Weather: SSE force 3, W 5 in the afternoon
A front was clearly visible as it approached Hilbre this morning and probably helped with a little bird movement.
Seven Redwings were heard pre-dawn when the Barn Owl showed again and 2 Reed Buntings were on Middle first thing.
Three Snipe also flew over Middle Eye and 2 Wigeon were with the Brent in the west side of the lagoon between the islands on the early morning ebb tide.
Also on the ebb 2 Red-breasted Mergansers fed close in to the gutter before flyong off south, then another arrived but did the same. Bird of the day was a Great Spotted Woodpecker which arrived and even entered one of the traps but was seen off by one of the 2 the Kestrels present alighting on top of it. The middle of October is the prime time to find one of these scarce Hilbre birds on the island which average about one occurrence a year. Apart from the Redwings, 7 Skylarks flew through and 2 Goldcrests were in the paddocks, these were the sole migrants. Ravens were again seen today.
There were 153 Brent counted today, slightly less than yesterday, but the numbers will continue to creep up until Dec/Jan. Not otherwise mentioned so far were records of a red-throated Diver, 18 Common Scoter, 16 Little Egrets, a Peregrine and various waders, for example 64 Turnstone, 46 Redshank, both more than average lately, 3 Sanderling and a Bar-tailed Godwit. After dark 19 more Redwings were recorded calling as they migrated overhead. A Wren was ringed today.
Photos SRW
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