18th October 2017

Weather: S force 1/2,increasing SE 3/4

A good migration day for late autumn started with Redwings (15), Goldcrests (22) and Reed Buntings (6) flying around soon after dawn and joined during the morning by 10 Greenfinches (scarce lately at Hilbre and the first ringed this year) and 3 Redpolls which flew south.

Over 50 Skylarks came through without stopping as did 10 Pied wagtails and a Starling, while dozens of Meadow Pipits tracked down the island with 4 being caught for ringing. Joining the Redwings today were 2 Blackbirds and a Song Thrush.

Observers were astonished to see a Kestrel ( 2 were present today) fly in the obs building through the door and then out again. It soon became apparent that it had chased a Goldcrest indoors which was found flying around the room unharmed and which was ringed and released when the Kestrel had moved on. A Chiffchaff was among the birds down this morning which was no surprise, but the appearance of a Willow Warbler certainly was, as it is very late in the autumn to find one of these.
Another late sighting were 2 Swallows which flew south over the obs near midday.
The 10 Eiders are still close to the island, but the Brent were hard to count but certainly over 100 and a Greenshank was heard calling down the west side. Small waders were scarce at high tide but 75 Turnstones were counted and a few Ringed Plovers were seen on the ebb. A female Peregrine caused chaos among the Oystercatchers before landing on the east hoyle beach.
Ringed: 9 Goldcrests, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Greenfinches, 1 Willow warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush.     [ 612-35 ]    photos CJ