Saturday, 12 March 2022

12th March 2022

 Weather: SSW force 4 milder than of late

The first Wheatear of the year was found this morning, appropriately on 'Wheatear hill'. It was a splendid male and is the earliest to arrive at Hilbre since one on 11th March 2015, in some years it has been up to 2 weeks later.

It was still present in the afternoon. Small numbers of other migrants included a few Skylarks passing over, half a dozen Pied Wagtails and the first White Wagtail of the year. No less than 5 Blackbirds were here (2 became ringed), 8 Robins (5 ringed) were down and 6 Goldfinches, and a Greenfinch kept the 12 Linnets company, while at least 5 Meadow Pipts were singing/displaying.

The female Kestrel was still present as were the 3 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes were on the sea, and wader numbers seen at low tide included 4 Purple Sandpipers, 6 Grey Plover, 100 Turnstone, 110 Dunlin and 65 Redshank. The Brent are still in excess of 400 birds, including  this colour ringed individual. 

 Photos CJW

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