A gloriously sunny morning on the Island today but a bitterly cold north east wind meant that there were few migrants to be found. However, three Whinchats and a Willow Warbler were discovered on Middle Eye early on but promptly flew off south down the reef.
On Hilbre itself three male Blackcaps were the only migrants found so attention turned to the seas and skies! Six Eider flying north along the west side were a good find (see bottom left) but the highlight of the day was an Osprey that flew in from the west and caused panic amongst the roosting birds on Middle Eye before rapidly disappearing east over the Wirral peninsula (above and below left and right).
The spring wader passage is well underway with flocks of Ringed Plover and Dunlin roosting alongside the Oystercatchers and 75 Sanderling flew through as the tide rose. A summer plumage Knot was amongst a small group of Knot that saw out the tide roosting on Middle Eye and about twelve Whimbrel roosted on the sheltered west side (above right).
Ringed: juvenile Dunnock, Blackcap, Meadow Pipit
(DB, DCT, PT, NDW, PSW, SRW) Photos PSW [571-24]
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