Weather: W force 6/7. Cloudy and some rain later.
An early morning tide
meant meeting at 06.30 and getting across to Hilbre in the dark on a very windy
morning.
As the tide flooded a
count of the Brent Geese sitting on the water just off Middle Eye resulted in
226 birds being logged. With the wind in the west a lot of waders chose to
roost in Niffy bay with good numbers of Turnstone and Redshank present. A few
more Knot have recently begun to roost around the island and today saw small
groups totalling 150 birds being seen at various locations and times. The
highlight though was the highest count of Purple Sandpipers seen so far this
year with at least 9 birds being seen roosting with Turnstones on the steps in Niffy Bay (left).
Sea watching was
difficult and only a single Red-throated Diver was seen flying west along with
two Great-crested Grebes on the sea. Fewer Common Scoter were seen with only 40
being recorded.
The gull and wader
roost on Middle Eye briefly held an adult Yellow-legged Gull which was present
for around 10 minutes but was chased off by other gulls (see photo below in poor light).
Oystercatcher numbers were down on recent counts and this ties in with news
from the northern isles that many have arrived back on their breeding grounds.
As to be expected in
such windy conditions passerine numbers were low and apart from the resident
birds the only other passerine see was a solitary Starling.
(AEH,KMc,PSW) photos AEH
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