26th April 2024

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

25th April 2024

Weather: WNW force 4

A spectacular evening light last night, who can predict what birds will be here tomorrow?

The north westerly meant no Pinkfeet Geese were passing at dawn, just 2 Canada Geese in the gutter, and later the full complement of 9 Eiders were here. The Brent numbered 36 today. Of the ducks, 2 female Goosanders flew west as did a male Red-breasted Merganser. Some of the 35 Gannets also flew west against the wind.

 Also on the sea were 60 Common Scoter, a Guillemot and 120 Sandwich Terns.

 More turnstone arrived today, a few changing to summer plumage.

Always around the shore 8 Little Egrets fed and 14 Whimbrel were scattered in close groups, with most other waders in small numbers now; 25 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 6 Redshank, exceptions being 250 Dunlin and 1,280 Knot.

Three of the 5 Swallows were perching and singing, maybe ones settling in at Hilbre for the season.

The male Whitethroat was still about but no new small species were to be seen on the ground.

 Photos AS, SRW

24th April 2024

 Weather: ENE force 3,  NW3 in the afternoon

 Just 12 Brent seen today (including a dark-bellied), although still 340 Pinkfooted Geese were moving out this morning.

 

Generally quiet this morning but a Whitethroat popped up briefly in a bramble south of the obs but was not seen again. A single Willow Warbler was the only other warbler today while 2 Goldfinches, a Siskin and 14 Swallows were here, and a male Wheatear did also make it to the island.

 A Peregrine was putting up Knot (1,000) and Dunlin (800) on east side.

 Ten Whimbrel were around the island rocks

Ringed Plover were counted at 22, but Turnstone (3) and Redshank (8) had all but disappeared. A single Bar-tailed Godwit was present. Results from watching the sea were 67 Gannets, 22 Common Scoter, a Guillemot and 180 Sandwich Terns.

 Regulars seen today were 7 Eiders and 7 of our Rock Pipits,

 also 4 Little Egrets,

A Raven flew north down the east side of the island. 

Photos AS

23rd April 2024

 Weather: ENE force 2,  N 3/4 by noon 

Light winds and the Pink-footed Geese are moving again, but only 335 this morning. 

 

Highlight of the day was a Red-legged Partridge strutting about on the island.

 

 

Only the 6th ever record, although it is the 4th in the last 5 years, all in March/April. Warblers were scarce again today, just a single Willow Warbler and a Blackcap. A Collared Dove was a nice change from the regular Woodpigeons recently.

 Four Starlings arrived, they seemed to be moving south.

 

Five Greenland Wheatears were around the island.

 

A single Sand Martin and 26 Swallows flew through the island and finches featured 2 Lesser Redpolls and 6 Goldfinches. Decent sea birds found today were 8 Red-throated Divers, 6 Kittiwakes, 2 Guillemots and 75 Gannets.

 

Eight of our regular group of Eiders showed, also a female Goosander and a Canada Goose flew west.

Brent seem to be down to 36 birds and 6 Shelduck were close about, are they going to breed ?

Eight Little Egrets today and a Grey Heron, 6 Blackbirds are here now, 4 are males.

 

 As yesterday no Kestrel but there was an appearance by a Peregrine.

 Whimbrel numbered 21 birds, some flew passed in a flock.

Other waders were 55 Ringed Plover, a Grey Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 40 Turnstone, 1,525 Knot and 1,700 Dunlin. Harbour Porpoise swan as they have been during the calm tides, there were 4 or 5 today.

Photos SRW

22nd April 2024

 Weather:  NW force 3

The forecast rain showers did not happen this morning but the north westerly wind meant migration was very sparse. But somehow in these conditions the first Whitethroat of the spring came to the island.

 

A male Blackcap was also here, probably the bird ringed yesterday. Four Wheatear resembling the Greenland race arrived, they are often not dependent of wind conditions for their arrival. Predictably no Pinkfooted Geese flew out of the estuary this morning against the head wind and the only geese on view today were 8 Canadas and the remaining 59 Brent. On the sea 50 Gannets fed, 3 Red-throated Divers, 40 Common Scoter, a Guillemot and a Red-breasted Merganser were on the list.

Nine newly arrived Whimbrel were here today, also 1,500 Dunlin and 70 Turnstone,

Five Purple Sandpipers were seen on the shore,

Amongst the 30 Redshank some were looking in fine summer plumage.

Regulars feeding close to the island were 6 Little Egrets and 5 Eiders. From last night's mothtrap we had Brimstone,

Dark Sword-grass,

and Agonopterix arenella (a micro moth)

Photos CJW, SRW

21st April 2024

 Weather: ESE force 2   backing N 1 early afternoon

The expected Pinkfooted Goose early morning flyover produced large groups passing in the first couple of hours or so but not quite at the massive scale of yesterday, 2,500 were estimated today. First thing the weather was calm again this morning but with a lot of high cloud, the paddocks were quiet early on with just the odd Willow Warbler appearing now and then, and one or two Wheatears on show. A Grasshopper warbler sang briefly near the SK paddock gate, pleasing observers noting their first for the year. Numbers of Willow Warblers for the morning increased to 10 and Wheatears to 9, and a single male Blackcap was ringed. Apart from a Woodpigeon passing south the only other migrants were Sand Martins (12), Swallows (28) and White Wagtails (5).

 

.......and finches in the guise of a Greenfinch (scarce recently), 5 Goldfinches and 7 Redpolls. Terns were very noisy this morning, 25 Common Tern and 260 Sandwich were continuously in good voice, while some of the small waders were also very vocal expressing their readiness for their northern departure. More distantly clouds of Knot and Dunlin were seen on the move. Several small parties of Whimbrel came passed, some decended around the islands. Only a single Purple Sandpiper seemed to be here. Seven Red-throated Divers were noted, 8 Guillemots and a Great Crested Grebe were about and as yesterday 131 Gannets fed or sat on the sea. Common Scoter featured 24 close in plus 300 seen distantly. Pale-bellied Brent around the islands numbered 55 plus a dark-bellied bird, 9 Eiders, 3 Canada Geese and a Greylag were logged but birds of the day were a pair of Tufted Duck that flew in towards Niffy bay to the delight of Hilbre regulars who recognised the scarcity of this species at Hilbre (usually about 1 or 2 records a year).

We haven't seen the Kestrel much recently, and it was not here today, however a Peregrine was good compensation. Feeding in the gutters today were 6 Little Egrets and 1 Grey Heron. Many of the 7 Rock Pipits seen are sporting Hilbre colour rings.

Two Harbour Porpoise were swimming north off the west side, it is always easier to find them in these benign sea conditions. The moth trap last night just produced one insect, a Brown Silver-line

Ringed: 8 Linnets, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch.

Photos: CJW