30th April 2025

 Weather: SSE force 3

 Highlights of the day were two species making a rapid transit through the islands. The first was a Cuckoo that landed briefly on a post in the obs garden and then flew off south to Middle Eye.

 

The other was a Little Ringed Plover that flew over the island calling, also towards Middle. Little Ringed Plover is fairly rare at Hilbre. The regular migrants were 4 Willow Warblers, 

 

and 2 Chiffchaff.

 

a Greenland Wheatear and a White Wagtail

 

Four Swallows flew about the island, probably local breeders, while a Song Thrush seen was slightly unexpected. Twelve Gannets were on the sea with 10 Sandwich Terns and a Great Crested Grebe, while 7 Harbour Porpoise swam in view of the visitors to the island. 

The Whimbrel did not let us down, there were 24 today, also a summer plumaged Grey Plover with a single Knot, 112 Dunlin and a Sanderling

 

 

Photos SRW  

29th April 2025

 Weather: SE force 1/2

In contrast to yesterday there were 6 Willow Warblers today but no Chiffchaffs. One of the Willow Warblers which we ringed this morning had the appearance of an acredula type that breeds in northern parts.

Other migrants included 2 White Wagtails, 4 Greenland Wheatears, 2 flava  (Yellow) Wagtails, a Woodpigeon, a Starling, a Goldfinch. Of the 6 Swallows present some may be local birds, there were no martins. Just 4 Gannets and 20 Sandwich Terns were seen on the sea. Amongst the waders 22 Whimbrel, 120 Dunlin and 10 Bar-tailed Godwits were most noticed. Just a pair of Eiders were logged today. Later on 2 Pinkfooted Geese were by Little Eye in the evening.

 Photos SRW

28th April 2025

 Weather: SE force 2,    later N 3    sunny and warm

Ringed Plovers were the most notable of the small waders on the island today, 48 birds roosted the very high tide.

 It is approriate then that a Ringed Plover was trapped for ringing, not an everyday experience for the ringers.

The Whimbrel again were in the star role, 34 counted today.

 

Very few other waders are about now, although 200 Dunlin are still here.

Warblers present included both Sedge Warbler and Blackcap but no Willow Warblers, just 2 Chiffchaffs. In compensation were 4 White Wagtails and 3 Greenland Wheatears. Swallows came through in small numbers (20) with a single Sand Martin and single House Martin. We still keep a look out for our island colour ringed Rock Pipits

Listing the sea birds included 68 Gannets, 30 sandwich and 2 Common Terns, 1 Guillemot and a female Common Scoter. A drake was here Eider that kept company with 4 females.

For once Grey Herons outnumbered Little Egrets, 3 to 2. This is the best time for scarce flora such as Scurvygrass.

  and the ubiquitous (on the islands) Thrift.

Green-veined White butterflies flew with 12 estimated.

 Photos PSW, SRW

27th April 2025

 Weather: SSE  force 3,  WSW 4  mid-afternoon

 

 A trickle of migrants this morning and the first one in the traps was a Lesser Whitethroat, normally a less than once a year bird at Hilbre.

 

There were just 4 Willow Warblers on the island which were outnumbered by the 12 Wheatears scattered about the open areas. The majority seemed to be of the Greenland race.

 

 

 Hirundines  were also in good numbers, 3 Sand Martins, a House Martin and 25 Swallows.

 

A couple of White Wagtails dropped in and several Pied Wagtails were down on the island.

 

A Starling and 2 Goldfinches completed the list of small migrants. The main feature on the sea were the amount of Gannets, 180 were estimated with a similar numvber of Sandwich Terns.

 

Other than those only a single Red-throated Diver and a single Red-breasted Merganser were noted offshore. Fourteen Ringed Plovers, 7 Dunlin, single Sanderling and single Bar-tailed Godwit were only competition for the showy 25 Whimbrel around the island.

 

 

No sign of the last 2 Brent to leave us so it looks like that is it until they arrive back in late autumn. Just a pair of Eider today.  Lots of Green-veined White butterflies (30) made an impressive show, also 5 large Whites and a Brimstone moth.

 

Photos AEH, SRW

26th April 2025

 Weather: ESE force 3/4   mist ,   slight drizzle at times in the morning

Despite apparently ideal conditions it was a quiet day on the island, nevertheless we had the first 2 Swifts of the year flying through.

Hirundines arrived in good numbers, 86 Swallows, 4 Sand Martins, 6 House Martins made an appearance. Just 5 Willow Warblers were here this morning, also a Blackcap, but the most pleasure came from the lovely 5 Yellow Wagtails some of which were on the ground for some time.

 

 

 Some of the 8 White Wagtails joined them on the ground giving great views all-round, 

Eight Wheatears arrived during the day including several male Greenland types. Migrant finches were few, just 3 Goldfinches and a Lesser Redpoll. On the sea 2 Fulmars flying close to the island drew special attention as they have been so scarce here over the last few years. There were 2 Kittiwakes, also scarce recently. Gannets (47) dived mostly off to the west side, as did 178 Sandwich Terns, 17 Common Terns and 3 Arctic Terns. Auks showed mostly in flight, 37 Razorbills and 15 Guillemots, while a dozen or so of the 49 Common Scoter flew close to the island. Eight Red-throated Divers were seen, and 4 Red-breasted Mergansers gave unusually close views as they flew passed up the west side. A Shag was about the island as were 4 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons. The 2 late staying Brent were not seen today, have they finally gone? There was a adult male Eider with 4 female types around the island with 12 Shelduck. A Canada Goose flew offshore. Star wader of the day was an unseasonal Lapwing which landed on Little Eye at high tide. Whimbrel were the most noticeable species with at least 20 calling and moving about the rocks. Other counts were 170 Dunlin, 45 Knot, 26 Ringed Plover and a single Sanderling.

 Photos SRW

25th April 2025

 Weather: ESE force 3     slight mist 

Midnight last night, the stars over the obs are visible despite the distant city lights.

Early morning produced a couple of new birds for the year,

 

 The first was a Sedge Warbler in the trapping area,

 

and the second was a Great White Egret flying east across the south end of the island to the surprise of members present. Great White Egret is still a fairly rare bird at the northern part of the estuary (record shot in early light).

Another 120 Pink-footed Geese flew north again this morning. Around the traps a few Willow Warblers were present, also a Chiffchaff, while 2 White Wagtails and 2 Wheatears were here, later on a Grasshopper Warbler was found. A single Goldfinch was the sole finch to keep the Linnets company.  Unseasonable visitors included 2 Snipe and a Starling. The 2 Brent plus the 3 Eiders were joined by a Canada Goose on the list. Sea watching was again favourable with records of  268 Gannets, 25 Guillemots, 80 Sandwich, 4 Common Terns and a Shag.

 A Common Sandpiper was found and was another much anticipated first of the year for the island.

 In the late afternoon 1,800 Knot flew north, while earlier in the day 29 Whimbrel were noted.

 

 

 

Only a few small waders were present but 10 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin roosted on the rocks.

  A Green-veined White flew today also an early Painted Lady.

 Photos CJW, SRW