13th October 2022

 Weather:  SE force 2,  sunny and clear

It is not every day that a new bird for Hilbre is found, but today we were thrilled by that event happening. During the hour after dawn a 'small brown job' was extracted from the mist net in the new obs garden and was recognised immediately by a member who by huge coincidence had been ringing this species on a site in south Wirral only a day or two before. It was of course a Cetti's Warbler.

While Cetti's Warbler is now regular at some damp places on Wirral and indeed we have speculated during its rapid spread in England that the first for Hilbre could not be far away, nothing was further from our thoughts on this fine and sunny morning. 

As some will know, Cetti's is unique among european passerines in having only 10 tail feathers, as shown here.

The bird was taken from the north side of the net, which is next to a garden that is often damp in places and full of rough vegetation not unlike its normal habitat, after ringing the bird was released back into that garden. 

It was thought to be a young female and therefore would unlikely to be vocal which is how most Cetti's are found. The next excitement refers to a pair of Gadwall found calmly floating in the swash off the west side, Gadwall are a very scarce duck at Hilbre and the bright light meant that they could be recognised despite the great distance involved.

Soon after dawn 3 Chiffchaffs were heard and several Goldcrests were in the gardens but within the hour all seem to have vanished, although 2 were caught and ringed later.

A late Wheatear suddenly appeared on 'Wheatear Hill' and then also disappeared, as did a Chaffinch which shot into the pittosporum bush mid-morning. Moving traffic was passing overhead in the form of 11 Starlings, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Pied Wagtails and 19 Siskin. It was another Skylark day when all morning calls were heard on every visit around the island, 40 + were logged. A Sparrowhawk was flushed off the Newton wall and flew towards the north of the island. The Brent count only reached 96 today and Shelduck numbered 64. Eleven Red-breasted Mergansers were distantly out towards the west hoyle and during a sea watch there were 37 Common Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe.

 At high tide 27 Ringed Plover were about the island.

During the afternoon in a surprise visit a Marsh Harrier flew passed the north end of the island. Several Red Admirals graced the island today. Two Greylag Geese flew over late on and after dark a small number of Redwings were heard overhead, while a Common Snipe called between the main islands also unseen. 

And so ended a really excellent autumn day.

Ringed: 3 Wrens, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush.

Photos JE, CJ, AS