16th April 2014

Weather SE force 4/5 slight mist, cool

Grasshopper Warbler (SRR)

 

Following 4 firsts for the year yesterday, another today when a Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling by the 'heli' trap early morning. It evaded capture until noon, by which time it was realised there were 2 birds on the island when another was heard at the south end.




Another 'first' was the sight of a Little Egret at the main island pond in the late afternoon, something all agreed was a unique occurrence.

Little Egret by the pond

Fifteen Willow Warblers during the morning was similar to yesterday but there were far fewer finches. Of the 2 Redpolls trapped, one turned out to be a control (ringed elsewhere), the first such control this year. Two Tree Pipits called overhead soon after dawn, more regular migrants included a Greenland Wheatear, 2 Pied and 3 White Wagtails, 7 Swallows, 4 Sand Martins, 1 House Martin and a Skylark that landed briefly on the west side.

Osprey

control Lesser Redpoll

 At about 7pm a chorus of noise from the gulls alerted a member to the arrival of an Osprey from the west which crossed between the islands and flew out to the distant tide to catch a fish and proceed to eat it on the east hoyle bank. This becomes the third at Hilbre this spring and more are still possible as we go through April and May.

male Blackcap (CJ)

Slightly less exciting records today were of 5 Red-throated Divers, 8 Sandwich and 1 'commic' tern, 1 Gannet, 30 Sanderling and 15 Ringed Plover. Two males and a female Mallard are now at the main island pond.
Ringed:- 10 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff,1 Greenland Wheatear, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 3 Linnets, 1 Lesser Redpoll.                    [ 215-23 ]
(DB,MSC+2,CJ, et al) +SRR&LPL