11th January 2022

Weather: WSW force 2   sunny intervals.

A mid-morning visit managed to record several duck species for the day, including a male Goldeneye on the west hoyle, a species that now seems to be scarce on the marine lake in recent winters. More normal for Hilbre were 18 Pintail and a total of 21 Teal. 

Another duck now less often found on the marine lake in winter is the Red-breasted Merganser, but 2 males and a female were at Hilbre today, while Common Scoter (120 today) is recorded on the sea in most days. A high count of 429 pale-bellied Brent and 2 dark-bellied was made, and other good counts included 470 Curlew, 1,200 Knot, 2,000 Dunlin and 180 Sanderling. Others making the day list were the male Kestrel, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Herons and a Little Egret. The normal wintering species seen were 4 Robins, 3 Wrens, 2 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes and a Rock Pipit.

 Photos SRW