9th July 2025

 Weather: W force 4     warm and dry

 A visiting group were very pleasant and seemed to enjoy their afternoon with us. It was one of those lovely, warm Hilbre summer days with lots of Sandwich Terns (about 500) providing the sound track. A Gannet and 2 Common Scoter were also noted on the sea and 4 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron on the shore in addition to the female Eider. Six Curlew and 14 Grey Plover were the waders on the list. A Chiffchaff was the only warbler today although also present were 2 White Wagtails (1 juvenile) and a Pied Wagtail. The Chiffchaff became ringed as did one of the 40 or Linnets on the island, and a Wren. 

 and a Wren.

 

 Photos JE 

6th July 2025

 Weather: WNW force 4, rain at first, veering NW 4

As the morning tide came in 2 adult Mediterranian Gulls were spotted on the East Hoyle, one had a colour ring which was sadly too distant to read. The on-shore wind gave good opportunities for close pictures from the sea. Sixteen Gannets dived off the island.

 

 Sandwich Tern numbers have built up to about 200 now with some feeding young. 

 

 

 Also recorded on the sea were a single Common Tern, 8 Common Scoter and 5 Manx Shearwaters which flew east across the mouth of the swash, west of the island. Nine Little Egrets were counted and the best of the waders were 12 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Curlew, 4 Ringed Plover and 300 Oystercatcher.

The 2 Eider noted were the flightless female which has been in the area for many years now and an eclipse plumage male. On the island 2 White Wagtails and 2 Goldfinches were noted, also a passing Greenfinch with about 40 breeding Linnets still showing.

 

Earlier before the tide a Peregrine was on the sands eating it's kill while later the female Kestrel was here, hunting the island voles.

 

A couple of the less common plants seen here today were the Sea Holly and some Glasswort. 

 

 Photos AEH

2nd July 2025

 Weather: NW force 4/5

 A brisk North Westerly today blew in  42 Gannets but no Shearwaters as they usually show here on south westerly winds. Others on the sea were a Common Scoter, 42 Gannets, 2 Great Crested Grebes, and a total of 256 Sandwich Terns. A female Goosander was a slight surprise, while the best of the few waders was a Greenshank, There were 4 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons and a Kestrel, and the the pair of Goldfinches showed off their single young.

1st July 2025

 

Weather: NW force 3

Highlight of the day were 3 Mediterranean Gulls. there was an adult summer and a first year summer on the shore and this second summer fly-over bird.  

Also present were 2 Gannets, a Great Crested Grebe, a Guillemot and 152 Sandwich Terns. The Sandwich Tern roost will now build up to a peak around lake August before many depart for Africa. There were no Swifts today but a single Sand Martin made it to the island.

Photo  AMC