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Send your latest sightings for inclusion in this page to Richard Smith, by  , any sightings welcome.
Note: RSPB Inner Marsh Farm is open from 9am - 9pm (or dusk if earlier) and is closed on Tuesdays.  There is a modest charge for non-members.

Click here to see Archived latest sightings from September 2000.
For nationwide latest sightings try Bird Call.

The February newsletter is now published  on this website.
NEW - Flint Birdwatch on Feb 17th and RSPB Burton Point Hill Fort Walk on Feb 27th. Click here for details, then scroll down.
Click here for 'Wingspan', Bird Events 2010.

February 8:
1 Scaup - West Kirby Marine Lake.
2 Mediterranean Gull (1ad, 1st win) - New Brighton, on grassy area by prom.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.
1 Marsh Harrier (fem) and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) over Boathouse Flash, Parkgate this afternoon.
14,000 Knot - Thurstaston Shore.
3 Short-eared Owl and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) off Burton Point, 2 Short-eared Owl hunting in field by Denhall Lane.

February 7:
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr, by Presthaven sands caravan park.
1 Spoonbill off Denhall Quay.
7 Short-eared Owl, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier a Merlin and 2 Peregrine - Decca Pools, Burton Marsh.
1 Scaup - West Kirby Marine Lake, 2 Peregrine on the beach and 1 Short-eared Owl which flew up the estuary.
1 Velvet Scoter - Hilbre.
1 Marsh Harrier (fem), 3 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 4 Short-eared Owl, 1 Barn Owl and 1 Spoonbill -  Parkgate Marsh late afternoon.

February 6:
1 Scaup - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate Marsh.
4 Snow Bunting over at 08:15, 1 Corn Bunting (still present at 10:45) feeding at north end, 1 Velvet Scoter, 138+ Brent Geese, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 30 Wigeon and 2 Teal north end, 350 Wigeon in channel east of Middle, 250 Pinkfooted Geese flew northeast in two skeins, 1 Peregrine and 1 Sparrowhawk - Hilbre this morning.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) flew north along cliff top and 1 Short-eared Owl in field by Dungeon Bridge, also 10,700 Knot and 1 Jack Snipe - Thurstaston Shore.
5 Short-eared Owl and 3 Brambling, 150+ Pink-footed Geese over - Decca Pools, Burton.
1 Greenshank on groyne, 1 Stonechat in bushes - Meols Shore.
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr, by Presthaven sands caravan park.
465 Pink-footed Geese flew north in several skeins this afternoon - Heswall Shore.

February 5:
1 Scaup - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier (fem), 5 Short-eared Owl, 1 Merlin and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate Marsh.
c100 Linnet, c5,000 Knot, c50 Teal which were chased by a Peregrine, 2 Raven and 4 Bullfinch - Heswall Shore/Thurstaston, 1 Short-eared Owl roosting in cliff top bushes.
1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd win) - New Brighton.
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr, by Presthaven sands caravan park.

February 4:
1 Scaup - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Water Rail flushed by a dog and flew into reeds, 1 Mediterranean Gull on the sea - Red Rocks.
1 Spoonbill - Parkgate Marsh.
9 Purple Sandpiper  - Wallasey Lifeguard Station.
1 Mediterranean Gull - New Brighton.
35 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing in fields, 100 Bar-tailed Godwit, 330 Lapwing and 8 Skylark -Leasowe Lighthouse.

February 3:
1 Scaup - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) - Leasowe.
800+ Black-tailed Godwit, 650 Teal, 250 Pintail, 200 Wigeon and 4 Siskin - Inner Marsh Farm.

February 2:
2 Mediterranean Gull - New Brighton Marine Lake.
Another good high tide at Parkgate, the tide came in faster and higher than yesterday - there were at least 12 Short-eared Owls between the Boathouse Pub and Cottage Lane, Gayton, all flying either inland or along the coast towards Heswall, 1 Water Rail flew right overhead into the car park, also 2 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier (fem), 1 Raven and 1 Rock Pipit (Scandinavian race).
97 Brent Geese, 2 Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver, 125 Pintail and 4 Snow Bunting - Point of Ayr.
1 Velvet Scoter and 38 Red-throated Diver - Hilbre.

February 1:
5 Short-eared Owl (off north end of golf course), 1 Marsh Harrier (fem), 4 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Spoonbill, 2 Peregrine, 2 Merlin, 1 Raven, 2 Jack Snipe, 60+ Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 2 Rock Pipit, 6 Stonechat and 350 Pink-footed Geese - Parkgate Old Baths, tide came right into the wall a good 25 minutes after the Liverpool high tide time.
5 Long-tailed Duck flew west off Point of Ayr.
2 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier and 3 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh, Marsh Harrier also seen off Heswall.
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr, opposite Presthaven sands caravan park.
1 Scaup - West Kirby Marine Lake.
2 Short-eared Owl on fence posts in fields by Wirral Way - Thurstaston.

January 31:
4 Short Eared Owl, 2 Merlin and 1  Peregrine off Cottage Lane, Gayton, over high tide today, also 1 female Marsh Harrier and fox interacting with the fox leaping into the air at the Marsh Harrier.
4 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 2 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Short-eared Owl and 200+ Pink-footed Geese - Heswall, Riverbank Road.
2 Water Rail, 3 Bullfinch and 1 Brambling near boardwalk - Inner Marsh Farm.
4 Purple Sandpiper - Wallasey Lifeguard Station.
1 Scaup - West Kirby Marine Lake.
670 Pink-footed Geese, c300+ Linnet, 6 Brambling, 1 Merlin, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Burton Marsh, Decca Pools area.
1 Black Redstart, 3 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 6 Short-eared Owl at dusk - Burton Marsh.

January 30:
34 Bewick's Swan and 36 Whooper Swan - Shotwick Fields.
4 Long-tailed Duck and 3 Red-throated Diver, flock of 30 Skylark - Point 0f Ayr.
2 Brent Geese - Gronant.
1 Spoonbill, 2 Hen Harrier (ringtails), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine and 13 Stock Dove - Parkgate Marsh.
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr, but mobile.
1 Scaup - West Kirby Marine Lake.

January 29:
1 fem/imm Marsh Harrier, 1+ Hen Harrier, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Merlin and 1 Spoonbill - Parkgate Marsh.

January 28:
16 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
7 Purple Sandpiper - Wallasey Lifeguard Station.
c200-300 Fieldfare, c50 Redwing, 2 Common Buzzard and 1 Woodcock - Brimstage.
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr, opposite Presthaven sands caravan park.
3 Mediterranean Gull (2 ad, 1 2nd win) - in field next to Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
16 Whooper Swan and 34 Bewick's Swan - Shotwick Fields.

January 27:
1 Snow Bunting - Point of Ayr, 200m west of lighthouse.
1 fem Marsh Harrier - Parkgate Marsh, 1.20pm past prom.
1 Ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank and 1 Peregrine - Inner Marsh Farm RSPB.
1,200 Bar-tailed Godwit and 150 Sanderling, 2 Purple Sandpiper on rocks - Wallasey Lifeguard Station.

January 26:
1 Marsh Harrier (fem) - Heswall Fields NT.
1 Spoonbill - Parkgate Marsh, at 11am for 20 mins, flew off towards Burton.
14 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
4 Stonechat on marsh - Red Rocks.

January 25:
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) -  Burton Marsh.
1 Bittern, 5 Bewick's Swan and 7 Ruff - Inner Marsh Farm.
1,500 Black-tailed Godwit feeding in fields this afternoon - Thurstaston.

January 24:
21 Bewick's Swan and 18 Whooper Swan - Shotwick Fields.
1 Bittern seen from hide - Inner Marsh Farm.

January 23:
20 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Peregrine and female Hen Harrier - Burton Marsh, several Brambling in mixed finch flock.
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr, opposite Presthaven sands caravan park, also 2 Brent  Geese (dark-bellied) and 2 Twite in sand dunes (at start of boardwalk leading to Little Tern colony).
1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) in the empty New Brighton Marine Lake.
1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) in Wallasey Central Park.
4 Hen Harrier (ringtail),  3 Short-eared Owl, 1 Merlin and 2 Kestrel - Parkgate Marsh,  late afternoon from Old Baths car park.
1 Mediterranean Gull - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.

January 22:
19 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr, opposite Presthaven sands caravan park.
780 Pintail and c400 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore, godwits flew inland as tide came in to field below Dungeon Wood where 441 were counted plus 114 Curlew.
157 Brent Geese (incl 2 dark-bellied) - Hilbre.
1 Whooper Swan (over), 1 Peregrine, 466 Lapwing, 110 Teal and 135 Golden Plover - Heswall Shore, 40 Pied Wagtail and 75 Redwing in field by Target Road.

January 21:
11,300 Oystercatcher - Leasowe Shore, very high count for that location, also c3,000 Knot.
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr, opposite Presthaven sands caravan park, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew in and landed on the sand at the mouth of Gronant River.
1 Mediterranean Gull in the empty New Brighton Marine Lake.
4 Purple Sandpiper - Wallasey Lifeguard Station, 200 Bar-tailed Godwit and c150 Sanderling on the shore.
12 Brambling and 1 Barn Owl in field near Decca Pools, Burton Marsh, 1 Peregrine on the marsh.
1 Water Pipit on filterbeds, 2 Grey Wagtail by the stream this afternoon - Neston Sewage Works.
200 Black-tailed Godwit, 150 Curlew, 200 Lapwing and 40 Golden Plover in field by Dungeon Wood, Thurstaston.

January 20:
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr, opposite Presthaven sands caravan park.
7,400 Knot, 5,600 Dunlin, 982 Grey Plover, 117 Sanderling, 435 Curlew and 1 Jack Snipe - West Kirby Shore at high tide.
1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd win) on West Kirby Marine Lake late afternoon.
1 Spoonbill - Inner Marsh Farm, early morning.

January 19:
5 European White-fronted Geese and 207 Pink-footed Geese - Hoylake Langfields.
42+ Brent Geese off Red Rocks.
4 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton.
2 Snow Bunting - Hoylake Shore at Kings Gap.

January 18:
126 Brent Geese and 640 Cormorant on Little Eye at high tide, 56 Pink-footed Geese over.
c600 Lapwing, 76 Golden Plover, c2,500 Knot and 1 Peregrine - Heswall Marsh.
417 Pintail - Thurstaston Shore.
c1,000 Pink-footed Geese flew over Hawarden then Shotton about 11am, heading towards the estuary.

January 17:
200 Sanderling and 1 Jack Snipe - West Kirby Shore.
120 Brent Geese - Little Eye.
2 Snow bunting - Hoylake Shore at Kings Gap.
11 Purple Sandpiper between lifeguard lookout at Derby pool and New Brighton marine lake, the lake is drained with good areas of mud and 1 ad winter Mediterranean Gull present, also 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull by lifeguard station.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Marsh Harrier and 5 Short-eared Owl, good numbers of Pink-footed Geese - Parkgate Marsh.

January 16:
39 Scaup, 100 Common Scoter, 62 Red-throated Diver and c40 Great Crested Grebe  highlights from Hilbre, for more details see
  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/ .
1 Shorelark on beach between Gronant and Point of Ayr.
1 Woodcock over West Kirby centre this afternoon.
100 Sanderling, 1,000 Dunlin, 200 Knot, 100 Grey Plover, 18 Ringed Plover, 20 Bar Tailed Godwit  and  2 Peregrine - Hoylake Shore at high tide.
12 Pink-footed Geese and 1 Peregrine overhead, while in one of the horse paddocks 6 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing and 2 Brambling - Fender Lane Riding Stables, Moreton.
1 Black Redstart on groyne on Leasowe Shore by Leasowe Castle.

January 15:
1 ad male Hen Harrier, 200 Pink-footed Geese and 55 Skylark - Heswall Marsh.
1 Short-eared Owl - Gronant.
3 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Marsh Harrier (fem), 1 Woodcock flew from the car park onto the marsh - Parkgate Old Baths.

January 14:
1 Shorelark - Point of Ayr this morning at 945am, also 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 1,200 Black-tailed Godwit, 800 Knot , 300 Wigeon ,700 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 100 Pintail and 10 Brambling.
2 Kingfisher - Greenfield Valley.
34 Red-breasted Merganser and 26 Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake this afternoon.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Merlin, c50 Skylark over the marsh - Heswall Marsh.

January 13:
c300 Pink-footed Geese, 70 Skylark and 200+ Fieldfare on marsh - Cottage Lane, Gayton.
c300 Pink-footed Geese flew from Hoylake Langfields and flew SE at 1015am this morning.

January 12:
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Marsh Harrier - Burton Marsh.
50 Redwing in horse paddock - Carpenter Lane, West Kirby.
c400 Pink-footed Geese off Riverbank Road, Heswall.
145 Brent Geese - Hilbre.

January 11:
6 Shag, 46 Red-breasted Merganser, 13 Goldeneye and 21 Tufted Duck - West Kirby Marine Lake this morning.
1 Woodcock - Pensby, flew from leaf litter in rear of bungalows.
1 Spoonbill seen to fly into ditch near the barn, 5 Water Rail in the boardwalk area and 30 Brambling in the crop field - Inner Marsh Farm RSPB.
3 Short-eared Owl, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Parkgate Old Baths.
1 Woodcock over Greasby.
514 Pink-footed Geese seen from Hilbre.

January 10:
5 Shag, 41 Red-breasted Merganser, 25 Goldeneye and 29 Tufted Duck - West Kirby Marine Lake this morning, 1 Greenshank in gutter just south of the lake.
10 White-fronted Geese and 1,200 Pink-footed Geese - highlights from Hilbre, for more details see
  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/ .
4 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.
2 Water Rail on iced over pond by Leasowe Lighthouse, also 10 Song Thrush and 25 Fieldfare.
1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) - in field by Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
Over 50 Fieldfare in housing estate by Colliery Green Drive, Little Neston, Bramblings also present.

January 9:
A large influx of Fieldfares reported with lesser numbers of Redwings.
50 fieldfare, 20 Song thrush and 10 Redwing - Leasowe Lighthouse, also 5 Snipe and 1 Woodcock.
13 Shag, 2 Scaup, 22 Red-breasted Merganser, 30 Goldeneye and 13 Tufted Duck - West Kirby Marine Lake this morning.
1 Woodcock and 1 Velvet Scoter - Hilbre.
1 Woodcock just outside Visitor Centre, Thurstaston.
150 Bar-tailed Godwit and c1,600 Black-tailed Godwit - Thurstaston Shore, c240 Pink-footed Geese in two skeins headed down the estuary towards Hilbre and presumably South Lancs.
3 Hen Harrier (2 ringtail, 1 grey male), 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Spoonbill, at least 6 Short-eared Owl, 2 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Water Rail and 1 Woodcock - Parkgate, Old Baths car park.

January 8:
2 Pochard, 12 Shag, 32 Red-breasted Merganser, 27 Goldeneye and 11 Tufted Duck - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Woodcock, 1 Water Rail, 50 Fieldfare, 59 Lapwing, 10 Golden Plover and 2 Grey Wagtail - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby and nearby field.
1 Short-eared Owl, 1,680 Black-tailed Godwit, 960 Pintail and c15,000 Knot - Thurstaston Shore.
1 Eider, 3 Goosander over and 1 female/imm Velvet Scoter briefly - highlights from Hilbre, for more details see
  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/ .

January 7:
A good movement of Redwings and Fieldfares through the area today.
1,000+ Black-tailed Godwit harassed by 2 Peregrine - Thurstaston Shore.
24 Scaup, 298 Great Crested Grebe and c100 Common Scoter off Dove Point, Meols, also 5 Mute Swan swimming among the boats which are unusual here.

January 6:
40/50 Fieldfare feeding on Tamarisk berries on lane at Decca Pools, Burton Marsh.
1,500 Lapwing over West Kirby heading west - towards Ireland?
1 Woodcock, 3 Brambling and 34 Fieldfare - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.
3 Shag, 21 Goldeneye and 16 Red-breasted Merganser - West Kirby Marine Lake, 295 Dunlin, 81 Redshank, 119 Turnstone and 2 Purple Sandpiper on the rocks at high tide.
1,100 Curlew, 5,000 Dunlin, 9,500 Knot, 716 Grey Plover, 202 Bar-tailed Godwit and 81 Sanderling - West Kirby Shore.
140 Brent Geese, 520 Grey Plover and 3 Scaup highlights from Hilbre, for more details see
  http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/ .

January 5:
2 Raven, 2 Water Rail, 1 Blackcap and 11 Redpoll - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, 71 Black-tailed Godwit in flooded field opposite.
19 Goldeneye, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Scaup (fem) and 1 Shag - West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and 5 Nuthatch - Ashton Park, West Kirby.
1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) on beach at New Brighton.
5 Purple Sandpiper on rocks below Lifeguard Station, Wallasey Shore.

January 4:
455 Great Crested Grebe (just three short of the highest ever count for Cheshire and Wirral!!) and 21 Scaup (on sea just off groyne) - Dove Point, Meols, at high tide.
121 Golden Plover and c800 Black-tailed Godwit - Heswall Shore as tide came in.
2 Spoonbill flew towards Burton Marsh - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Hen Harrier, 1 Spoonbill (distant) and 1 Stonechat - Parkgate Marsh.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 3 Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.
23 Pied Wagtail - sewage works, Target Road, Heswall, 6 Bullfinch along the Wirral Way.
8 Purple Sandpiper on groyne at bottom of Dalmorton Road, New Brighton.
1 Short-eared Owl over golf course by West Kirby Shore (Royal Liverpool).

January 3:
7 Purple Sandpiper on rocks below Lifeguard Station, Wallasey, also 1 Mediterranean (ad win) out to sea.
1 Shag, 6 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Goldeneye on the lake, c500 Dunlin on the rocks -  West Kirby Marine Lake.
350 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 3 Short-eared Owl - Parkgate Marsh.
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Woodcock - Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 80+ Pink-footed Geese over, 5 Snipe and 1 Water Rail - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

January 2:
2 Jack Snipe came off West Kirby Marsh as the tide covered it.
1 Bittern on No 2 pool, also seen in ditch between No 2 pool and border pool, 50+ Pink-footed Geese over and 1 Hen Harrier, 10+ Siskin in trees -  Inner Marsh Farm.
1 Peregrine and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
2 Short-eared Owl interacting a ringtail Hen Harrier, also 1 male Hen Harrier - Parkgate Marsh.

January 1:
4 Brambling - Inner Marsh Farm.
2 (possibly 3) Slavonian Grebe off Flint Castle, also 1 Kingfisher.
1,200 Lapwing, c1,000 Black-tailed Godwit and c500 Pintail - Heswall Shore as tide came in.
1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Water Rail and 1 Kingfisher - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
1 Spoonbill flew along Heswall Shore towards West Kirby at 1250hrs.

Click here to see Archived latest sightings from September 2000.