6th November 2011

First light brought a cold start, however that quickly transformed into a warm sunny day (left). The brisk early wind and tide produced 8 Red Throated Divers, 53 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Gannets, 31 Guillemot, 15 Red-breasted Merganser and a movement of Gulls including 150 Black-headed, 18 Lesser and 41 Greater black backed. A rock Pipit was present at the North End and the now regular Merlin caused havoc with the waders and Blackbirds, the Brent flock remained at around 100 and wader counts were as follows; Oystercatcher 4000, Ringed Plover 21, Grey Plover 1, Purple Sandpiper 5, Curlew 45, Turnstone 120 and Redshank 120, Two Little Egrets (inc the colour ringed bird) patrolled the ebbing gutter. A single Skylark and Starling moved through as well as 26 Meadow Pipits, 4 Blackbirds, 2 Goldfinch and a single Blue Tit that turned out to have been ringed at Meols on 31st October (right). Blue Tits are rare enough at Hilbre, so one already with a ring is extra special even if it hasn't travelled far.
(JE, CJW, NDW, RTW, EKW, NLW) photos JE (view), CJW, (Blue Tit)