20th November 2014

Weather: SE force 2, later SSE force 3/4
Following the Great Northern Diver of yesterday, another scarce seabird appeared in the form of a male Velvet Scoter flying to the north east. Other highlights from the sea were 5 late adult Gannets, 62 Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser and a Razorbill. A fine visible migration this morning with thrushes and Starlings coming in off the sea at the north end, logged were 12 Blackbirds, 4 Song Thrushes, 8 Redwings,10 Starlings, also 10 of that little considered Hilbre migrant, the Wren. At least one dark-bellied bird was amongst the 120 + Brent seen today, while counts from the east hoyle included 20,000 Knot, 2,000 Dunlin, 300+ Grey Plover, and 300 Sanderling. The only ducks of the day were 4 Teal that swam in the pool between the islands. Little Egrets are again in good numbers, today 8 were about the islands. Fox faeces were found at the south end, examination of which concluded that it has been feeding mainly on mice or (more likely) Short-tailed field voles.
(DB)