A brief morning visit was rewarded with a few nice birds.
A small flock of six Starlings flew south over the main island as the sole observer arrived, signs that migration is still underway.
Four Little Egrets were feeding in the remnants of the gutter and in 'egret flash'. Signs of changing times.
The Pale-bellied Brent Goose flock were 'lounging' about on the Whaleback with some birds feeding but most were snoozing! The colour ringed bird 'HSWB' was present with 152 others (see below). This bird was ringed at Dungarvan Pitch and Putt Golf Course, County Waterford, on 18th December 2008 and was first seen at Hilbre on 12th November 2010 having been at Strangford Lough, County Down, that autumn until 20th October and has returned to the islands every winter since (along with the Canadian ringed bird 'HDRB' also present this autumn). Thanks, as always, to the Irish Brent Goose Research Group for the information.
A pair of Wigeon were loafing on the sea before walking out onto the East Hoyle Bank but other than a few Great Crested Grebes the sea was fairly quiet.
A single Bar-tailed Godwit (see below) fed in the gutter with Oystercatchers and Redshank and a few small flocks of Grey Plover flew south up the estuary.
(SRW)
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