4th September 2022

Weather: SE force 5/6   SSE 4 with light rain mid-morning

Five Teal were found at first light this morning and later a single Wigeon that had been expected for a few days now, the first for Hilbre this autumn.

A hundred and twenty five Sandwich Terns were in the gutter as the early tide ebbed between Little and Middle. They soon dispersed with 30 feeding with 20 Gannets offshore. A Guillemot was also out on the sea. Ten Swallows passed through and 2 Wheatears arrived.

A single Willow Warbler arrived and a late Swift drifted through south, most will have left this area by now.

Later 2 Pintail flew west passed the north end and then south up the estuary, like the Wigeon they were the first of the autumn. On the flooding tide in the afternoon lots of waders were found including 3 Curlew Sandpipers that landed with Dunlin and Knot on the north shore but were soon flushed. Then 2 more Curlew Sandpipers flew passed with Sanderling. (there is one in the picture below if you can find it !)
 

There were 7 Knot, 340 Ringed Plover, over 3,000 Dunlin and 5 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Also 315 Sanderling.

A Red Darter dragonfly was in one of the traps.

Photos AEH, SRW