21st April 2009

Observers were greeted by a light but increasing southwesterly that soon veered west, but did better than yesterday in dropping in some warblers on the island, about 10 Willow Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs, two of the Willow Warblers (right) showed contrasting amounts of yellow both in the field and in the hand, the paler bird possibly heading for more northern parts. Still no larger warblers except for a skulking Grasshopper Warbler (above) that hid amongst the ground vegetation in the end of the Newton trap and betrayed itself by its movement in the undergrowth.

The first Common Sandpiper of the spring was found early on by the rocks on the south west side, but did not show again. A Little Egret (below) was between the islands for some time and a visiting Jackdaw was 'seen off ' by one of the resident Crows when it landed on top of the mast (right), while for the third day in a row a Rook flew across to the west (the same bird ? ).

The sea was very productive today and there seemed to be lots of fish for the 80+ Gannets and 100 + Sandwich Terns to dive for. Others seen on a sea-watch were 2 Fulmars and 7 Red-throated Divers.

Only 5 Wheatears, 4 which flew off west without pausing and only a few finches today except for about 20 Goldfinches. Swallows numbered only 25 during the morning, and White wagtails only 5, however it seems that the Pied Wagtail male that has been setting up territory for a while may have found a mate (above). Pied Wagtails have rarely bred on Hilbre in recent times.

The only small waders seen this morning (although there are probably more somewhere) were a single Turnstone, Dunlin and Ringed Plover (right).

Ringed today:-

7 Willow Warblers

2 Chiffchaffs

1 Grasshopper Warbler

1 Wren

(DB,CJ,KMc,et al + CS) photos CJ