14th October 2024

 Weather: ESE force 4

The morning tide promised much with the wind in the east and south but it turned out to be one of the quietest bird days for some time. A Peregrine gave the members something to look at as it took a wader and was followed by a couple of gulls.

The only visitors were 2 passing Skylarks and a Goldfinch. Shelduck were scattered all over our part of the estuary, over 500 birds as the tide ebbed, while 3 of our Eiders showed. A Black-tailed Godwit landed on the ridge south of Middle with the Oystercatchers, but immediately adopted a very disappointing pose for the camera.

Very few small waders are around at the moment except for about 80 Redshank and over 100 Turnstone. A single Red-throated Diver, 4 Great Crested Grebes and 200 Common Scoter were spotted on the sea. There were 5 Little Egret including the colour ringed 'TA'.

 A Grey Seal lounged on the island rocks while the island was almost deserted.

 Photos CJ, SRW

13th October 2024

 Weather: NNW force 2     light air later

 Among the wildfowl today 2 Pintail flew south and a flock of 9 Wigeon were pictured.

Three female Eiders were here. The Brent reached another peak at 361 plus 2 dark-bellied birds.

 

Shelduck were estimated at an amazing 920 on the estuary while Common Scoters numbered 6,200 which were mostly seen far out but there is often the odd bird by the island.

A juvenile Shag was on the island and Cormorants were in very large numbers, 680 in the estuary.

Scarcer on the sea were 3 Red-throated Divers, 12 Great Crested Grebes and a female type Red-breasted Merganser. Fourteen Little Egrets showed themselves to good effect.

   There were 435 Curlews, 125 Turnstones, 145 Redshank and 18 Bar-tailed Godwits.

 There were hundreds of gulls attending a Razor clam wreck in the east hoyle bay.

 We like to keep a check on the birds on the West Kirby marine lake at this time of year. This morning were 19+ Goosander, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

 Photos SRW

12th October 2024

 Weather: SE force 3/4     light drizzle

A few Meadow Pipits were passing through and the paddocks/gardens held some late autumn and winter birds. There were 7 Blackbirds and 3 Song Thrushes (one of each was ringed), 3 Pied Wagtails, 6 Robins and 5 Wrens.

 The wildfowl was the main subject of interest with a large count of pale-bellied Brent (317) and 2 dark-bellied Brent. Another of our returning colour ringed birds was noticed on the whaleback.

 

Twenty four Shelduck, six of our Eiders and 3,200 Common Scoter were recorded, while 3 Teal flew west. Apart from the Scoter on the sea were 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Guillemots and a Razorbill. Eight Little Egrets and a Grey Heron fed on the shore along with the regular waders, Dunlin, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Redshank and Sanderling.

 The Kestrel was present today.

Photos SRW

11th October 2024

 Weather: WSW force 4,  light drizzle at first

Occasional showers early in the day produced rainbows.

Once again a Goldcrest was in the SK paddock, possibly the same bird as recently, there were no other small migrants, although a flock of 8 Skylarks flew east. Bird of the day was a Golden Plover that was calling and took some time to locate on rocks below the obs as the camouflage made it quite difficult.  

Just one Grey Heron this morning but another day with a large group of Little Egrets, there were 16 feeding in the gutters and amongst them was colour ringed 'TA' that has been here before.

 

 There were 50 Brents seen, our Eiders featured 2 males and 4 females. 

A male Red-breasted Merganser flew passed the north end, a bird much scarcer than it used to be and now Goosander is the main sawbill in the area at this time of year, especially in the West Kirby marine lake (below, today).

 Photos SRW

10th October 2024

 Weather:  NNE force 3/4

A cool northerly did not bode well for migrants, but at least it was sunny. A Goldcrest was in the obs garden and a Goldfinch was recorded. Three Skylarks moved through and there were a few extra Meadow Pipits and a Pied Wagtail on the island. The Brent are now peaking at about 220 birds, there were 350 Common Scoter, 220 Cormorants, 6 Eiders (2male, 4 female), 5 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. Not many waders around this morning, 2,500 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers and 90 Curlew. On the West Kirby Marine Lake were 15 Goosander and 2 Great Crested Grebes. In the evening Hilbre shared in the widespread sightings of the northern lights, Hilbre has relatively dark skies compared to the mainland and therefore is a prime location as one of the best places in the area to watch. Those familiar with the island will recognise some of the Hilbre landmarks in the foreground. 

 

 

 Photos SRW

9th October 2024

 Weather: NNE force 4     Light drizzle

 The wind is back in the north east so little migration is expected, and so it turned out. The main interest was the wildfowl this morning. Among the estimated 250 Brent were 2 dark-bellied birds.

The first colour ringed bird to return this autumn was spotted among the flock. It was 9ABB, first recorded here on 6th November 2018 and is known to be 13 years old. It is sad to see so many Brents here without juveniles this autumn, obviously a poor breeding season. Four of the regular Eiders were logged and 26 Pintail were leaving the estuary rapidly as the tide flooded. A Raven was returning to Tanskies from the west as members accessed the islands. Other species logged during the short visit were 5 Little Egrets, 45 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Great Crested Grebes. 

Photo SRW

8th October 2024

 Weather: ESE force 3/4      SE 2/3 later,     mist towards Wales

We didn't have to wait long to see what was at the end of the Hilbre rainbow today - Yellow-browed Warblers that's what! Two were in the obs garden first thing, one was caught and ringed while the other appeared to fly off south.

 After an hour or so another bird was calling and was also caught and ringed as a third flew out of the bushes.

 

 

 

It was clear that we have had 3 birds altogether, an exceptional record even during a year when they have been numerous nationally.

In addition to the Yellow-brows there were 6 Chiffchaffs present, 4 of which were then also ringed. Good visible migration featured 8 Chaffinches (a couple landed briefly), a Siskin, 4 Pied and a Grey Wagtail, 4 Skylarks, 6 Robins, 7 Blackbirds, 3 Reed Buntings and 3 late Wheatears.

On the way off the island the first Dark-bellied Brent of the autumn was noted among some of the pale birds, but juvenile Brents in general were few indeed.

The Raven turned up towards the north end later in the afternoon and was harassed by 2 local Carrion Crows out of the 9 seen in a group over Middle, also the Kestrel. The Brent were estimated at 220, 4 Eiders were here and just 40 of the Shelduck in the estuary were seen, Sixteen Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons roosted on Middle and 200 Common Scoter wrere out at sea. Seventy Five Turnstones and 64 Redshank out numbered 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and 8 Sanderling.

Photos SRW