17th March 2023

 Weather: SE force 3/4.  SSE 2 in the afternoon

This morning was the day it all happened after a long winter looking forward to the early arrivals of spring. First the headline news; A Bearded Tit (or Bearded Reedling) was heard outside the obs garden and was soon seen flying off the south end of the island along the west side ridge. It was not seen again despite a search of Middle and the main island. It becomes the first record for Hilbre. There were lots of other first arrivals such as 6 Wheatears, (the first of the year was found at Little Eye, below)

Followed by another on Middle Eye and 3 more on the main island, apologies for the number of images but we have been waiting for them for some time.

 

None of the Wheatears stayed through the afternoon but some of the remarkable number of 8 Stonechats here this morning did and one was trapped for ringing.

 

 

 A Raven was about and as a bonus a female Sparrowhawk was caught for ringing.

Another first for the year was a single Sandwich Tern off the west hoyle. Other typical early spring migrants included 7 Jackdaws, 3 Stock Doves, 17 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Woodpigeon, 140 Meadow Pipits, 12 Goldfinch, a Greenfinch and a Chaffinch, 3 Skylarks (2 on Middle), at least 6 Robins  present, and 42 Linnets around the island. Wildfowl also fared well: 7 Eider, 3 Goosander, 2 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, and 20 Common Scoter. The pair of Mallard were still on the pond and 260 Brent were still here, some bearings rings from elsewhere.

The sea held 13 Great Crested Grebes and a Guillemot. The list of waders included 6,000 Knot, 250 Dunlin, 75 Turnstone and 9 Purple Sandpipers. As many as 8 Rock Pipits are thought to be on the islands.

Ringed: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Stonechat, 1 Blackbird, 4 Robins.

 Photos CJW, PSW and Matt Thomas (last 2 wheatear photos)