6th April 2015

Weather: N 0-1, 7/8 cloud, fog, vis at times less than 100m

Thick fog shrouded the islands for much of the day even though the sun tried to occasionally break through.  Migrants were passing overhead with Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Grey and Pied Wagtails being logged.  One Greenfinch found its way into the Obs garden mist net (see below).

Greenfinch - Obs Garden (SRW)

There was a major passage of Meadow Pipits with many dropping in to the island before heading off in the fog towards the mainland. Amongst the passage birds the resident Meadow Pipits were busy singing and displaying. An estimated 800 were recorded. There was a continued small movement of Robins with five more being ringed along with a single Goldcrest and a couple of Mipits and a couple of re-trap Mipits returning to the island to breed from previous years.

A single Merlin was again on the ridge and a single Woodpigeon was typical early spring record at Hilbre.

Seawatching was impossible due to the fog but small numbers of Common Scoter were noted around high tide. Three Purple Sandpipers were seen at the north end and there were two Rock Pipits seen - one of which was singing.  84 Brent Geese were counted along with 52 Turnstone but just 6 Redshanks.

On the insect front a colony of Tawny Mining Bees were found on the main island.

Mining Bee Colony - found on main island (PSW)

(JE, CJW, EKW, NDW, NLW, PSW, RTW, SRW and TGW) [86-14]