Archived Latest Sightings

November and December 2004.

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December 31 60 Brent Goose (pale-bellied), yet another record number, also 3 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre Island.
2 Stonechat (pair) - Inner Marsh Farm.
80+ Bewick's Swan and 10 Whooper Swan - Flint Marsh.
3 Hen Harrier (1m) - Parkgate Old Baths, coming in to roost.
December 30 210 Pintail and 175 Bar-tailed Godwit, plus estimated 20,000 Oystercatcher and 10,000 Knot - Thurstaston Shore.
195 Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Curlew and 110 Oystercatcher in one small field next to A540, near Stapledon Wood.
1 Smew (drake), 1 Green-winged Teal (drake) and 8 Ruff - Inner Marsh Farm.
5 Hen Harrier (1m), 1 Peregrine and 1 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate Old Baths, coming in to roost.
100+ Waxwing - Ewloe, by St David's Hotel (Ewloe is about 1 mile west of Queensferry). 
1 Water Rail - West Kirby Shore, in marsh.
December 29 4,000 Dunlin, 3,500 Knot, 450 Grey Plover and 30 Bar-tailed Godwit - West Kirby Shore at high tide.
15 Brent Goose between the islands as tide came in, and 23 on the island earlier, also 1 rock Pipit - Hilbre Island.
23 Waxwing - Connah's Quay, 80 Waxwing in nearby Ewloe by St David's Hotel.
1 Smew (drake), 1 Green-winged Teal and 10 Ruff - Inner Marsh Farm, Smew also seen on Shotwick Lake.
1 Water Pipit, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrine and 3 Little Egret - Neston Old Quay.
40+ Bewick's Swan - Flint Marsh.
85 Bewick's Swan and 10 Whooper Swan - Burton Marsh.
December 28 5,000 Dunlin, 3,500 Knot, 750 Grey Plover and 30 Bar-tailed Godwit - West Kirby Shore at high tide.
2 Hen Harrier (ring-tail) and 1 Peregrine - Burton Marsh, 100+ Skylark, 60+ Linnet and 2 Yellowhammer in stubble field next to marsh.
December 27 17 Brent Goose - Little Eye.
7,000 Dunlin, 2,000 Knot, 260 Grey Plover and 250 Bar-tailed Godwit - West Kirby Shore at high tide, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 9 Goldeneye on the Marine Lake, 8 Turnstones feeding around north end of lake before high tide including two eating bread along with numerous feral pigeons and Black-headed Gulls!
5 Hen Harrier (4 ring-tails seen in air together and 1 ad. male) coming to roost and 1 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate Old Baths.
December 26 750 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Shore.
4 Hen Harrier (3 ring-tail and 1 ad. male) coming to roost, plus 5 Little Egret, 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Water Pipit - Parkgate Old Baths.
9 Purple Sandpiper roosting on rocks by life-guard station - Wallasey.
December 24 3 Hen Harrier (2 ring-tail and 1 ad. male) coming to roost - Parkgate Old Baths.
December 23 56 Brent Goose (pale-bellied), 5,000 Oystercatcher, 52 ringed Plover, 5,000 Dunlin and 200 Curlew  - Hilbre Island/East Hoyle Bank as tide went out this morning, provided by the Hilbre bird Observatory.
2 Water Rail - Red Rocks Marsh.
4 Hen Harrier (3 ring-tail and 1 ad. male) coming to roost - Parkgate Old Baths.
December 21 56 Brent Goose (pale-bellied), record number  - Hilbre Island.
2,240 Bar-tailed Godwit - Leasowe Shore.
1 Smew (drake) - Inner Marsh Farm.
December 19 4 Hen Harrier (3 ring-tail - incl 1 imm male - and 1 ad. male), 2 Short-eared Owl and 1 Peregrine - Parkgate Old Baths.
December 18 1 Peregrine, 420 Teal, 800 Lapwing, 4,000 Knot and 8,000 Oystercatcher - Heswall Shore, one of the Oystercatchers was pure white apart from black wing tips.
2 Hen Harrier (ring-tail and male), 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Peregrine - Parkgate Old Baths.
December 17 31 Lesser Redpoll in garden near Gilroy Nature Park.
25,000+ waders, mostly Knot, being harassed by a Peregrine in strong winds an hour before high tide - spectacular! - Hoylake Shore.
December 16 2 Spotted Redshank - Hoylake Shore.
December 15 2 Spotted Redshank, 3,800 Dunlin, 700 Knot, 340 Grey Plover, 100 Redshank, 3,000 Oystercatcher and 1 Peregrine - West Kirby shore at high tide, counted by the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens.
34 Brent Goose - Little Eye at high tide.
3 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.
1 Hen Harrier (ring-tail), 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Merlin (f), 1 Stonechat, 1 Peregrine and 3+ Little Egret - Parkgate Old Baths at high tide.
December 14 1 Woodcock - Newton Common (next to Caldy Woods).
4,500 Dunlin, 2,300 Knot, 1,000 Grey Plover, 54 Redshank and 50 Sanderling, all disturbed by a Peregrine - West Kirby shore at high tide, counted by the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens.
200+ Redwing along the Wirral Way.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 2 Bewick's Swan and at least 4 Little Egret - Neston Old Quay.
December 13 2 Peregrine - Heswall Shore, Riverbank Road.
3 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Peregrine - Parkgate Marsh at high tide, Peregrine and one of the Harriers had a bit of a battle for about 10 minutes!
27 Brent Goose - Little Eye at high tide.
December 12 19 Scaup (in open water beyond marsh), 1,690 Shelduck, 361 Golden Plover, 8,740 Oystercatcher, 342 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine and 4 Hen Harrier (incl 1 'grey' male, all seen in air together) - Heswall Shore at high tide.
23 Brent Goose and 15 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre Island.
26 Brent Goose on Bird Rock (off Red Rocks) at high tide.
5 Brent Goose on Little Eye at high tide.
30,000+ waders on Hoylake Shore at high tide, mainly Knot and Dunlin with good numbers of Grey Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit.
8 Waxwing - Flint, near leisure centre then moved to opposite Premier Flexible Packaging.
December 11 14,000 Knot, 8,000 Dunlin, 470 Sanderling, 400 Grey Plover and 720 Bar-tailed Godwit - Hoylake Shore at high tide.
4 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh, seen from Denhall Quay.
1 Green-winged Teal (drake) - Inner Marsh Farm.
2 Water Pipit and 2 Hen Harrier (ring tail) - Neston Old Quay.
December 10 8 Short-eared Owl, 2 Hen Harrier (both male), 1 Peregrine and 1 Merlin - Burton Marsh.
70 Little Egret came in to roost at Inner Marsh Farm, also 1 Hen Harrier (ring tail and 2 White-fronted Goose.
3 Water Pipit - Neston Old Quay.
200 Curlew, 50 Lapwing and 2 Bullfinch - Hoylake Langfields, 2 pair of Shoveler on nearby Gilroy Nature Reserve.
December 8 21 Waxwing - Little Neston by Doctors Surgery, but only briefly at lunch time.
December 7 14,000 Knot and 400 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore.

Latest Newsletter published.
December 6 47 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) - Hilbre Island this morning.
1 Smew (fem.) and 7 White-fronted Goose - Inner Marsh Farm.
December 5 30 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare, 3 Raven and 6 Tree Sparrow around Thurstaston Visitor Centre this morning.
3 Hen Harrier (1 male), 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine and approx. 10 Little Egret - Parkgate by Old Baths, this evening.
December 4 42 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) and 6 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre Island, 51 PB Brent there on 30th November.
1 Red-crested Pochard on Birkenhead Park lower lake.
2 Hen Harrier (1 male), 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine and approx. 10 Little Egret - Parkgate by Old Baths, this evening.
December 3 47 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) - Hilbre Island, report of 51 earlier in the week, details to follow.
3 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.
2 Red-crested Pochard on Birkenhead Park lower lake, confirmed with photo of drake (thanks Eric!).
3 Bewick's Swan and 11 Ruff - Inner Marsh Farm.
7 Goldeneye and 1 Shag (imm.) - West Kirby Marine Lake.
2 Hen Harrier (1 male), 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine and 2 Little Egret - Parkgate by Old Baths, this afternoon.
 
December 2 6,000 Dunlin, 10,000 Oystercatcher, 110 Golden Plover, 450 Lapwing, 160 Black-tailed Godwit and 8,000 Knot - Thurstaston Shore at low tide.

Latest Newsletter published.
December 1 6 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.
5 Waxwing flew south over Hoylake.
242 Curlew, 19 Black-tailed Godwit and 47 Golden Plover - Hoylake Langfields.
1,280 Lapwing, 2 Raven, 2 Greenshank, 700 Dunlin and 200 Black-tailed Godwit - Connah's Quay Reserve.
November 30 460 Black-tailed Godwit and 3,000 Knot - Heswall Shore.
4 Hen Harrier (1 male) and 1 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate by Old Baths, this evening.
10 Purple Sandpiper roosting on rocks by Life-guard Station -  Wallasey.
November 29  2 Merlin and 1 Peregrine hunting over the marsh at Point of Ayr.
1 Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin and at least 4 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.
November 28 3 Hen Harrier (male, imm. male and fem.), 1 Short-eared Owl and 5 Little Egret - Parkgate by Old Baths, this evening.
13 Purple Sandpiper roosting on rocks by Life-guard Station -  Wallasey.
November 27 14 Purple Sandpiper roosting on rocks by Life-guard Station -  Wallasey.
2,000 Dunlin, 1,000 Knot, 380 Grey Plover and 320 Bar-tailed Godwit - West Kirby shore at high tide, counted by the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens, 1 Shag still on the Marine Lake.
560 Sanderling, 5,800 Knot, 3,700 Dunlin, 330 Grey Plover and 150 Shelduck - Hoylake shore at high tide.
1 Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin and 5 Little Egret - Burton Marsh.
42 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) - Hilbre Island.
November 26 9 Purple Sandpiper and 40 Turnstone roosting on rocks by Life-guard Station, Wallasey - no sign of Snow bunting.
5,000 Dunlin, 3,000 Knot, 300 Grey Plover and 300 Bar-tailed Godwit - West Kirby shore at high tide, counted by the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens.
2 Waxwing - Neston, but unfortunately on private land and not visible to public!
November 25 3 Short-eared Owl and 1 Stonechat (m) - Burton Marsh.
260 Black-tailed Godwit and 75 Bar-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore.
November 24 28 Brent Goose - Little Eye at high tide.
1 Shag, 9 Goldeneye and 7 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1,400 Dunlin, 1,200 Knot, 44 Sanderling and 35 Bar-tailed Godwit - West Kirby shore at high tide, counted by the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens.
1 Snow Bunting - Wallasey Shore by Lifeguard Station.
November 23 2 Hen Harrier (1m, 1f) and 5 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.
1 Snow Bunting - Wallasey Shore by Lifeguard Station.
November 22 1 Jack Snipe - West Kirby Shore, salt marsh.
2 Hen Harrier (ring tail) - Parkgate by Old Baths, this evening.
November 20 6 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
2 Common Buzzard over Thurstaston.
3 Hen Harrier (incl 1 male), 3 Merlin and 1 Peregrine - Parkgate by Old Baths, this evening.
2 Short-eared Owl and 30 Little Egret flying over - Burton Marsh.
37 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) - Hilbre Island.
November 19 34 Brent Goose (pale-bellied), 1 Merlin and 1 Snow Bunting - Hilbre Island.
5 Goldeneye, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Shag (imm.) -  West Kirby Marine Lake.
4,400 Knot and 740 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore.
November 17 2 Raven, 1 Peregrine, 3 Ruff, 2 Whooper Swan and 8 Snipe - Inner Marsh Farm.
November 16 1 Ring-billed Gull (ad.) reported from Connah's Quay by sewage works.
2 Shag (imm.) and 2 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.
November 15 1,000+ Black-tailed Godwit on Warren Fields (next to Point of Ayr).
3,060 Dunlin, 170 Grey Plover and 40 Sanderling - West Kirby Shore counted by the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 4 Short-eared Owl and 6 Little Egret - Burton Marsh.
6 Snow Bunting - Gronant Beach.
November 14 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and 25 Brent Goose - Heswall, Riverbank Road.
1 Shag, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Goldeneye and 1 Great Crested Grebe - West Kirby Marine Lake.
6 Ruff, 3 Whooper Swan and at least 50 Little Egret - Inner Marsh Farm.
November 13 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and 19 Brent Goose - Heswall, Riverbank Road.
November 12 1 Little Auk reported off Point of Ayr.
1 Peregrine (male) - Flint Marsh.
1 Green-winged Teal and 23 Little Egret - Inner Marsh Farm.

Additions to newsletter - Open Day at Connah's Quay 13th Nov and Wardens at POA.
November 11 5 Whooper Swan flew over Point of Ayr hide.
1 Short-eared Owl and 500+ Black-tailed Godwit - Warren Fields.
3,000 Dunlin, 500 Redshank, 50 Bar-tailed Godwit, 250 Curlew and 300 Grey Plover - West Kirby Shore as counted by DEVW.
4 Whooper Swan and 3 Ruff - Inner Marsh Farm.
2 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.
15+ Brent Goose - Little Eye.
November 10 18 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) - Little Eye, at high tide.
1 Shag (imm.) - West Kirby Marine Lake, 160 Redshank and 70 Turnstone on the lake wall at high tide, 1 Peregrine on the shore.
60 Pintail just off Thurstaston cliffs by Visitor Centre.
1 Hen Harrier (ring tail) put up about 30 snipe - Burton Marsh.
November 9 2 Shag (imm.), 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Goldeneye and 6 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
November 8 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kittiwake, 4,000 Oystercatcher and 4 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre Island.
1 Shag (imm.) and 5 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
6 Short-eared Owl off Denhall Quay.
2 Hen Harrier (m and f) - Parkgate.
November 7 25 Brent Goose, 2 Kittiwake and 8 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre Island.
2 Shag (imm.) and 3 Great Crested Grebe - West Kirby Marine Lake, 1,200 Shelduck on mud off south end of lake this afternoon.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and male), 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Merlin - Parkgate.
4 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.
1 Green-winged Teal - Inner Marsh Farm.
November 6 1 Peregrine, 2 Stonechat, 1 Green-winged Teal, 3 Ruff, 20+ Snipe and 1 Spotted Redshank - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 2 Little Egret - Parkgate.
November 5 40 Turnstone, 150 Lapwing, 25 Ringed Plover and 1 Purple Sandpiper on shore next to Leasowe Lighthouse at low tide.
1 Green-winged Teal, 6 Ruff and 1 Spotted Redshank - Inner Marsh Farm, 47 Little Egrets came in to roost.
2 Hen Harrier (m. and f.) - Parkgate this evening.
November 4 10 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) and 2 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre Island.
4 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan, 3 Water Rail and 4 Ruff - Inner Marsh Farm.
November 3 3 Hen Harrier (1m) - Parkgate this afternoon.
14 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) - Hilbre Island.
November 1 220 Black-tailed Godwit, 2,500 Knot and thousands of Shelduck - Thurstaston Shore as the tide went out.
10 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) - Hilbre Island.
Unconfirmed report of Little Bunting at Talacre, been there for 3 weeks!?
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