For birders all over the world

A fuller version of this report is available at The Dee Esturary Site

Oystercatcher Haemamtopus ostralegus

Abundant winter visitor, fairly common in summer. Present in every month. 3500 on October 11th and 2000 on December 12th 2000 were the largest counts while 275 on July 30th were the first evidence of return passage. On September 30th 2000 three exhausted birds were cut off by the incoming tide and were forced to swim ashore. We rescued one of these and after a few hours drying out and warming up it was able to fly back out onto the beach. It was ringed on the Faroe Islands 12 years earlier.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Uncommon winter visitor and common autumn migrant. Present in every month, though absent between June 11th and July 29th 2000 and May 29th to July 30th 2001. Passage birds were evident in spring with 150 on several dates in late May 2000. A marked increase was noted in August 2000, with 75 on August 6th, increasing to 341 on August 11th, 775 by August 13th and the record count so far, 1200 on August 31st. Very small numbers were present throughout the winter, with 51 on January 31st 2001 the highest count.

Records in 2001 were similar, with 1000 on September 3rd the autumn passage peak.

Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

Common winter visitor and migrant. Scarce migrant at Red Rocks. One flew west on Oct 2nd2000.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Common winter visitor and migrant. In 2000 absent between May 23rd, when there were 45 summer-plumaged birds on the beach and July 7th. In 2001 last recorded on May 3rd with return noted from July 8th

Monthly maxima

2000:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
-	-	-	-	45	0	3	71	40	490	5	800

2001:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
500	120	-	250	3	0	20	69	275	1000	1500	300

The record of 1500 on Nov 4th 2001 was an exceptionally high count for the area.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Very common winter visitor and migrant. First recorded on September 7th when a single was noted. 45 flew west on October 22nd and 11 were seen on November 25th. This species frequently roosts on the east end of the East Hoyle bank off Meols and presumably these birds were disturbed from there. Freezing conditions at the year-end brought immediate weather movements, with 27 west on December 28th and 85 the following day.

Knot Calidris canutus

Very common winter visitor and migrant. Recorded in every month, though absent between June 2nd and July 28th 2000 except from a straggler on June 30th. In 2001 absent from May 7th to October 28th, though we were away for most of August.

Monthly maxima:

2000:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
-	-	-	-	150	35	3	25	1.7m	12m	4m	10m

2001:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
7m	1.8m	3m	1.7m	75	0	0	nc	nc	75	12m	10m

Sanderling Calidris alba

Fairly common winter visitor and migrant. In 2000 absent between June 6th and the first return on July 23rd, when 105 appeared on the evening tide. Passage was well marked, with 850 on July 25th and 1285 on July 31st. Numbers fluctuated though the rest of the year, with counts mostly below 300 apart from 450 on August 10th and 490 on October 10th.

In 2001 the last spring record was on May 5th and the first returning birds were seen on July 22nd. Numbers towards then end of the year were higher than usual.

Monthly maxima:

2000:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
-	-	-	-	40	18	1285	450	40	490	5	100

2001

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
250	175	25	30	40	0	2	250	120	150	400	240

Little Stint Calidris minutus

Very scarce spring and scarce autumn migrant. In 2000, first recorded on May 17th when a single appeared on the mud in front of the house. Four the following day and a single the day after, completed the spring passage. Autumn passage started on August 31st and continued to September 13th, with a total of 71 bird/days. 12 on September 4th and 15 the day after represented the peak of the passage.

Fewer birds were recorded in 2001 in a more protracted passage. A total of 19 birds passing through between Aug 26th and Oct 10th with five on Sept 2nd and again on Oct 5th the highest counts.

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

Very scarce spring and scarce autumn migrant. A single in summer plumage was present on May 18th 2000. A total of 154 were recorded between Aug 2nd and Sept 26th, with a well-marked peak in the last few days of August and the first few in September, when up to 35 were present. There was clearly a large amount of turnover eg. 20 of the 30 on August 29th were adults while all of the 30 birds on August 30th were apricot-coloured juveniles. One of the highlights of the year!

As with the above species there were fewer records in 2001 with just 14 recorded between September 1st and October 6th. An extremely late bird was present on October 28th.

White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis

Vagrant. An adult was present just below the garden wall for much of September 2nd 2000. Amazingly a different adult, in a less advanced state of moult was present from September 9th to 13th 2000. A probable was seen in flight only on Sept 5th. It was a surreal experience to host a small-scale twitch on two successive weekends. Both records have been accepted by the BBRC.

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima

Scarce coastal winter visitor. An early bird flew west towards Hilbre on September 12th 2000. Two were seen in flight on January16th 2001, presumably as a result of disturbance on Hilbre and Bird Rock.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Abundant winter visitor and migrant, scarce in summer. Recorded daily apart from between Jun 10th and Jun 23rd 2000.

Monthly maxima:

2000

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
-	-	-	-	1.5m	15m	2.0m	2.5m	3.5m	9m	7m	8m

2001

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
3.5m	1.5m	2.0m	700k	300k	75k	35k	3.0m	5.0m	5.5m	20m	7m

Considerable variation was noted amongst the passing birds. On Aug 13th 2000 we recorded a bird which was as large-billed and as big as Curlew Sandpiper, with paler cheeks and brighter back than the more "standard" Dunlin. Possibly C.a.hudsonia/sakhalina. On Aug 3rd 2000 there was a partial leucistic individual with silver-coloured secondaries and white checks.

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

Scarce migrant and winter visitor. Recorded on three dates between September 4th and September 27th, with two on September 10th the maximum count. There were no records in 2001

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Uncommon winter visitor and migrant. Two on Sept 10th and a single on Oct 7th 2000 were the only records.

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola

Uncommon winter visitor. The headless and breastless remains of a first winter bird, were dropped by a passing Peregrine on Mar 24th 2001. Though still warm, we are waiting for a living example before admitting this species to the house list!

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Fairly common winter visitor and uncommon migrant. Twelve summer plumaged L.l.islandica birds appeared at high tide on June 30th 2000. There was one on November 25th 2000 and 17 on August 25th 2001.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

Uncommon winter visitor and migrant. Absent between May 24th and July 28th 2000 and April 22nd to July 8th 2001 otherwise a frequent visitor on high tides.

Monthly maxima:

2000

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
-	-	-	-	75	0	6	10	40	575	5000	1750

2001

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
750	1750	1500	150	nc	0	20	nc	120	120	850	2000

The maximum was recorded on Nov 19th 2000 and is the highest estimate for many years. A more accurate count of 2750 was made on Nov 29th 2000. Remarkably, for a time in November 2000 this species was the most numerous wader.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Scarce migrant. Small numbers were seen or more commonly heard on ten dates between May 14th and October 8th 2000, with records for every month. The first migrants of 2001 were seen on May 4th while 17, including a flock of 15 on the tide edge the day after remains the highest count so far. The last record of 2001 was on Aug 28th.

Curlew Numenius arquata

Common winter visitor and migrant, fairly common in summer. First recorded on return passage on June 23rd 2000. Numbers were fairly constant throughout the year.

Monthly maxima:

2000

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
-	-	-	-	4	67	117	95	150	189	320	35

2001

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
nc	270	175	75	4	4	38	75	270	220	250	450

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythorpus

Scarce migrant on the Dee. One on Oct 7th 2000 was the only record so far. This species is surprisingly uncommon in North Wirral.

Redshank Tringa totanus

Very common winter visitor and migrant. First recorded on July 6th 2000. Numbers fluctuated without any obvious pattern, with up to 70 regularly, mostly feeding off the old baths. 185 on October 11th, 250 on March 24th 2001 and 300 on October 28th 2001 were three of the larger counts.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Rare spring and scarce autumn migrant. One on Aug 8th 2000 and two on Aug 14th 2000 were the only records so far.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

Scarce autumn migrant, rare in winter and spring. One was heard calling while putting the bin out near midnight on Aug 22nd 2001.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Scarce migrant and breeder, rare irregular winter visitor. Singles were recorded on Sept 10th and 12th.

Turnstone Arenaria interpes

Fairly common coastal wader. One to three recorded quite regularly from July 9th to May 11th 2001 then again from Sept 10th 2001 to the year-end. Usually on days when both Hilbre and Bird Rock were covered with visitors! 45 on Oct 30th 2000, 14 on Jan 10th and 15 on Jan 16th 2001 were the only higher counts.

Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria

Rare migrant. One flew west at high tide on Oct 2nd 2000 and another floated in on the tide of Oct 5th 2001.

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