - Heswall Shore.
28 Twite - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Crossbill over flying NE - Thurstaston Country Park.
2 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Old Baths, Parkgate, up to dusk this afternoon.
1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier ringtail (over scrape/wet grassland in front of Reception hide), 3 Water Rail (2 at Reedbed screen, 1 at Marsh Covert hide), 1 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Raven - Burton Point/Burton Marsh.
1 Kingfisher and 1 Water Rail - Leasowe Lighthouse area, see nice video of Water Rail here http://youtu.be/Zt-hVkMEx3o.

Nov 14
1 Swallow - New Brighton, over at mid-day.
2 Snow Bunting still on embankment by Leasowe Castle.
273 Great Crested Grebe and 440 Common Scoter off Dove Point, Meols, at high tide.
500 Black-tailed Godwit - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine - Burton Mere Wetlands, late morning.
1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harrier - Parkgate Old Baths, this afternoon.
2 Peregrine Falcon, 10 Little Grebe and a minimum of 4 Kingfisher counted between the West Hide and Flint Bridge - Connah's Quay.

Nov 13
2 Snow Bunting still on embankment by Leasowe Castle.
3 Twite - Red Rocks.

Nov 12
2 Snow Bunting still on embankment by Leasowe Castle.
2+ Twite and 1 Cetti's Warbler - Red Rocks.
1 Twite - horse paddocks, Leasowe Lighthouse.

Nov 11
2 Snow Bunting still on embankment by Leasowe Castle.
415 Pintail - Thurstaston Shore as tide came in.
1 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate Old Baths early afternoon.
1,185 Bar-tailed Godwit - Hoylake Shore at high tide.
16 Twite - Red Rocks.
2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and 1 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Nov 10
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate Old Baths early morning.
20 Twite, appeared to fly into marsh but couldn't be located - Red Rocks.
2 Snow Bunting by Leasowe Castle.
283 Great Crested Grebe and c350 Scoter offshore - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Marsh Harrier early morning, 100 Pink-footed Geese dropped in from the north and landed just off Riverbank Road an hour before high tide - Heswall Shore.
1 Black Redstart trapped and ringed on Hilbre, note 176 Red-throated Diver yesterday.

Nov 9
1 Barred Warbler in private garden late afternoon - West Kirby.
10 Twite (flew SW), 8 Brambling and 750 Chiaffinch over, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Water Rail in reed-bed - Red Rocks.
255 Common Scoter, 206 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Wigeon, 4 Stonechat and 2 Bullfinch - Leasowe Lighthouse.
110 Pintail, 119 Golden Plover, 700 Knot, 400 Dunlin, 1,800 Redshank, 1,825 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Rock Pipit (near boatyard) - Heswall Shore as tide came in.
119 Brent Geese total for Middle Eye, Little Eye and West Kirby Marsh at high tide.
1 Sparrow Hawk (male),1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 3 Marsh Harrier (1 male and 2 female ) - Parkgate Old Baths this afternoon.

Nov 8
1,650 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore as tide came in.
800 Grey Plover, 1,000 Sanderling, 14,000 Dunlin and 6,000 Knot - Hoylake Shore as tide came in, max counts with many birds coming and going over period of an hour.
400 Common Scoter, 150+ Great Crested Grebe and 1 Whooper Swan (flew west), 1 Greenshank by groyne - Leasowe Lighthouse.
99+ Twite - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Great White Egret - Burton Marsh.
2 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine - Parkgate Old Baths this afternoon.

Nov 7
1 injured Pomarine Skua found and taken into care, also 1 Great Northern Diver flew past - Hilbre.
500 Sanderling, 200 Grey Plover, 3,000 Dunlin and 7,000 Knot - Hoylake Shore at high tide but  note numbers very approximate due to heavy and continous rain!
71+ Twite - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Merlin, 1 Cattle Egrat, 1 Hen Harrier (attacked a Buzzard!), 1 Marsh Harrier and 56 Little Egret which came into roost - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Nov 6
1,000+ Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore before high tide, 300 Fieldfare over in 30 minutes at Visitor Centre.
3,000+ Fieldfare over Burton Marsh this morning.
34+ Twite and 1 Grey Wagtail (colour-ringed) - Connah's Quay Reserve.
16 Twite and c75 Sky Lark - Gronant this afternoon.
88 Brent Geese off the marsh, c200 Fieldfare over and 12 Common Snipe - West Kirby Shore as tide came in, also 4 'possible' Velvet Scoters flew past but not confirmed.

Nov 5
1 Great White Egret and 2 Hen Harrier - Burton Marsh.
1,300 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore at lunch time.
186 Fieldfare (total for day), 22 Blackbird, 11 Mistle Thrush and 22 Golden Plover (over) -  Leasowe Lighthouse, see Lighthouse Blog for details and photos.

Nov 4
1 Siberian Chiffchaff - Leasowe Lighthouse.
1 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
1 Little Stint, 1,460 Black-tailed Godwit and 80 Pintail - Heswall/Thurstaston Shore this morning.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate Marsh this morning.
300 Pink-footed Geese over Newton, West Kirby, heading north this morning.
1 Pomarine Skua (light phase), 3 Gannet, 582 Curlew and 480 Shelduck - highlights from Hilbre, for details and photos see the Hilbre Obs Blog.

Nov 3
2 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Wheatear - Red Rocks.
1 Siberian Chiffchaff, 1 Twite and 103 Great Crested Grebe - Leasowe Lighthouse.
70 Pintail - Thurstaston Shore at low tide.

Nov 2
7 Spotted Redshank - Connah's Quay Reserve.
1 Marsh Tit on Caldy Hill by the Column, heard and seen at close range.
2 White Wagtail and 4 Stonechat - Burton Point.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and 1 Great White Egret - Parkgate Old Baths.

Nov 1
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) at sunrise then 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and grey male) and 1 Marsh Harrier (fem) late afternoon - Parkgate Old Baths.
1 Marsh Harrier (fem) - Burton Marsh.
1 Merlin - Burton Mere Wetlands.
44 Little Egret, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Peregrine, 90 Golden Plover, 2 Greenshank, 240 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Raven - Heswall Shore this morning.
1,000+ Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore.

Click here to see Archived latest sightings from September 2000.