23rd April 2024

 Weather: ENE force 2,  N 3/4 by noon 

Light winds and the Pink-footed Geese are moving again, but only 335 this morning. 

 

Highlight of the day was a Red-legged Partridge strutting about on the island.

 

 

Only the 6th ever record, although it is the 4th in the last 5 years, all in March/April. Warblers were scarce again today, just a single Willow Warbler and a Blackcap. A Collared Dove was a nice change from the regular Woodpigeons recently.

 Four Starlings arrived, they seemed to be moving south.

 

Five Greenland Wheatears were around the island.

 

A single Sand Martin and 26 Swallows flew through the island and finches featured 2 Lesser Redpolls and 6 Goldfinches. Decent sea birds found today were 8 Red-throated Divers, 6 Kittiwakes, 2 Guillemots and 75 Gannets.

 

Eight of our regular group of Eiders showed, also a female Goosander and a Canada Goose flew west.

Brent seem to be down to 36 birds and 6 Shelduck were close about, are they going to breed ?

Eight Little Egrets today and a Grey Heron, 6 Blackbirds are here now, 4 are males.

 

 As yesterday no Kestrel but there was an appearance by a Peregrine.

 Whimbrel numbered 21 birds, some flew passed in a flock.

Other waders were 55 Ringed Plover, a Grey Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 40 Turnstone, 1,525 Knot and 1,700 Dunlin. Harbour Porpoise swan as they have been during the calm tides, there were 4 or 5 today.

Photos SRW

22nd April 2024

 Weather:  NW force 3

The forecast rain showers did not happen this morning but the north westerly wind meant migration was very sparse. But somehow in these conditions the first Whitethroat of the spring came to the island.

 

A male Blackcap was also here, probably the bird ringed yesterday. Four Wheatear resembling the Greenland race arrived, they are often not dependent of wind conditions for their arrival. Predictably no Pinkfooted Geese flew out of the estuary this morning against the head wind and the only geese on view today were 8 Canadas and the remaining 59 Brent. On the sea 50 Gannets fed, 3 Red-throated Divers, 40 Common Scoter, a Guillemot and a Red-breasted Merganser were on the list.

Nine newly arrived Whimbrel were here today, also 1,500 Dunlin and 70 Turnstone,

Five Purple Sandpipers were seen on the shore,

Amongst the 30 Redshank some were looking in fine summer plumage.

Regulars feeding close to the island were 6 Little Egrets and 5 Eiders. From last night's mothtrap we had Brimstone,

Dark Sword-grass,

and Agonopterix arenella (a micro moth)

Photos CJW, SRW

21st April 2024

 Weather: ESE force 2   backing N 1 early afternoon

The expected Pinkfooted Goose early morning flyover produced large groups passing in the first couple of hours or so but not quite at the massive scale of yesterday, 2,500 were estimated today. First thing the weather was calm again this morning but with a lot of high cloud, the paddocks were quiet early on with just the odd Willow Warbler appearing now and then, and one or two Wheatears on show. A Grasshopper warbler sang briefly near the SK paddock gate, pleasing observers noting their first for the year. Numbers of Willow Warblers for the morning increased to 10 and Wheatears to 9, and a single male Blackcap was ringed. Apart from a Woodpigeon passing south the only other migrants were Sand Martins (12), Swallows (28) and White Wagtails (5).

 

.......and finches in the guise of a Greenfinch (scarce recently), 5 Goldfinches and 7 Redpolls. Terns were very noisy this morning, 25 Common Tern and 260 Sandwich were continuously in good voice, while some of the small waders were also very vocal expressing their readiness for their northern departure. More distantly clouds of Knot and Dunlin were seen on the move. Several small parties of Whimbrel came passed, some decended around the islands. Only a single Purple Sandpiper seemed to be here. Seven Red-throated Divers were noted, 8 Guillemots and a Great Crested Grebe were about and as yesterday 131 Gannets fed or sat on the sea. Common Scoter featured 24 close in plus 300 seen distantly. Pale-bellied Brent around the islands numbered 55 plus a dark-bellied bird, 9 Eiders, 3 Canada Geese and a Greylag were logged but birds of the day were a pair of Tufted Duck that flew in towards Niffy bay to the delight of Hilbre regulars who recognised the scarcity of this species at Hilbre (usually about 1 or 2 records a year).

We haven't seen the Kestrel much recently, and it was not here today, however a Peregrine was good compensation. Feeding in the gutters today were 6 Little Egrets and 1 Grey Heron. Many of the 7 Rock Pipits seen are sporting Hilbre colour rings.

Two Harbour Porpoise were swimming north off the west side, it is always easier to find them in these benign sea conditions. The moth trap last night just produced one insect, a Brown Silver-line

Ringed: 8 Linnets, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch.

Photos: CJW

20th April 2024

 Weather: SSE force 1   NNE 1 by noon

Another massive departure for the Pink-footed Geese with a following wind. An estimate of 6,000 birds this morning in many flocks during the first 3 hours after dawn.

 

Right from the start about 100 Gannets were diving close by the island , and sitting on the sea when not feeding, they were still there at noon.

 

  Rivaling the Gannets a few Common and 150 Sandwich Terns fed at the north end.

 

 Six Wheatears favoured the north end of the island, one being the Greenland race.

 

 

Warblers on the ground included 3 Blackcaps (all female), 8 Willow Warblers and 6 Chiffchaffs.

Hirundines made a very slow start but eventually small numbers of Sand Martins (13) and Swallows (18) came through. Three Woodpigeons made their predictable appearance and 2 Pied and 3 White Wagtails called while passing. Vocal calls also revealed 10 Siskin, 4 Goldfinches and 3 Lesser Redpoll over the island. Wader highlight was a flight of Whimbrel flying south passed the east side island.

 Redshank, Dunlin and Turnstone gathered at the high tide.

 

In the afternoon 40 Redshank arrived and dropped in to the island calling. Eighty Eight Brent were seen, possibly all that are left, but some may be passing through from elsewhere. This theory gained traction as there were 2 dark-bellied birds today, only 1 has been here for the last week or so.

Only a single Red-throated Diver this morning but Guillemots increased in sightings with 24 today, there were 5 Great Crested Grebes. Eiders increased to 9 this morning, 3 adult male, 3 immature male and 3 females.

 Two Harbour Porpoise swan north east of the island and a little later another swam west closely passed the north end. Photos of porpoise are always difficult due to their unpredictable surfacing but our photographer was quick off the mark.

 

 

 Wrens seemed to be singing from all corners of the island.

Ringed: 5 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Linnet. 

Photos AEH, CJW