27th October 2010

If there was any doubt as to where many of the birds arriving at Hilbre in the late autumn come from, it was once more demonstrated by the capture of a male Blackcap today bearing a dutch ring (right). This follows on from the Blackbirds from the continent trapped last autumn. All the more surprising as the Blackcap and a female Blackbird were the only birds captured today. The Blackcap yesterday was not ringed and therefore a different bird.
Five juvenile/female Eiders were by Little Eye later and 2 Whooper Swans (the first of the autumn seen from Hilbre) flew south/south west.
A good number of Meadow Pipits were noted today with a single Redwing and 2 Skylarks but few other passerines. An accurate count of the Turnstones revealed 112 birds but only 37 Brent could be found.
The resident rabbit showed itself once more today.
Ringed :- 1 Blackbird
(DB,CJW) [673] photo CJW