4th April 2025

 Weather: E force 2, increasing 3/4 later      sunny and warm

 A slightly different day than yesterday, without some of the frequent birds of early spring ( Woodpigeons, Jackdaws, House Sparrows etc.) but still some finches, 12 Lesser Redpolls, 8 Goldfinches, 3 Siskins. The highlight of the day was when a Wheatear of the Greenland race (first this year) was caught for ringing. Strangely it was a female which was also the case for the first Wheatear that arrived at the island. Normally like a lot of species males arrive first in spring.

In total there were 7 Wheatears including 2 of the Greenland race. The first Swallows flew through the island this morning but too rapidly for photos, 2 individuals came south. Small warblers were here in good numbers this morning, 8 Chiffchaffs and 5 Willow Warblers. Below are one of each, Willow Warbler on the left and Chiffchaff on the right (with pollen horn).

The female Blackcap showed again for the 3rd day. Three Canada Geese sat on the shore to the west of the island, while the Brent numbered 81 plus a dark-bellied bird, there were 9 Shelduck, 6 Common Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. Not many waders were about at the low tide, a few dozen Knot and Dunlin were seen with 35 Turnstone, 12 Ringed Plover and a Grey Plover. Two Small and 2 Green-veined White butterflies were the only ones noted. Two Hoverflies were on the obs fence and were obviously into the full spirit of spring. Our insect expert identified them as one of the drone flies, an Eristalis species.

Ringed: 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Greenland Wheatear, 1 Northern Wheatear, 1 Linnet.
Photos SRW

3rd April 2025

 Weather: S force 1   mist around the estuary

Another typical early spring day with plenty of finches passing through. One of them was probably the bird of the day when it called overhead - it was a Brambling, quite a scarce bird on the list at Hilbre these days. Others recorded were 8 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, a Greenfinch and a Siskin. A Reed Bunting came through and some of the larger stuff was showing again, but only in singles, a Jackdaw and a Woodpigeon. The female Blackcap was still present from yesterday.

 Just singles of male Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff inhabited the paddocks this morning.

 

A Wheatear showed itself to good effect as they nearly always do.

 

Two early returning Sandwich Terns flew out at sea, 18 Common Scoter and 6 Red-breasted Mergansers made the list. A Goosander was off the whaleback later in the morning. Just 13 Brent were hanging around the island.

Photos SRW

2nd April 2025

 Weather: E  light air with mist, force 5/6 by afternoon

 A single Willow Warbler was the only warbler present at dawn,

 

and we waited until mid - afternoon for the next to show up, a female Blackcap.

 Meanwhile a good number of typical early spring arrivals in the form of 14 Jackdaws, 4 Woodpigeons and 4 Magpies.

 A Reed Bunting dropped in,

 As did a male House Sparrow.

 Only a single Wheatear again today,

 but finches arrived including 15 Goldfinches, 4 Lesser Redpolls and a Siskin. A single White Wagtail completed the small migrants. A female Goosander, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Gannets were on the sea. Brent were scarce today (85), there were 25 Common Scoter and 4 Shelduck.

A group of 2,500 Knot flew north north east, and good numbers of Bar-tailed Godwit (55) and Sanderling (265) were logged, but only 2 Purple Sandpipiers were seen. A massive 6,500 Herring Gulls were scattered over the west hoyle at low water. Fox footprints proved its presence between the islands. A Peacock butterfly flew in the sunshine.

Photos SRW 

1st April 2025

 Weather: ESE force 2/3

 

Some mist at first but a sunny and clear day with the lake district visible beyond the wind farms.

 Over 700 Pink-footed Geese flew north out of the estuary early morning.

 Five each of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were down on the island first thing and a total of 7 Wheatears came through.

A Goldcrest, 5 Pied and a White Wagtail were noted with 4 Goldfinches and a small passage of Meadow Pipits. More visitors passing through were 2 Sand Martins, a Redwing and 3 Woodpigeons.

 A Merlin flew south later and 2 Mute Swans sat on the shore.

 

Some of the Brent Geese may have already departed north, there were 125 seen this morning. 

A single Gannet was spotted on the sea, also 30 Common Scoter and 4 Red-breasted Merganser. Sixteen Purple Sandpipers roosted the tide with 95 Turnstone. Twenty Black-headed Gulls flew west while 5,000 Herring Gulls were estimated today.

 

 

Photos SRW

31st March 2025

 Weather: SE force 2/3    some cloud early

Our first 4 Willow Warblers were found on the island  this morning.

 

 

 

Amazing what a touch of south easterly will do. The first last year arrived on exactly the same date, but normally it is into early April before we see them. A single Chiffchaff was also here.

 A fine looking Wheatear was down on the island.

 

A Goldcrest was still here, 5 Pied Wagtails were around but just 2 Goldfinches represented the finches today apart from the resident Linnets.

An adult male Peregrine was noted, also a Raven, and a largish Sparrowhawk flew between the islands and off towards Wales.

A single Canada Goose swam with 180 (plus a dark bellied) Brent Geese around the island.

 

Two flocks of Pinkfooted Geese totalling 70 flew out of the estuary this evening

 

Of the sea birds there were 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Guillemot and 600 Common Scoter plus one close to the island.

 

 Seventeen Purple Sandpipers are still here, also 25 Ringed Plover etc.

Photos SRW

30th March 2025

 Weather: W force 6, moderating to force 4  with mist

 A blustery westerly meant no passerines to speak of, although 2 Sand Martin went east over the island and a Goldcrest was still present. The sea was also quiet with singles of Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe and Guillemot. Two Kittiwake were at the mouth of the swash and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers flew west passed the North End. Wader counts were 30 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 5 Sanderling, 40 Redshank, 55 Knot, and 180 Turnstone.

 

 also 10 Purple Sandpiper

 

Photos AS

29th March 2025

 Weather:  SW force 3/5

 

 An early start was made with repairs to the heligoland traps in mind.

 

Birds on the island included a Goldcrest, a White Wagtail, a Siskin and 4 Goldfinches but little else but with records of sea birds rewarding some sea watching. There were 3 Red-throated Divers, 12 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Guillemots and 9 newly arrived Kittiwakes. Wader numbers seen were 85 Knot, 32 Dunlin, 48 Ringed Plover, 96 Turnstone and 28 Purple Sandpiper. There are still over 3,000 Oystercatchers present.

Floating around the islands were 285 Brent, while a lot further out 1,200 Common Scoter were logged. Three Red-breasted Mergansers included 2 males. A Harbour Porpoise swam off the island. Just after 11.00 hrs the partial solar eclipse was visible through the high cloud.

 The early moth trap revealed a Hebrew Character.

 

 Photos CJW, SRW