Weather: ESE force 1 with slight mist, NNE 3 by noon
Almost flat calm at dawn and just a few skeins of Pinkfeet, about 480 birds going north, and the Brent Geese are down to about a dozen now, including a dark-bellied. Two Canada Geese showed again and the 9 Eiders were all present.
The paddocks seemed quiet at first but Willow Warblers arrived an hour or so later, 18 were estimated during the day.
A single Chiffchaff was amongst them and the male Whitethroat was also present. Finches were interesting with 6 Goldfinches, 2 Siskins and 5 Lesser Redpolls. One of the Redpolls trapped was a control (ringed elsewhere), it turned out to have been ringed in Warwickshire in early January this year.
Three White Wagtails arrived and 5 Sand Martins flew through, also 20 Swallows, while a few of them seen were definitely Hilbre birds returning.
At least 3 Mallards have been in the pond lately, a female and 2 males today.
On the sea were 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Guillemots, 80 Sandwich and 5 Common Terns. A single Harbour Porpoise swan in the calm channels. The waders featured 14 Whimbrel, 85 Turnstone 300 Dunlin and 800 Knot.
Eleven Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons fed on the shore, while the only raptor was a Sparrowhawk that flew over the west hoyle towards Wales.
Ringed: 11 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Lesser Redpoll (plus the control)
Photos SRW
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