7th October 2010

The island was clear overhead at first light in a steady south/south easterly but at about 09.00hrs a band of fog closed in from the south raising expectations of a few unusual birds on the ground. As it turned out little did we realise how unusual until on leaving the obs a flock of 6 Coal Tits were around the paddocks and immediately more were seen in the Newton trap and others flew away to the south. The 20 birds involved were probably the largest ever amount to land at Hilbre as we are normally lucky to see one in a year. Seven birds were ringed, some of which stayed on to take advantage of the feeders provided.

Other grounded birds were 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Chaffinches, a male Blackcap and a late Greenland Wheatear on the obs fence (left). Not stopping but passing through were 8 Skylarks, 3 Starlings, and 100 Meadow Pipits.

A Common Snipe was off to the west of the island, and there were 3 Rock Pipits (right) which occur traditionally on passage in October, but seabirds were few and far between the best being a Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill.

Ringed:- 7 Coal Tits, 2 Rock Pipits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Chaffinch.

(DB,JE,CJ,PSW, et al) [586] photos CJ