7th May 2024

 Weather:  NNE force 1.

 

The morning started with cloud and some mist but brightened up as the day went on.

 

 Light winds again so birds expected to trickle in. The star bird was a Whinchat which appeared in the bottom shelf of the garden mist net. 

 

A Greenland Wheatear (one of 4 today) when caught had munched it's way through 2 lots of meal worms in the potters and weighed massive 45 grams, even though it was a female (which are usually smaller) than the males, during ringing it steadfastly refused to let go of a meal worm in it's bill.

 

 A male Sedge Warbler that had been here some hours was also eventually ringed.

 

A single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler completed the warblers on the island.

A Grey Wagtail and a flava type Wagtail (yellow) were noted and finches present were 3 Goldfinch, 1 Siskin and of course the local Linnets. About 30 Swallows flew through and a lone House Martin also came today. The sea birds were not as memorable as yesterday but a Manx Shearwater and an Arctic Skua was seen and excellent numbers of Gannets (60), Red-throated Divers (25), Guillemots (50) were on the flat sea with records of a single Red-breasted Merganser and 120 Sandwich Terns. There were 38 Whimbrel, some on the rocks down the west side and at the north end.

In contrast to the Whimbrel there were only 4 Curlew.

The numbers of Knot (3,000) and Dunlin (2,000) have not changed much with some small waders about, 77 Turnstone, 40 Ringed Plover and 6 Sanderling. Ten Eiders were keeping the single Brent company. Another very pleasent day on the island.

 In the moth trap were a Muslin Moth and an Angle Shades

 

Ringing: 1 Whinchat, 1 Greenland Wheatear, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Linnets.

Photos JE, SRW

6th May 2024

 Weather: W force 3   veering WNW later,   cloudy

The change in wind direction meant very little passage and sea watching was the order of the day. This turned out to be very worthwhile indeed. Although only 18 Red-throated Divers showed after the 3 figures yesterday, 120 Gannets were feeding and 55 Guillemots were here. The sighting of 2 Manx Shearwaters was soon eclipsed by the appearance of 2 Puffins in the swash to the west, a very scarce bird at Hilbre, although early May is a favourable time to look for them.

The next excitement was the report of a Osprey at the north Wirral coast which landed on the shore at Hoylake to eat a recent catch (photo at Hoylake).

 

It could be sighted from the balcony at Hilbre though a telescope and was seen in flight. The next happening was just as exciting. A summer plumage Black Guillemot was found close in at the north end before flying around to the swash and was last seen drifting up the west side of the island.

It is easy to speculate that maybe this and the Puffins originate from the north Wales breeding area. Eiders were at a new peak of 18 birds (more from the same area?) There were 2 Brent today, 8 Shelduck and 6 Mallard. There are still about 30 Whimbrel calling. Six Greenland Wheatears included 4 males, other small migrants were a Lesser Redpoll, a Grey Wagtail and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Among the 400 Sandwich Terns was a bird sporting a yellow colour ring on the left leg. No Common Terns were logged. Six little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons roamed the shore. Today showed just how memorable a westerly can be.

 Ringed: 1 Chiffchaff.  + a special thanks to visiting birder Ian Howarth for the first sightings of Puffins and Black Guillemot

  Photos AMC, SRW

5th May 2024

 Weather: SE force 2,   NNE 2/3 by noon    sunny and warm

A beautiful calm day with a light south easterly to begin, conditions thought to be ideal for birds at Hilbre. No large fall of passerines but a varied selection of species summerised the day. Yet again when we thought we had seen the last of the Pinkfooted Geese another 420 went north this morning, but it was all over soon after dawn.

A member walking to the island at dawn saw a Fox returning to the shore, chased by a Crow. As evidence of Fox is recorded often, this habit probably happens regularly but is seldom observed.

Half a dozen Willow Warblers trickled through, also 2 latish Chiffchaffs but small bird of the day was a fine male Whinchat that was at the south end of the island, but did not stay very long.

The calm sea provided a few surprises, no less than a count of 123 Red-throated Divers distantly off the west side.

The still conditions produced counts of 120 Gannets, 25 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills, 8 Great Crested Grebes, an Arctic Skua, 4 Manx Shearwaters and 300 Sandwich Terns. While watching them a Harbour Porpoise swam into view. Earlier 2 Greylags were on the ridge south of Middle, a Canada Goose was also recorded, 2 Brent were here early on in the morning and there were 35 Common Scoter and the Eiders numbered 7 today.

Large flocks of Knot and Dunlin are very vocal at the moment as were the 27 Whimbrel who also took the eye amongst the waders, while 27 Ringed Plover and 6 Sanderlings were other species seen. A Peregrine flew through again today. Small birds going over early were a Yellow Wagtail, 2 White Wagtails, 6 Lesser Redpolls, a Skylark and the ubiquitous Woodpigeon. Hirundines featured 9 Sand Martins, a House Martin and 25 Swallows some of which would be local birds.

Later in the morning it became very warm and sunny and just being on the island was a very pleasurable experence in itself. A couple of Green-Veined White butterflies took advantage.

A good moth catch from the trap today included an Angle Shades and a Waved Umber.

Photos  CJW, SRW

4th May 2024

 Weather: SW force 1,  very light spots of rain,   NW 1/2 by evening

Six Wheatears on the island today, one was the 'control' colour ringed bird ringed at the Calf of Man that arrived yesterday.

Two of the others that were of the Greenland race were caught for ringing.

Pride of place amongst the sea birds were 2 Arctic Skuas, the first seen here this year and there were 3 Manx Shearwaters, 70 Gannets and 6 Red-throated Divers, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Guillemots, 12 Common Terns (which have been scarce so far this spring) and 400 Sandwich Terns were present. 

 

Large flocks of Knot (5,000 were going north) and Dunlin (2,000) which had a single Purple Sandpiper among a small flock.

Odd birds mixed with the 105 Turnstone on the shore.

 

 

Also present were 3 Bar-tailed Godwits while Whimbrel were in large numbers with 26 all told. 

 

 

A Greenshank was heard calling in the afternoon. Seven Shelducks and 7 Eiders today, the drakes of both species are always photogenic.

 

 

 A Raven made the list as they have done quite often recently.

Two Woodpigeons came through on the day.

Single records of Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail and House Martin with 8 Swallows were logged.

Photos  AEH, SRW

3rd May 2024

 Weather: NW force 2

 

A Wheatear was found by Matt Thomas this morning that was colour ringed, only the second time ever this has been seen at Hilbre.

 

 

This was indeed a red-letter day, almost literally!  Rapid enquiries revealed that it was ringed at the Calf of Man only yesterday, the previous bird was also ringed there. It is amazing that Hilbre colour ringed Wheatears for a several years without a single sighting ever, such are the distances travelled and unihabited breeding places involving our migrant Wheatears. Warblers present were only a single Willow Warbler and the singing Whitethroat. It was nice to see 10 Shelduck about, many standing on the traditional wall.

 Only 4 Eider were seen but 5 Greylags appeared again. also the single Brent. A Red-throated Diver, a Guillemot and 16 Scoters were on the sea with 28 Gannets. Nine Little Egrets shared the islands with 21 Whimbrel, 28 Ringed Plover, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Grey Plover, 400 Knot and 500 Dunlin. The Kestrel was missing again but a Peregrine was good compensation.

 

Meadow Pipits are now feeding young.

 

 The moth trap from last night was quite productive. 

Muslin moth

 

Brown Silver-line

Silver Y

 

Dark Sword-grass

Shuttle-shaped Dart

The Bluebells are almost at their best now at the south end of the island.

 Photos CJW, SRW