7th June 2022

 Weather: SE force 2    mild and calm

 A relatively quiet morning was livened up when a Reed Warbler appeared in the obs garden mist net.

 

Reed Warbler is still a rare find at Hilbre with only about a dozen or so records to date, mostly in more recent years when they have bred more widely in northern regions of Britain. The last was in September last year, while even rarer acrocephalus species in the form of a Paddyfield and Blyth's Reed Warbler also occured here in the first week of June in 2009 and 2011 respectively. This is obviously a prime time for looking out for these related species at Hilbre. Prior to this excitement the female Eider was feeding off the west side of Middle early on. 

The group of Canada Geese are still flying about the estuary, today 3 flew east over the obs followed by another 11 that landed on the east hoyle with the Cormorants.

The ringing focus was on young Linnets which are now numerous, but only 4 however were ringed today.

Very few birds inhabited the shore at low tide and the only waders seen were a small number of Oystercatchers and a single Curlew, but a total of 15 Little Egrets was pleasing. A House Martin was heard overhead and 2 Sandwich Terns called while feeding and the Shelduck did their thing near the island.

A Jellyfish was on the shore between the islands.

 

Photos JE, CJ