7th January 2018

Weather: NE force 1/2  cold, overnight frost slow to clear in bright sunshine

A very cold but sunny morning brought a plethora of wildfowl to the islands featuring several loose flocks of 35, 300 and 200 Pink-footed Geese seemingly flying towards the Lancashire mosslands.

A slightly less expected highlight were 9 beautiful Whooper Swans crossing the island and ditching into the Dee to the west and giving good viewing opportunities to the obs members.

Other wildfowl included 3 Wigeon, 3 Shelduck, 4 Greylags flying west and the Hilbre 'locals' this winter of 4 Eider and 310 Pale-bellied Brent Geese.

A Blackbird and a Song Thrush (1of 3 present) became the first birds to be ringed this year, while also present were 2 Rock Pipits, 7 Wrens  and 9 Linnets (7 of them were on Middle). The only passage birds over were a Skylark and a Pied Wagtail.

Waders seen at the low tide included 60 Sanderling, 4 Grey Plover, 3,000 Knot towards Wales but disappointingly no Purple Sandpipers.
Seabirds were understandably scarce, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 80 Common Scoter, and on the shore 2 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons.
Ringed: 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush              [ 2-2 ]
 photos AEH, PSW