Friday 3 August 2018

3rd August 2018

SW force 1, vis 30 miles
A superb early morning sea watch found a raft of 280 Manx Shearwaters out from the mouth of the Dee. They took off en mass and headed towards the north end with a smaller group splitting off up the Dee. The remaining flock (180) went passed the north end where they wheeled about whilst more birds split away.
The remainder of the flock headed towards Red Rocks at Hoylake where small groups could be seen for a good half hour.

The rest of the day was fairly quiet and we had to wait until just before noon to find a Willow Warbler, possibly brought in by a slight drizzle.
Soon about 100 Swallows and 46 House Martins also arrived to add to the many Swallows already feeding about the island.
 Not too many Ring Plovers around the island today but one individual near Middle was seen to be colour ringed. It was ringed in Iceland and further details are awaited.
A young Great Crested Grebe stayed close to the west side, and at least 7 Whimbrel were noted, while butterflies present were mostly whites but a nice Common Blue was in the paddock

Ringed: 1 Swallow (pullus)    [ 438-31 ]
photos CJ, AEH, Matt Thomas (Ringed Plover) more to follow from today and recent days

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