3rd November 2015

Redwing( CJ)

Weather: SSE, then SE force 4  misty around the coast

Redwing (CJ)

male Blackcap (PSW)

Yet another day with a significant passage of thrushes, probably the most yet as Redwings (23), Fieldfares (13), Blackbirds (22) and Song Thrushes (2) passed through in the morning albeit mostly without touching down.

Nearly 200 Starlings were counted, but just 3 Skylarks went over, while migrant finches were limited to 4 Goldfinches, 3 Chaffinches and a Siskin. Found in the paddocks were 2 Goldcrests and both male and female Blackcap.
A Raven was a good record, flying down the east side early in the day

female Blackcap (CJ)

 If it wasn't for the thrushes today would have been the day of the ducks with as good a variety as are likely to be seen on Hilbre at one time, the rarest in the Hilbre context were 4 Shovelers which flew south off the west side and then were refound later on the whaleback. Shoveler is a less than annual species at Hilbre, but possibly becoming more regular in recent years.

Wigeon and Teal (CJ)

Pintail (top) with Brent and Wigeon (CJ)

Shoveler (CJ)

Parties totalling 22 Wigeon and 7 Teal hung about off the east side with the Brent, as did a single Pintail with 3 others off the west side, and not to be ignored were 5 Mallard including 3 drakes, also a Common Scoter. Three Purple Sandpipers are now here with more expected soon, while 107 pale-bellied and a dark-bellied Brent were the totals seen this morning.

Shoveler (CJ)

Ringed: 5 Blackbirds, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chaffinch        [ 601-40 ]
(DB,CJ,AS,CJW,PSW)