Weather: NW force 3/4 rain overnight and early morning, then dry and sunny
The day started off quite wet with low visibility and persistent rain. A Common Sandpiper searched the edge of the gutter below the obs and small flocks of Dunlin, Turnstones and Ringed Plover also fed.
The surprise early on was a Cockatiel in a sorry state in the old lifeboat station, it
was caught and brought back to the obs to dry out and given sone food & water before
being taken to the mainland where it will hopefully be reunited with its owner! Two Ravens perused middle eye as the cloud lifted and the weather improved, waders
increased as the tide started to flood with 29 Black-tailed Godwits circling the
East Hoyle and two juvenile Willow Warblers appearing in the obs garden, our first of the Autumn. Two
Peregrines were later joined by a third and spent some time chasing gulls,
terns and each other around the islands, providing excellent oppertunities for members carrying a camera.
Several Swallows passed through today, also a Sand Martin, and later a Sedge Warbler was found in the SK paddock just as members were leaving the island. Wdaers included 12 Whimbrel and 39 Sanderling. Reasonable numbers of Sandwich terns
were present and a handful of Common, 2 splendid dark phase Arctic Skuas were noted
chasing Sandwich terns off the West side as the maintenance team made repairs
to one of the heligolands in preparation for the autumn migration.
Most unusual in a Hilbre context amongst the few butterflies identified today was a Skipper. Sea Holly was on the main island.
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