A cold breezy start to the day and as the tide flooded good numbers of Knot moved around the islands with Curlew and a few Grey Plovers calling as they pushed up, feeding on the tide edge. Oystercatchers (8000) roosted across the North end of middle and also the SW corner of Hilbre and up to above Lady’s cave, 59 Ringed plover also roosted on the main island over the tide and the Purple Sandpiper count remained at 9 birds, several flocks of Sanderling buzzed about and over 200 birds fed manically as the tide ebbed. 148 Brent Geese were noted and Niffy bay hosted 120 Redshank and 169 Turnstones! Three hundred Dunlin mixed in with the other waders and 12 Bar-tailed Godwits were amongst 108 Curlew. A Little Egret and 2 Herons fished the pools and roosted over the high water whilst close in at the North end 4 Great Crested Grebes also fished next to a solitary Red-throated Diver. Good numbers of Wrens are still present as well as a couple of Blackbirds and a Song thrush that has gained a few grams of fat over the last few weeks, the Kestrel hovered about the islands only being interrupted by the Carrion Crows. Meanwhile some external maintenance work continues around the Obs and trapping areas while the rain had a day off!
photo CJW
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