20th September 2026

Weather:  WNW 6, 7/8 cloud, good vis

With the sea-watching weather continuing it was an early start for three members (one who had stayed over and the others joined before dawn).  Unlike on many previous occasions ... they would not be disappointed as today was an outstanding day.

The first birds were seen before dawn with Manx Shearwaters passing close in to the North End soon to be followed by the star of the show - Leach's Petrels (our logo bird of course).

It was great to see some skuas after it has been such a poor year for them so far.  Five Arctic Skuas were seen including a single adult pale phase that flew in and landed on the sand.  

Meanwhile, a Great Skua (aka 'Bonxie') approached menacingly from the North East and headed straight for the north end before flying right behind the sea-watching hide and over the heads of observers.  Amazing views! The photographs indicate it was ringed so we are hopeful that a couple of digits made lead us to work out where it was ringed (if not the date it was ringed).

Whilst watching a Leach's Petrel heading west one sharp-eyed observer picked up a Grey Phalarope whizzing west but it disappeared behind the waves having ditched onto the sea.  However, seconds later and it was on the move again and the other observers present were able to get onto this delightful oceanic wader.  It ditched in a couple more times before disappearing one final time.  A screenshot from a video grab means today's bird only got the record shot below.

However, below is a library photograph of last year's Grey Phalarope on the East Hoyle sandbank for reference (https://hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/09/22nd-september-2025.html).

Single Arctic Tern and only 8 Sandwich Terns and a single juvenile Kittiwake were noted and 3 Red-throated Diver were seen on the evening tide (with none present in the morning) and only a single Great Crested Grebe was on the sea.

A solitary juvenile Gannet passed through in the evening.

Amazingly a Blackcap appeared in the traps late morning and late in the day an Osprey was spotted along North Wirral and was picked up east of the Hoylake Lifeboat Station from the island.  An amazing end of a brilliant day on the island.

Osprey (seen over Leasowe) - Sean O'Hara

The final counts for the day was 131 Leach's Petrels (90 pre-dawn to 1030hrs, 22 reported to us during the day and 19 between 5-7pm) - we suspect there were more between 1030am-5pm as 50 were reported from Point of Ayr in North Wales between 4-5pm. 

Photos by AEH, CJW, SRW and Sean O'Hara (Osprey)

19th September 2026

Weather:  SW 4, 7/8 cloud clearing to 4/8, good vis, clearing for sunny spells after heavy rain mid morning, warm (up to 19 C)

The working party of our 'Newton' heligoland trap continued this morning - albeit a heavy downpour, that was not forecast, brought a temporary halt to proceedings.

After bacon, mushroom and tomato sandwiches had replenished the team work continued only to be halted by the occasional shout of "Leach's Petrel" or "Arctic Tern".

The work party taking a short break watching a Leach's Petrel from the trapping area!

Work proceeded well, but the best birdwatching occurred over the tide when more Leach's Petrels appeared and a single Storm Petrel (potentially the only record for the year) but more scarce and continuing the recent duck theme when four ducks flew in from the north east and caused an identification conundrum for a short while (when flying distantly head on) before turning west and revealing themselves to be four Gadwall (here is a library record photo of two Gadwalls on a similar seawatch on 20 November 2015). The latest record of four represent the 20th record for the islands since the foundation of the Bird Observatory in 1957.

Other seabirds included 11 Red-throated Divers, 2 Razorbill, 6 Guillemot, 8 Sandwich Tern, 2 Little Tern and 2 Manx Shearwater. 

With the wind forecast to increase overnight and another early morning tide one observer remained for the night ... what will tomorrow bring?

Photos SRW

18th September 2026

Weather: WSW 4, 8/8 cloud, moderate vis, 

With the wind dropping sea-watching was unsurprisingly disappointing but that was made up by other records.

Two Kestrel were present for the first time this autumn, more expected were two Peregrine an adult and a young bird.

Two Ravens appeared over the island as is often the case these days - a once rare bird on the islands is now a regular visitor.

There were 1,250 Black-tailed Godwit counted on the Salisbury sandbank and a Greenshank was watched passing the north end and a Merlin similarly flew out to the north west seen by visiting birder Colin Davies.

There was an increase in Pale-bellied Brent Geese to 42.  In the evening four Pintail flew over the south end of West Kirby Marine Lake towards Hilbre and are our first of the autumn.  Similarly, a Curlew Sandpiper was found at the south end of the lake and as the tide dropped it flew into our recording area.

Photos SRW 

17th September 2026

 Weather: NW 6-7, backing WNW 6 later, 8/8 cloud good vis, 

The wind was in the right direction today and it had enough strength to produce some Leach's Petrel over the tide with nine counted. 

Also seen were 7 Manx Shearwater and 4 Razorbill as well as 75 Sandwich, 4 Common, 6 Arctic and a single Little Tern.

One of our colour-ringed Rock Pipits was seen by Middle Eye (CBX) was first ringed as a juvenile in July 2020. 

Sandwich Tern 75, Common Tern 4, Little Tern 1, 2 Guillemot

24 Pale-bellied Brent Geese

The German colour-ringed Curlew has returned to its favourite haunt down the west side rocks and Redshank numbers remained low for the time of year (with only 65 counted).

However, Bar-tailed Godwit numbers increased to 150 mainly along the north shore and in the gutter.

Photos AEH and SRW

16th September 2026

Weather: NNW 4 (backing W 5-6), poor vis, showers

The Pale-bellied Brent Geese flock had increased to 36 birds, but with the wind dropping to force 4 and starting near north seawtaching was disappointing although single Little and Sandwich Tern and a juvenile Kittiwake were noted despite Leach's Petrels being seen further east along the North Wirral shoreline.

A Whimbrel was amongst waders in the gutter and could be the last seen or heard this year?

An adult winter Mediterranean Gull was found early on along the north shore.

Colour-ringed Little Egret was one of 29 birds present and we look forward to hearing from where it was ringed (possibly Hale, Cheshire, like similar birds seen at Hilbre in recent years).

The drake Eider remained but was elusive sticking to the south west corner of the islands.

It appears the rainbow ends at the Great Orme - maybe that is where the American passerine will appear ...

15th September 2026

Weather: WNW 5, 8/8 cloud, poor vis, light drizzle becoming heavier later

With no sense of anticipation, because the weather seemed neither here nor there for bringing in birds, observers arrived on the island.

However, whilst scouring the East Hoyle for waders and gulls four ducks flew through including a Garganey - a mega bird at Hilbre!  Only the third record for the islands.  The previous two records were on the coincident dates of 18th September 1947 (when two birds were seen) and a single flushed from a pool south of Midlde on 17th September 2006 (extract below from our 2006 annual report).

As well the three Teal with the Garganey another Teal was seen later near Middle.

A Greenshank could be heard giving its trisyllabic call but would not give itself up for the photographers.

The tide was generally disappointing (especially the flood) but that changed when a juvenile/1st winter Black Guillemot drifted up the gutter below the Obs.   It stayed over the tide, including loafing with Common Scoters off Niffy Bay, which allowed observers at the North End to be informed and catch up with it.  After high tide it preened a little, flapped its wings and then flew off west between Hilbre and Middle.  A scarce but increasing visitor to the islands.

A couple of Manx Shearwater were noted and two Black Terns were seen east of the island during the morning but after the tide terns began to appear - they have been in very low numbers recently.  700 Sandwich, 25 Common and 12 Little Terns were noted along with 6 of the scarcer Arctic Tern.  Sadly there have been very few skuas this autumn but a distant small skua spp kept its distance evading specific identification (albeit Long-tailed was suspected).