Weather: SE force 3, SSW 4/5 in the afternoon
An excellent day of migration, the highlight being a Lapland Bunting arriving with some of the 200 Meadow Pipits that came through in the morning. It came into the west side but was flighty and soon departed towards the south west.
In addition there were more Skylarks today (12), 3 Reed Buntings, a Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Wagtails, 7 Pied Wagtails and a lovely arrival of 15 Goldcrests. A few Wrens and Robins would also be migrants as were the 2 Goldfinches.
Dawn started with 50 Pink-footed Geese south west of the island and the Eiders had increased to 8, with another adult male added since yesterday. Brent gathered to make a count of 120, while a single Goosander showed and a group of 6 and then two other Wigeon made the list.
An unlikely scarce bird at Hilbre today and the best of the 'waders' was a Lapwing.
The other waders had smallish counts because of the flat tide except for the 300 Curlew, 120 Dunlin, 80 Redshank and Turnstone. The Kestrel had a rival in the form of a Peregrine this morning.
and a Sparrowhawk arrived to make it 3 raptors for the day.
Again the sea was surprisingly good for a southerly wind, pride of place must go to 25 Razorbills, outnumbering the 8 Guillemots, 12 Gannets, 6 Red-throated Divers and 12 Great Crested Grebes. Three Harbour Porpoise were a bonus while sea watching. Just a single Carrion Crow recorded today, but 2 Ravens were on Middle in recompense.
Ringing: 8 Goldcrests, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wren
Later in the morning and early afternoon the visibilty improved and the wind veered to the south west and increased, heralding a return to more normal temperatures in the next few days.
Photos JE, SRW
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