7th October 2025

Weather: SSW force 3,  WSW 4 in the evening

Pink-footed Geese were heard calling before sunrise but not seen, although 14 left the estuary after the tide. Five Whooper Swan flew west passed the north end and 4 Goosander (1 male) flew up the gutter on the incoming tide. Just a very few migrants were noted such as a Goldfinch, 2 Skylarks and a Wheatear.

 

Only 2 Shags were here today but there were 700 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Divers and 9 Great Crested Grebes. Nine Little Egret flew from the marsh to the reef early morning and stayed about most of the day, 3 Grey Herons were also present.

 In Niffy Bay there were 160 Redshank and some of the 80 Turnstone recorded today.

Other waders included 15 Bar-tailed Godwit on the East Hoyle, 10 Sanderling and 25 Dunlin.

 also 70 Ringed Plover.

A Peregrine was about both before and after tide but was not seen to chase prey, the Kestrel made a brief appearance.

Photots AS  

6th October 2025

 Weather: SW force 2,   NE 1 early afternoon

The gales of the weekend seemed like a distant memory today as the calm weather prevailed and it warmed up during the afternoon, but the sight of a Bonxie still around reminded us that some birds are still displaced by the recent storm. The Bonxie was firstly sat on sea off the west side drifting up the estuary as tide flooded then flew north to the estuary mouth. Probably the same bird put gulls up off East Hoyle and landed on bird island, then flew south along marsh edge and chased some Shelduck before landing on the beach at West Kirby. Despite the balmy weather winter bird numbers have increased rapidly over the last couple of days. There were no less than 244 Brent counted including 2 dark-bellied, 285 Shelduck, 2,400 Common Scoter out to sea, 8,500 oystercatchers, 850 Cormorants and most surprising of all were a flock of 13 Shags drifting passed the obs on the outgoing tide, we are used to singles or very small numbers.

 

A male Eider and 2 redhead Goosanders were also around the island. Both Peregrine and Kestrel were present but today a Merlin also came to our notice as did a Raven which is more regular nowadays. No warblers on the island but 2 Wheatears, 2 Goldfinch and 2 Skylarks made an appearance and Meadow Pipits were only in single figures today. Apart from the large numbers of Oystercatchers other waders showing well on the high tide were 25 Grey Plover, 86 Ringed Plover, 320 Curlew, 130 Sanderling, 89 Redshank, 850 Knot, 22 Dunlin, 14 Bar-tailed Godwit and 68 Turnstone.

 

Some Purple Sandpipers should be here soon. Only 2 Gannets were on the sea but there were 7 Red-throated Divers, a couple of Guillemots and 28 Great Crested Grebes. 

 Two Grey Herons and 8 Little Egrets decorated the shore.

 

 Photo: SRW

5th October 2025

 Weather: WNW force 7,    W 7 by late afternoon

Following the storm yesterday a lot of sea birds were in the irish sea and the continued blow today with a slightly northerly element was expected to push them into Liverpool bay, and so it turned out. Sea-watching was undertaken from dawn to almost dusk and what everyone wishes to see in these situations are plenty of Leach's Petrels. With a final count for the day at 42, they did us proud at Hilbre. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Occasionally a (very similar) Storm Petrel will be found amongst them as one was today. They pass through more frequently in the early autumn.

 

 Three Manx Shearwaters were logged early in the day as were 3 of the 4 Arctic Skuas.

 

Terns were represented by just 2 individuals, a Sandwich and an Arctic, while the usual gulls included 32 Great Black-backed and an adult winter Mediterranean Gull with other gulls.

About 1,000 of these gulls were put up by a Bonxie heading west at 6pm in the evening. 

 

 Auks numbered 28 Razorbills and 35 Guillemots.

 Another flock of 8 Tufted Duck flew over the sea, could they be connected to the 4 seen yesterday? Where could they be from?

 

There were 850 Common Scoter seen distantly towards the wind farm and a single male close in to the island.

 

 The Gannets did not let us down in the rough sea, 87 showed today.

 A round-up of others on the sea featured 32 Great Crested Grebes, 32 Kittiwakes, 3 Red-throated Divers, a pair of Eiders, a Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Teal. Only 39 Brent were seen today, with 12 of those coming in off the sea which included a dark-bellied bird. Sixty five Shelduck were logged, a Raven rested on the east hoyle, a Peregrine was noted and there were 6 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. Oystercatchers are always about, 4,500 were estimated today.

A Golden Plover was the pick of the waders and there were 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlew, 25 Ringed Plover, 56 Sanderling, 18 Turnstone and 25 Redshank.

A ringtail harrier flew between Hilbre and Red Rocks early afternoon, and was most likely a well-marked young Hen Harrier.  It was not the day for recording passerines on the island however a late Swallow made it here, a substantial passage of Meadow Pipits came in off the sea steadily, a couple of Goldfinch were seen and 7 Skylarks arrived in off the sea as did 22 Linnets. Fifty three species seen on any day at this time of year is notable.

Photos; AEH, SRW 

4th October 2025

 Weather: WSW force 8/10, gusting 11, W 8 by the middle of the afternoon

This daunting prospect faced our observer walking down to the sea watching hide in these conditions !

There were lots of sea birds, the best were 2 Black Terns, one seen early on, and 5 Arctic Skuas.

 Kittiwakes have been scarce lately but 8 today made up for that.

 

An immature is always striking but a trap for the unwary hoping for a Sabines Gull. 

 A Common Gull for comparison.

 

A Manx Shearwater passed, 14 Sandwich Terns were still here and 6 Razorbills and 2 Guillemots were logged.

For good measure there were 45 Scoters, 84 Brent (1 dark-bellied),  2 Eiders, a Great Crested Grebe, a Red-breasted Merganser, 2 juvenile Goosanders and 2 Shags.

 

As usual the 35 Gannets fishing gave a good performance,

The rarest birds of the day (in a Hilbre context) were 4 Tufted duck that flew west during the seawatch.  

Sanderling were in good numbers, 172 counted, 

Other small waders on the shore were 25 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin and 25 Turnstone, larger ones being 85 Curlew, 45 Redshank and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits. 

 Photos SRW 

2nd October 2025

 Weather: ESE force 2/3   slight mist later SE 2/3

A calm day with few migrants except for 2 Wheatears, a small movement of Meadow Pipits, a Goldcrest, a Grey and 2 Pied Wagtail. The single Shag was joined by a flock of 6 others.
 

 

Sea birds also featured 4 Red-throated Divers, 22 Gannets, 4 Guillemots, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 220 Common Scoter and 2 Sandwich Tern. There were 121 Brent, including a single dark-bellied, 85 Shelduck, 3 Grey herons and 9 Little Egrets.

 

Among the waders a flock of 35 Sanderling flew west, 80 Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Plover and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits were present. Passing interest was generated by 9 Goosanders and the Slavonian Grebe on the W K marine lake.

Photos: SRW  

1st October 2025

 Weather: SE force 3

 A mid-morning visit after overnight rain discovered singles of Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Grey and Pied Wagtail, a few Meadow Pipits and 4 Wheatears. 

 The best of the bird watching were sea birds such as 450 Common Scoter, 9 Red-throated Divers, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Guillemots, a Razorbill, a Sandwich Tern and 52 Gannets. 

 

Apart from the scoter other wildfowl were 9 Shelduck and 123 Brent (which included a dark-bellied bird).

 ......... also 18 Wigeon and a Teal which was with some of the Wigeon. 

 

There were good counts today of 325 Curlew, 200 Knot, 110 Redshank, 40 Dunlin, 28 Turnstone, 18 Ringed Plover and 15 Bar-tailed Godwit. Shorebirds numbered 9 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron while the Kestrel was the sole raptor. The colour ringed Rock Pipits are still showing on the island.

 A Hummingbird Hawkmoth flew by the observers, they have been very scarce this summer.

 Photos: SRW