19th March 2024

 Weather: W force 4   mostly dry and quite mild

One of the least expected of the ducks to be seen on Hilbre (although more frequently recorded in recent years) are Shovelers, there were a pair today seen west of the lagoon before flying south west.

A pair of Eider were also here,

..... also 3 Pintail following 2 yesterday, 375 Brent (plus a dark-bellied), about 200 distant Scoter and 7 Shelduck. 

 The sawbills were not to be outdone, with the good number of 22 Red-breasted Mergansers,

 ... and a drake Goosander.

Twenty four Gannets were seen first thing, the first of the year for the observer, as the wind dropped and the morning mist cleared about midday visibility on the sea improved enabling further sightings of sea birds: 2 Red-throated Divers, 35 Great Crested Grebes, 15 Guillemots, a summer plumaged Razorbill and 19 Little Gulls identified in the clear sunny afternoon.

There are still 13 Purple Sandpipers present, also 45 Turnstone and 250 Sanderling seen.The odd migrant did turn up this morning, there were 2 Chiffchaffs and a male Goldcrest in the gardens/paddocoks, passing were 6 Pied Wagtails, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Skylarks, 2 Siskin, several Robins which were probably new arrivals, and a Reed Bunting on the ground.

Ringed: 1 Robin, 1 Goldcrest.

Photos AS, SRW