A similar morning to yesterday in many ways with a small scattering of warblers after dawn but tailing off at about 08.00hrs, the 4 Wheatears seen today also did not hang about. The second Grasshopper warbler of the spring obligingly entered the Newton trap to be caught for ringing after being heard singing briefly. Apart from the Linnets the only finches were a flock of 20 Redpolls crossing Middle after the tide, the recent Goldfinch passage was non-existent today. A single Yellow Wagtail called as it moved through, 2 White Wagtails did likewise while the only hirundines in the first few hours were 3 passing Swallows.
A flock of 21 Woodpigeons flew south west early morning, and a Starling visited briefly. Three Manx Shearwaters and 3 Little Gulls were on the sea, also 5 Gannets, 2 Razorbills, about 150 Sandwich Terns and a Common Scoter that flew repeatedly around the north end (right). Whimbrel numbers vary rapidly as they move through at this time in April, there were about 9 today and still 250 Curlew on the shore.
After the tide a Short-eared Owl was flushed from Middle where it must have settled unseen as the island was searched before the tide, it was immediately mobbed by gulls as it flew off in the Hoylake direction (below).
Ringed:- 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grasshopper Warbler. [ 239-21 ]
(DB,CJ,CJW,SRW,TGW) photos CJ
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