Sunday 9 April 2017

9th April 2017

Weather S 1/2, sunny and warm, later W force 2/3
A Light breeze from the south started the day off well and it was not long before the main attraction arrived when a loose party of 9 Carrion Crows heading south down the west side was seen to contain a Hooded Crow.

Unfortunately, they kept on moving, only giving a minute or so to appreciate a rare Hilbre visitor. Several other Carrion Crows moved through in the period before and after.

There were about a dozen phylloscopus warblers grounded overnight and about 10 Wheatears arrived during the morning, also a few White and Pied Wagtails and a couple of Redpolls and Goldfinches, but only 2 Swallows seen passing through.


A skein of 97 Pink-footed Geese flew north west over the island mid-morning and a Merlin spent some time around the island.
On the sea 21 Sandwich Terns, 10 Gannets and 50 Guillemots were noted, most seen by a member from a boat offshore, although a summer plumaged Red-throated Diver was a good find from the north end alongside 2 Great Crested Grebes and 4 Common Scoter. The warm morning saw the appearance of several Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock butterfly.
Ringed: 4 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Wheatears (including 2 Greenland race)    [ 86-19 ] 

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