A promising start to the morning with a Greenland Wheatear greeting some observers on Middle at 545am and this was a sign of things to come with 6 Greenland birds being caught and ringed in potter traps (mainly down the west side below the mast as this seems to be the most productive area in recent days thanks to the efforts of DB).
Small numbers of redpolls were passing over and a single Tree Pipit was heard buzzing around early on - it was clearly a good day for 'vis mig'.
A visiting group led by WBC Ranger Matt Thomas enjoyed a ringing demonstration in the Obs and a talk from the Chairman and Secretary.
It was during this talk that a phonecall was received from the mainland where it transpires the superb male Citrine Wagtail had flown in from the Hilbre direction (picked up at c500 yards out over the sandbank - i.e. over the Hilbre recording area!!) before pitching in on West Kirby saltmarsh briefly before flying off south.
Whilst we were all disappointed not to have seen this cracking bird it was great to hear from the finders that it had been seen over our recording area and that it had been photographed (see earlier post).
Back on the island a Sedge Warbler and a couple of Willows were caught and several flava and White Wagtails passed through but there was no sign of the Citrine which clearly had not decided to return north.
A Sparrowhawk passed over briefly and a few hirundines passed through - late afternoon there was a stunning fly past of the Obs of a Swift (only the second of the year).
(DCT, PT+1, NDW (from over), DB, CJW, SRW) [515-30]
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