'Southward'

 

 Southward

At the end of the year it is appropiate to reflect that 2024 was the centenary year of 'Southward', home of Hilbre Bird Observatory since it was very kindly gifted by the Dixon family in August 1988. Built in 1924 by Capt. Mace who was an officer of the Dock Board, there were at least 2 other owners before the Dixons bought it in 1949. In the article about Southward that Henry Dixon wrote for our 1991 report he mentions the bright red woodwork throughout, which they soon altered upon moving in. In turn, the Obs sent all the internal doors off to be stripped and they were subsequently waxed by one of our members who noticed there was still evidence of the dreaded red paint. Much work was carried out by the Dixon family to improve the building, this was continued by the Observatory and included the building of the deck fire escape and most recently the installation of solar panels which at long last meant a fridge to keep our milk in summer. Unlike the other island buildings Southward was not built into the shelter of the eastward slope and the gable end faces west. This causes some weather problems but gives the building excellent views to east, south and west, hence the high number of bird sightings whilst members are having a tea break! Let us hope that Southward survives the next 100 years of Hilbre weather.

AS

30th December 2024

 Weather: SW force 3/4

The last visit of the year managed to report quite a few seabirds, most were flying west against into the wind but a few were settled on the sea. There were 14 Red-throated Divers, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Guillemots and a Razorbill. On the ebb tide 6 Eiders and 3 Wigeon were in the gutter with 450 Common Scoter way out to sea. Sixty eight Ringed Plovers roosted the tide at the north end, 

As usual at least 5,000 oystercatchers were around the islands.

Eight thousand Knot and 1,500 Dunlin flew over the east hoyle towards the marsh where 265 Curlew and 14 Shelduck were resting. A single Bar-tailed Godwit was also on the east hoyle. Some of the 14 Purple Sandpipers were at the north end and the rest in Niffy bay. 

Photos AS

29th December 2024

 Weather: WSW force 1, W 1 by noon.

A Sparrowhawk zipped through the obs garden and landed briefly on the fence allowing for a poor photo taken through a dirty window!

A Shag and a Red-throated Diver swam off the west side, probably the same ones as recorded last week. The Purple Sandpiper count increased to 23 (highest so far this winter?) in 3 separate roosts. 

Roosting the tide in Niffy bay were 170 Turnstone and 77 Redshank, while after the tide 140 Knot and 200 Dunlin joined them feeding off the east side. Other wader counts included 384 Curlew, 5,000 Oystercatchers and just 2 Grey Plover. About 300 Brent are still present, 12 Scoter were seen and 2 Eider drifted by the island. Single Rock Pipit and Song Thrush were seen also 5 Wrens and 4 Blackbirds.

Photos AS 

27th December 2024

 Weather: E force 1,   thick fog all morning

 

There were lots of Pink-footed Geese overhead in the fog all morning calling even more than these flocks usually do. Turn up the sound for the full effect.

The most usual record of the day however was a flock of 17 Shoveler (still quite rare here) landing briefly below the obs. Other wildfowl were a Common Scoter, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, 190 Brent, 5 Shelduck, 2 Eider and a pair of Teal.

A single Red-throated Diver showed well despite the fog.

A Shag was also on the sea. Most satisfactory record of the waders were 14 Purple Sandpipers. Just the usual wintering birds were in the gardens and paddocks, while on the shore fed 2 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.

Photos AEH

25th December 2024

 Weather: S force 2 mild with sunny intervals.

A beautiful unseasonably spring like day on the island, but of course no spring like bird records to report. I think we can say the The Barn Owl has now deserted us with another no show this morning, time will tell. For a change there were a few birds on the sea to be mentioned today with 4 Red-throated Divers floating on the calm sea, also 140 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 4 Goosander (2 males) and 4 Eider. The Brent remain at about 300 birds. The owl may have gone but the Kestrel was here today seeking the voles. On the island were Wrens (6), Blackbirds (4), Robins (3), a Rock Pipit and a Song Thrush. A roaming flock of 5 Linnets were noted on Middle. An estimate of 6,000 Herring Gulls rested on the West hoyle bank. The low tide only revealed limited numbers of waders including 120 Turnstone and 2 Purple Sandpipers. A Raven flew north up the east side of the island in the afternoon.

24th December 2024

Weather: W force 3

Wildfowl on todays visit included 318 Brent (including a colour ringed bird XJBB), 5 Eider and 12 Common Scoter on the sea. The waders featured 3,000 Knot, 1,200 Oystercatchers, 120 Turnstone, 90 Redshank, 80 Dunlin, just 3 Purple Sandpipers and 1 Grey Plover. Around the paddocks and gardens were 7 Wrens, 5 Blackbirds, 4 Robins, 3 Linnets, a Rock Pipit, a Meadow Pipit and a Song Thrush. Best sighting was of the Weasel by fog cottage. Again no sign of the Barn Owl.

 Photo AS

21st December 2024

 Weather: N force 7     rain

A visit on the winter solstice in rough weather found 6 Blackbirds and a Song Thrush on the island and a winter Redwing. Just a female Eider was present and 45 Brent were showing. Some waders seen were 20 Curlew, 100 Knot, 20 Dunlin, 30 Redshank and 30 Turnstone. A Raven made a journey to the islands. There was no sign of the Barn Owl today.

20th December 2024

 Weather: SW force 4

Even though the Barn Owl has been here for some time it is still the headline bird on the island. Just 215 Brent seen on this visit with 12 Shelduck swimming in the gutter as the tide reached Little Eye while an adult male Eider joined the immature male and 3 females, and male with 2 female Goosander fed at the north end.

 

Eleven Purple Sandpiper were below the obs garden and 75 Ringed Plover on the north end. The east hoyle after the tide held 60 Grey Plover, 110 Curlew, 8000 Knot and 4500 Dunlin. A Song Thrush was one of several birds that seem to be wintering here. Only one each was seen of Little Egret and Grey Heron also the Kestrel was about.

Photo AS

16th December 2024

 Weather: WSW force 4

A very average winters day apart from the fact that our Barn Owl is still here which is an amazing thing for the island. The Brent are still at about 330 birds and 80 Common Scoter were seen also 5 Eiders were present. Small birds spending time on the island at the moment are 5 Robins, 4 Blackbirds, 5 Wrens, a Pied Wagtail and at least 1 Rock Pipit. Waders noted were 4,500 Oystercatchers, 4,000 Dunlin, 1,500 Knot, 130 Curlew, 70 Redshank, 30 Grey Plover, 180 Turnstone, 9 Purple Sandpipers and 65 Ringed Plover roosting at the north end. 

Photo AS

13th December 2024

Weather: E force 0-1     mist

Six Eider are still about the islands, with one being an immature male. Also on the sea today 300 Common Scoter some of which were close in and could be heard calling, 14 Great-creasted Grebe and a Red-throated Diver which swam close up the west side.

 

Three Grey Heron roosted on Little Eye and a single Little Egret fed in the Gutter. After the  tide some of the waders on the East Hoyle were 68 Grey Plover, 1500Knot, 3000 Dunlin, 11 Purple Sandpiper and a Bar-tailed Godwit.The Barn Owl is still to be seen at dawn and dusk, the Weasel was active in the obs garden and there continues to be a Fox present.

Photos AS

9th December 2024

 Weather: NNE force 4    sunny

 A more pleasent day after the wind and rain saw a Shag at the north end first thing, also a couple of Common Scoters but only the female stayed to be captured on film.

 

A Barn Owl waited until 09.30 to appear this morning but at least it was in the sunlight.

It looked like there had been a wreck of razor clams which accounted for the 4000 Herring Gulls that were feeding off the north east corner of the island.

Most of the small birds on the island had probably been here for some time, there were 5 Blackbirds, 5 Wrens and 4 Robins, one of which was a juvenile and it was caught for ringing.

The sole definite 'migrant' was a Starling and on the shore were 2 Little Egrets and the reliable Kestrel was hunting the island. Some numbers among the waders were 1,100 Knot, 80 Dunlin and 30 Redshank.

Photos JE , AS

8th December 2024

 Weather: N force 6 at first, moderating to force 4 before noon

 With the exception of a Redwing, today was all about wildfowl and waders. Among the former were 240 Brent, 6 Shelduck, 4 Eider and 150 Common Scoter, while also on the sea was a Great Crested Grebe. A good list of waders included 250 Oystercatchers, 650 Knot, 250 Dunlin, 60 Redshank, 25 Turnstone,20 Curlew and 2 Grey Plover one of which was sporting an orange flag from ringing. Only a single Little Egret was feeding.

3rd December 2024

 Weather: SE force 3,  later E 3

The big surprise of the day was that two Barn Owls were present on the main island, seen together briefly over the main paddock early morning with a sighting of a single bird at the unusual time of 3pm.

A short sea watch produced 6 Eider, a single Razorbill, 23 Red-throated Diver and 36 Great-creasted Grebe. Only 8 Purple Sandpiper were logged but a large number of small waders on the East Hoyle were estimated at 4,000 Knot, 6,000 Dunlin along with 140 Curlew and 6 Bar-tailed Godwit. Around the island Turnstone and Redshank numbered 180 and 90 respectively. The Kestrel was about, the Fox left evidence of it's presence and the Weasel was sighted in the Obs garden, with the number of predators around it was surprising to see a couple of Short-tailed Field Voles about on the paths.

 
 Photos AS

1st December 2024

 Weather: SSE 3   SSW 4 later

A visit over the morning tide found it very quiet and warm for the time of year. The Common Scoters featured with over 6,000 birds out towards the windfarm and also a few lingering near the island.

 

 

 

 

   An estimate of 350 Turnstone roosting was a very large number indeed

 

 

Some were on the cliffs with the 12 Purple Sandpipers

 Oystercatchers were estimated at 8,000 roosting.

 

 There were 220 Redshank.

 and 800 Knot, at least one that had been colour flagged.

 

Good sea watching produced 37 Red-throated Divers, 25 Great Crested Grebes and a single Gannet. Six Eiders hung about the islands. There were 8 Robins on the islands and surprisingly perhaps a Goldcrest was also here. As usual the Kestrel gave a great show.

 

 

 

Photos AEH