Tuesday, 15 August 2023

15th August 2023

 Weather: W force 4

For the best sighting of the day members had to wait until they were by Little Eye on the way off the island. Two Ruff, a very scarce wader at Hilbre flew north east passed Little Eye. Early autumn is often a good time for scarce wader species here. With the wind in the west warblers were not really on the radar today and just a single Willow Warbler was on the island.


A Whitethroat and a couple of Wheatears however did arrive.

There were about a dozen or more Swallows passing through, adding to a few local birds breeding on the island and now with juveniles.

 

 The immature/eclipse male Eider is still on its own swimming around the islands.

 

Waders included 6 Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit but the most colourful must surely be the Turnstone, 45 were present today.

Eight Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons fed around the shore.

 

 The female Kestrel has been here for some time now.

It was a decent day for butterflies, mostly Small Whites (20) but also a Small Heath, 4 Red Admirals and a Common Blue.

 

Quite a few frogs have been seen recently not all as tame as this.

 Photos SRW

No comments: