19th October 2026

 Weather: E force 2,   SE 4 in the afternoon

Several  Redwings went over before first light and a couple down on the island. There were 12 all told during the day.

A Great White Egret flew north up the island and then off east before turning south back up the estuary at 740am.

 

   Later 2 more Great White Egret headed east to Hoylake at 13.20hrs. 

 

The passage of Skylarks were much reduced today, 3 birds, but Starlings came to the fore with 20  counted including a flock of nine. Meadow Pipits continued to come through with several dozen moving. 

 Some probable migrants were among the 3 Song Thrushes and 6 Blackbirds.

 

 

 The usual morning flyover of Pink-footed Geese comprised flocks of 80 and 40. Three Greenfinch and 8 Siskin accompanied the roaming flock of 30 Linnets. The long staying Stonechat is still here. No sign today of any Jackdaws although 20 Carrion Crows was quite a number. There were 3 raptors today, the Kestrel, an immature Peregrine and a juvenile Merlin certainly demonstrated that it wasn't a fly-by sighting.

 

   

 

 

 Most obvious of the waders at the very low tide were 55 Sanderling and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits. The Brent impressed again with 318 birds, especially the number of juveniles, we don't recall so many birds this early in the winter. 

 

 

There were 15 Shelducks, 30 Common Scoters, a Great Crested Grebe, 6 Grey Herons, a Red-throated Diver and a Shag.

 

 

 A Red Admiral was a late flyer, and also seen was a drone fly, (a hover fly that mimics a honey bee). Now is the season of fungi etc, witness this very small species.

  

Ringed: 2 Blackbirds, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Robin, 1 Wren 

Photos: AEH, SRW  

 

18th October 2026

Weather: NE force 3

 

A brief visit this morning found early on a flock of 350 Pink-footed Geese flew in to the Dee, as did 450 Black-tailed Godwits.  Skylarks were passing through again, a group of 24 with lots in singles or smaller parties. 

Many of the birds this morning were typical of early winter; 22 Jackdaw, a Fieldfare and 6 Redwings.  Five Starlings arrived, one landing on the motus mast.

 

 

  Four Wigeon landed to the south west of the island.

 

  The Stonechat still provides great pictures.

 

 Around the island today were 12 Meadow Pipits, 9 Rock Pipits and 26 Linnets. About 300 Brent are now in the vicinity.

Also logged were 12 Shelduck, 35 Common Scoters and a Guillemot. There are still 115 Redshank showing, also 12 Bar-tailed Godwit and 65 Turnstone and on the shore 8 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.

 Photos: SRW

17th October 2026

 Weather:  NE force 4

 A slightly cooler day but full of sunshine.

 

 A nice movement of 92 Skylarks, the largest flock being 32 flying west but many passing in singles or small groups moving in many directions.

 

 Finches also came in numbers to add to the 51 Linnets on the island with 4 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, 2 Siskin, 1 Redpoll and 6 Greenfinch including these 2 in the old obs garden and 1 in flight.

 

Just a single Starling, 4 Pied Wagtails and 2 Reed Buntings and a late Wheatear north of the lighthouse added to the passage.

 Three 3 Song Thrushes (2 on middle) were there early, and 1 later on a bungalow fence.

As usual there are some Robins on the island.

Three unringed Rock Pipits indicated that there is a passage at this time of year in addition to our colour ringed breeding birds.

 The Stonechat was still present and the Brent reached a new high of 308 birds. On the sea were single Great Crested Grebe and Guillemot and 160 Common Scoters. Shorebirds seen were 4 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. regular waders logged were 1,200 Oystercatchers, 25 Curlew, 42 Turnstone, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 85 Redshank and 12 Bar-tailed Godwit. A Sparrowhawk was on the island as was The Kestrel.

 

Ringed : 1 Wren.

Photos: SRW 

16th October 2026

Weather: NW force 4/5

The Purple Sandpiper was in its more traditional spot (bottom of the slipway). If you can't see it at first keep looking, I promise it is there ! 

 

 The Stonechat (presumably the same as yesterday) was on the bungalow fences and on the 'wendy' hut

 

                              catching a moth !

The other regular winterers the Brent Geese were logged at 185 birds while Common Scoters seen were 165 and Cormorants 225 while there were 22 Shelduck.

 

The Curlew are building to 295, Oystercatchers peaked today at 4,000, there were 80 Turnstone, 6 each of Grey and Ringed Plover, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit and 185 Redshank.

Two Grey Herons kept company with 11 little Egrets.

 One Raven was around little eye and a different bird over the island. On the West Kirby marine lake from now onwards through the winter Goosanders can be seen as this one today.

   smaller birds passing by were not many, just a Skylark and a Goldfinch moving south.

 

Photos SRW

15th October 2026

Weather: S force 5/6,  dropping to NW force 0/1 mid afternoon and later NW 4 with light drizzle.

 The Stonechat was still here (picture from yesterday)

 

 A Chaffinch and a Swallow were the sole other definite migrant today. The Purple Sandpiper is still here, maybe its staying now for the winter. Other wader counts were 84 Turnstones, 64 Redshank, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Ringed and 3 Grey Plover. Brent today were seen at 77 birds, there were 6 Shelduck and 90 Common Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe. Ten little Egrets were on the shore with a Grey Heron. A Peregrine flew about the area.

 

Photos SRW