Weather: NW force 2, showers
An interesting morning on the island featuring a Marsh Harrier by Little Eye which disturbed the birds, at one time dive bombing a Cormorant (very distant shots through a telescope).
About 10 Black-tailed Godwits had been seen and another 400 or so were disturbed from the shore south of Little Eye by the harrier, as were 2,000 Black-headed Gulls. At Hilbre as elsewhere Common Gulls are often overlooked, but are well worth studying..
After a message was received that about 40 grey geese flew off Seaforth in Hilbre direction, 38 Barnacle Geese duly arrived over the sea towards Hilbre.
The Barnacles are of course of uncertain origin and are likely to be feral birds from a known site, nevertheless an ususual sighting at Hilbre. Three Wheatears were on the ground but a single Chiffchaff was the only warbler.in the paddocks.
Sixty or so hirundines fed as they came through the island, there were about 50 Swallows (some resting on one of the traps), 18 House Martins and a Sand Martin.
In addition to the Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel and 2 Peregrine were here today, also 7 Little Egrets and 5 Grey Herons. Waders included 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4,000 Knot, 350 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel, 35 Ringed Plover, 9 Grey Plover, 55 Redshank and a massive 7,000 Oystercatchers. Four Wigeon seemed like a portend of winter, while the eclipse Eider has been here all summer.
A Shag has also become a regular this last week or so.
In many areas of the island it is now a 'season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' (John Keats)
Photos CJW, SRW
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