30th January 2025

 Weather: NW force 1/2  , WSW  2/3 with squalls early afternoon

A high winter tide this morning saw counts of  6,000 Oystercatchers, 35 Ringed Plover, 35 Knot, 45 Dunlin, 40 Redshank and an impressive 420 Turnstone plus 11 Purple Sandpipers. On the sea were 30 Common Scoter and 2 Great Crested Grebes. Our 6 Eider were still showing with 2 Mallard on the pond and 46 Brent of the flock here at the moment. In addition to the Kestrel there were sightings of 2 Peregrines today. A Linnet was on the island with 4 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrush and 2 Rock Pipits. Just after the tide at the south end a Turnstone was photographed by Matt Thomas that wore the colour rings of the individual ringed here at Hilbre on 30th March 2024 and now returned to the islands.

Photo Matt Thomas

29th January 2025

 Weather: W force 3/4,   NNW 2/3 by noon

The best record for today was a count of 30 Purple Sandpiper in 2 separate roosts, the highest count on the island since February 2009. Eighteen roosted in Niffy bay with the remainder at the north end.

 

 Also in Niffy bay over the tide were 65 Redshank and 170 Turnstone.

 The roost on Middle Eye consisted of over 100 Curlew and 5,000 Oystercatcher.

A pair of Goosander bathed in the lagoon on the ebb, 4 Shelduck fed on the East Hoyle and 4 Eider drifted in the Gutter.

The sea was quiet but noted were 3 Red-throated Diver, 15 Great-crested Grebe and 40 Common Scoter, some of which swam close to the island.

 

The Kestrel was the sole raptor noted today and smaller birds on the island included 6 Wrens, 4 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes and 3 Rock Pipits.

Photos AS 

26th January 2025

 Weather: SE force 4   backing ESE 5

A fantastic cold dawn rewarded the early start with some colourful light enabling nice photos.

 

Two Shags were present this morning, following the early exit of about 300 Cormorants out of the estuary at dawn.

 

The early tide found waders around the islands included 4,000 Oystercatchers, 300 Dunlin and 30 Knot.

The Kestrel was sat around the east side looking on towards the roosting Turnstone and 16 Purple Sandpiper. 

 

 

Brent numbers seen today were 350 birds.

Other wildfowl this morning were 6 of our Eiders, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a drake Goosander drifting in after the tide, a Red-throated Diver, 100 Common Scoter and 2 Great Crested Grebes feeding at the north end with some Common Scoters passing by.

 A Grey Seal was hauled out on the old lifeboat slip.

 Early on a fox was spotted near the pond which still has the early pair of Mallard on it.A look around the gardens and paddocks revealed 6 Wrens, 5 Blackbirds, 1 Song Thrush and 2 Robins.

A further sign of Spring despite the cold wind chill was the first Snowdrops in the Obs garden.

 

 Photos AEH

24th January 2025

 Weather: WSW force 9/10

 A quick visit on the afternoon of the storm to assess the damage found that things were not too bad although of course repairs to traps and fences etc. are always expected following strong winter gales. The wind remained between severe gale and storm force and the West Hoyle was white with spray despite the neap tide and the Hilbre pool staying full.

The tide seemed higher than predicted as there was a lot of tide in earlier than expected. Things were a lot calmer to the east side of the island.

 

The Brent are at a high at the moment, 425 today, one of which unusually landed in the island pool where it drank and bathed.

 

Lots of the waders hunkered down out of the wind including the 1,200 Oystercatchers,

 also the 134 Ringed Plovers counted. 

 

Other waders around were 21 Curlew, 85 Turnstone, 190 Sanderling, 140 Knot, 25 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, and 6 Purple Sandpipers. Three Eider were here and 6 Common Scoter were near to the island.

 There were no other sea birds in evidence if you exclude the gulls and the 360 Cormorants.

Noted in the gardens were 2 Wrens, 2 Robins and 3 Blackbirds.

 

Photos CJW

19th January 2025

 Weather: E force 3       cold

Big surprise early this morning was a Golden Plover sitting by the island pond. Golden Plover is a scarce bird at Hilbre at the best of times where it is normally on the shore and it is exceptional for one to be found on the island.

 The pond also held the first pair of Mallard of the year at an especially early date.

 

 About 125 Brent were seen this morning with a single Eider and a Common Scoter. Waders were scarce on this visit, there were 2 Grey Plover as well as the Golden, 40 Redshank, 60 Turnstone and just 6 Purple Sandpipers. Single birds seen were a Shag, a Grey Heron and the Kestrel. On the island 6 Blackbirds were logged, also 4 Song Thrushes and a Rock Pipit. 

Photos AEH

15th January 2025

 Weather: SE force 3  later ESE 2

With a lovely spring feel to the day pipits had increased slightly with 3 Meadow and 4 Rock recorded while tothers on the island were 4 Blackbirds, 3 Robins and a Song Thrush.

 

Two male Teal drifted up the Gutter with the tide and 4 male Wigeon flew up the estuary, 7 Eider are still present around the islands. In the Swash today there were just 8 Red-throated Divers but Great Crested Grebes had increased to 72. Purple Sandpipers were at 26 today, Turnstone 300, Knot 300, Dunlin 150 and Grey Plover 53. The Kestrel was here and the Weasel was seen in the obs garden today.

Photos AS

14th January 2025

Weather: WSW force 3,  later W 1/2 with mist. At 1300 hrs a heavy mist suddenly swept in.

The light winds made it possible earlier to spot 32 Red-throated Divers and 4 Great Crested Grebes in the Swash west of the island along with a sighting of 2 Harbour Porpoise.

Roosting in Niffy Bay were 284 Turnstone, 86 Redshank and some of the 27 Purple Sandpiper that were recorded. A good count was had of 172 Grey Plover on the east hoyle after the tide. Seven of our Eiders were in evidence, also 380 Brent, the Kestrel and 50 Common Scoter. Both Weasel and Fox left signs of their presence.

Photos AS

10th January 2025

 Weather:  Force 1, calm, cold but sunny

 It is not often we see ice on the shore.

An afternoon visit for several members with maintenance in mind because of the winter storms. 

 There were still 320 Brent in our area including a colour ringed bird (XJBB).

 

In addition to the Brent and the local Eiders (5) there were 5 Pintail noted today. The Kestrel was not recorded today but there was a Peregrine and a Merlin on the list. Twelve Curlews included the German ringed bird.

A flock of 120 Grey Plover performed a good flypast.

Highlight of the winter species noted were 2 Fieldfares, and winter a passage of 23 Starlings, meanwhile still remaining on the island are at 4 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes and 4 Robins.

The moon was prominent during the afternoon.

 

And on the marine lake were 7 Goosander, a Red-breasted Merganser and a pair of Goldeneye which have been scarce so far this winter.

Photos AEH, SRW