16th March 2023

 Weather:  SSE force 4

This morning Hilbre was honoured by a visit from Ann Cleeves OBE (below second from right with obs members), the celebrated crime writer spent a few years on Hilbre in the late 70's/early 80's with her late husband Tim who was the custodian of the island at that time. Many of her stories have island connections and some have appeared as TV adaptions such as 'Shetland' and 'Vera'. It was great to have her on the island "where is all started” as she remarked. It was nice to show her around the obs & chat about the island and all the characters!

Scarcest of the birds discovered today would be the 2 Golden Plovers found on the reef south of middle as the tide receded.

There was a large passage of Meadow Pipits this morning, over 800 hundred, many of which were noticed coming in across the sea by a member  as he followed a Harbour Porpoise moving east. The island breeding species were busy singing/displaying this morning, Linnets, Blackbirds and Meadow Pipits were among them.

A Skylark was singing on Middle, while Wrens and Rock Pipits were also in spring mode. Brent are still in very large numbers, 336 seen today, 5 of the Eiders were here, a female Red-breasted Merganser (now rarer here than Goosander) showed and 60 Scoter were logged with several close to the island.

... and a pair of Mallard were in the main pond.

Five Great Crested Grebes sat on the sea, while waders were generally in small numbers but 10 Purple Sandpipers were pleasing.

Photos CJW