Of interest this week is the reappearance of the Turnstone seen here 2 weeks ago that was ringed at Hilbre in March 2024. It was seen on Wednesday at the ebb tide in exactly the same spot as previously,
and then again today in the same place.
Photos Matt Thomas
Weather: NE force 3
A seawatch over the high tide produced 5 Red-throated Divers, 7 Guillemot, 70 Common Scoter, 6 Eider and 4 Goosander. Twenty seven Great Crested Grebe and a Shag were also noted. The Brent were well spread around the islands making counting difficult but at least 200 were noted. 6 Purple Sandpipers roosted in Niffy Bay. Good views were also obtained of 3 Harbour Porpoise which swam close in to the North end.
Weather: NNE force 5
It was a brutally cold day on Hilbre today, the wind was
from the East and blowing up to force 6/7. The Great Black-backed Gull was able to stand the
weather and roosted in the shelter of the island on the West side.
Also on the west side were 1 Purple Sandpiper and 30 or so Turnstones feeding in the calmer conditions. There were about 200 or so Brent Geese and 1,000 Oystercatchers visible, while 1 Rock Pipit showed up but more surprising was some migration, 2 Meadow Pipits passed through the island. Some plants however are doing well with Snow Drops and Lesser Celandine in flower.
and some of the Daffodils were very close to flowering.
The Kestrel was here and the winter residents included 5 Blackbirds, 4 Wrens and 2 Robins.
Photos JE
Weather: NE force 5, later ENE 5
Twenty five passing Pink-footed Geese were logged today, with records of other wildfowl including 150 Brent, our 6 Eider and 35 Common Scoter a pair of which were near to the island.
Two Mallards are on the pond and 4 Great Crested Grebes were noted on the sea. Waders featured 100 Knot and 80 Turnstone,
also 250 Dunlin, 20 Redshank, 6 Purple Sandpiper and several Curlew.
Photos CJW
Weather: E force 2, ENE 4/5 later
One hundred and ten Pink-footed Geese flew out of the estuary before dawn and 270 Brent Geese fed around the islands.
Two Red-breasted Merganser were spotted in the Swash and whilst the 'scope was on them 2 Harbour Porpoise popped up nearby. The 6 Eider were present and a pair of Goosander again swam around at the North End.
Waders in the ebbing gutter included 300 Dunlin, 80 Knot, 110 Redshank,
300 Turnstone.
Photos AS
Weather: S force 2, backing SSE 2
In a bright morning light 6 Red-breasted Merganser were to be seen over by the West Hoyle along with 385 Brent Geese, many of them on the bank but as it became covered by tide they relocated to Hilbre.
At the edge of the East Hoyle 2,800 Dunlin fed with 48 Grey Plover scattered amongst them, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit were at the bottom of the gutter, and counted off the E. Hoyle were 33 Great-crested Grebe. A Shag preened on the Whaleback, 310 Cormorant were about, also a Little Egret and a Heron which visited the pond upsetting the pair of Mallard.
On the island 5 Linnet visited briefly, a Goldfinch and 3 Skylark flew over, 2 Rock Pipit were present and of the 4 Meadow Pipit noted, at least 2 were ringed on the left leg so probably returning island birds.
The Kestrel was present, often on one of it's favourite lookouts, on top of the flagpole.
Photos AS
Weather: SE force 4/5 sunny
Before sunrise this morning 240 Pink-footed Geese flew out of the estuary along with 300 Cormorant, 280 Brent Geese fed around the islands. A female Goosander was at the North End and the 6 Eider stayed around the east side of Middle over tide. A Peregrine was seen west of Middle but the Kestrel was not about today. In Niffy Bay were 260 Turnstone, 53 Redshank, 100 Dunlin and 50 Knot.
Sadly the roost on Middle did not form properly due to constant disturbance by a photographer who kept changing position, please note that permission to stay on Middle over tide has to be given by the Ranger and a photographers hide should be used. Seventy Curlew had landed but left and didn't return, 4,800 Oystercatcher spent much of high tide flying around using up the fat reserves that they are trying to build ready for migration. The seal haul out on the West Hoyle only held 32 but a singleton came out onto the lifeboat slipway.
Photos AS
