Weather: SW force 4/5 with showers at first, and then force 8 by 08.30hrs
A very short visit to look things over was challenging for our observer when a full gale blew up by 8.30 in the morning. The south westerly did not produce the hoped for sea birds except that 2 Arctic Terns were at the south end of the main island. Three Blackbirds were the most obvious inhabitants of the paddocks, and 45 Brents were counted between he islands, also 50 Ringed Plover and 15 Redshank. Five Common Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe were seen and a Great-Black-backed Gull which was eating a flat fish at the north end with the rough sea all around.
A new visit later in the day afternoon produced a sea watch that included the first Leach's Petrels at Hilbre this year, both flew west separately in the late afternoon. A single Manx Shearwater and 4 Arctic Skuas were also seen as well as many Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Diver and a Merlin 'in off' the sea at the north end. By this time 52 pale-bellied and 1 dark-bellied Brent had gathered and 16 Little Egrets were feeding with the gulls.
A Chiffchaff arrived and a Robin was ringed late in the day.
A beautiful sunset was a very pleasent end to a blustery day
Photos JE, CJW, SRW
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