Monday 18 March 2024

18th March 2024

 Weather: E force 3, slowly veering W  through SE, S, SW,  during the morning.

A few Goldcrests were in the gardens first thing when 3 were caught for ringing.

A small number of Robins had also arrived with just a single Chiffchaff which was singing in the SK paddock. A visit to the north end surprisingly encountered a Blue Tit arriving off the sea. It must have filtered down the island because a short time later it appeared in the obs garden before rapidly flying off south.


There have been an exceptional number of Blue Tit records over the last few weeks as it is still a scarce bird here but does tend to occur at this time of year. A steady passage of Meadow Pipits in small groups came south and west down the island chain but checking the likely spots failed to turn up the first Wheatear of the year. Three Ravens cronked as they flew west towards Wales, pursued by the local Crows. Another north end visit found a pair of Pintail off the east side, they stayed around for several hours which is unusual.




Other Wildfowl round and about were 265 pale bellied Brent plus a dark bellied bird, a female Eider, a male and 2 female Goosander, 4 Mallard by the pond, 12 Shelduck and a few Common Scoter. A Magpie flew in and was around the islands for a while. 

Other briefer visitors were 2 Stock Doves flying over the shore, 3 Skylarks, 9 Pied Wagtails, 3 Goldfinch, a Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch and a Siskin. The tide was very small early this morning so no roosts were seen, however sightings through telescopes and flocks flying by managed to record: 36 Grey Plover, 70 Bar-tailed Godwit, 600 Knot, 200 Dunlin, 75 Redshank, 100 Sanderling, and of course the regular Turnstones,

The morning became quite warm and spring like when the sun was out, this Peacock butterfly appreciated the weather.

 Ringed: 3 Goldcrests, 3 Robins, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Rock Pipit.

Photos CJ, SRW

Sunday 17 March 2024

17th March 2024

 Weather: ESE force 4   some drizzle

 Even more Long-tailed Tits this morning, seven ! Two were ringed birds from yesterday and 3 of the new ones were ringed today.

 

A scarce visitor to the islands, it is unlikely that anyone can remember 3 consecutive visits when Long tailed Tits have been present. A single Goldcrest and a single Chiffchaff were slightly disappointing.

There were however 8 Pied Wagtails, a Lesser Redpoll and 2 Goldfinches. 

 Linnets are now returning to breed in numbers at this time.

 

 Meadow Pipits are also singing on territory.

 There are at least 4 male Blackbirds amongst the half a dozen or so here at the moment.

 

 

Wildfowl featured 6 Wigeon, 150 Brent and 2 Goosander in addition to 2 Common Scoter, and waders recorded were 10 Bar-tailed Godwits, 10 Grey Plover, 6 Purple Sandpiper and 30 Turnstone, one today was inspecting the pond for food.

Two Raven were noted. Two males and a female Mallard have been hanging around the pond most of the time, today one was on the Telegraph house wall.

 

A Buff-tailed bumblebee was seen feeding on the daffodils.

 Ringed: 3 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Robins, 1 Linnet.

  Photos AEH, CJW

Saturday 16 March 2024

16th March 2024

Weather: SE force 3

Thursday started with a small fall of Chiffchaffs, today however started with a small fall of Goldcrests which were keen to move on and only the odd one stayed beyond 2 hours after dawn. The first 2 Sand Martins of the year flew south, meanwhile more mundane migrants arrived such as 2 Woodpigeons, 3 Skylarks, 12 Pied Wagtails, a Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch, a few migrant Robins and a single Starling.

   A Reed Bunting however was notable as it was caught for ringing.

Yet another Blue Tit was calling in the paddocks, and unbelievedly 3 more Long-tailed Tits arrived after the 2 on Thursday, and 2 of them were ringed today after they had toured the island for a while.

 

 

A Short-eared Owl was spotted from the obs veranda over the north shore, it flew south  before landing on the east hoyle sands.

The next exciting event was a large female Sparrowhawk that shot into the SK trap hoping to catch a bird unaware but was caught itself and duly ringed.


After release it flew off to the east.

In the early afternoon a large female Peregrine flew low over the sand to the east of the islands and shortly afterwards a female Marsh Harrier was seen flying south down the west side of the island and then tracking east towards the West Kirby marine lake.

There were no Goosanders today for a change but 3 of the regular Eiders appeared (2 males and a female). More distantly seen were 6 Common Scoter and 7 Red-breasted Merganser while 11 Purple Sandpipers sheltered in niffy bay with the 85 Turnstones, other counts included 2,500 Knot, 1,000 Dunlin, 70 Grey Plover and 48 Ringed Plover. There were 5 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. 

 Ringed: 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Robins, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Sparrowhawk.

Photos CJ, CJW

Thursday 14 March 2024

14th March 2024

 Weather: S force 3/4

The day started with a surprise fall of Chiffchaffs, there were at least 14 around the paddocks etc.

A passage of Meadow Pipits moved through with a Woodpigeon, a Reed Bunting, several Robins and overhead movements of a couple of Skylarks, a few Siskins and Goldfinches. Late morning as the tide flooded the movement continued and brought in a few 'Hilbre rarities', when 2 Blue Tits and a Long-tailed Tit visited the island. A Short-eared Owl turned up in the early evening and a Harbour Porpoise swam quite close in passed the north end. At the high tide 1,500 Oystercatchers roosted on Middle and 360 Bar-tailed Godwits turned up after the tide. Over the high tide period 9,000 Knot could be seen wheeling about the airspace between Hoylake and Waterloo. An unexpectedly good day, especially in the afternoon.

Ringed: 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Robin.

Photo AS
 

Wednesday 13 March 2024

13th March 2024

 Weather: SW force 7

A member working with the friends of Hilbre clearing bracken from west of the old obs assisted with the relocation of about 30 frogs to other places on the island.

The strong south westerly prevented much in the way of migration but there was a small scattering of Meadow Pipits and 20 Pied Wagtails coming through. A couple of Woodpigeons arrived and sheltered from the wind on the east side. Three of the Eiders were located and there were 2 female Goosanders at the north end.

Waders found during breaks in the work over the tide included 2,000 knot, 100 Bar-tailed Godwits, 40 Grye Plover, 7 Purple Sandpipers, 140 Dunlin, 20 Redshanks and 180 Turnstones.


Brent Geese around the island were about 150, and 8 Common Scoter were on the sea.

Photos AS

Tuesday 12 March 2024

12th March 2024

 Weather: ESE  force 4/5,  after the tide  N 1/2

Bird of the day was a Short-eared Owl which was briefly seen above Middle over high tide but was lost in the melee that ensued. Later on a member of the obs following the tide out put it up from Middle and managed to get a shot off before it flew off to the north east.

 

Three Teal swam off the north end early morning with 6 more flying in and landing in the gutter as the tide made, a male Red-breasted Merganser flew south into the swash and a female Goosander and 3 Eider were noted. On Lion rock there was a high tide roost of 24 Redshank with 147 Turnstone.

 Eleven Purple Sandpipers stayed for high tide.

A good count was made of 24 Bar-tailed Godwit, there were also 18 Ringed Plover, 300 Knot and 130 Dunlin.

 

Other than a few Pied Wagtail flying through the only migrant noted was a single Goldcrest feeding in the Obs garden.

Two Grey Heron were here, also 7 Little Egrets, which is a few more than recent weeks.

 Photos: AS, BT