9th November 2026

 Weather: SE force 3   mist and fog

 

 A short afternoon visit after the tide was made just as the fog was starting to thin out. The tide had pushed flocks of waders near to the islands, 2,500 Dunlin were estimated and 6,500 Knot.

 

 

 

A total of 90 Bar-tailed Godwits were counted, with odd ones feeding with the Knot etc.

 

There were 180 Curlew, 120 Grey Plover, and 3 Purple Sandpipers. In addition to the Bar-tailed Godwits, 9 Black-tailed Godwits were seen to fly west. Brent numbered 250 and Shelduck feeding were even more numerous at 325.

 Just a single Redwing was recorded today and there were 7 Starlings including some down on the island.

 

Nine Common Scoter, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons and the Kestrel were here. Two flocks comprising 52 Linnets dropped into the Blackthorn to roost. Meanwhile on the marine lake at West Kirby 4 Red-breasted Mergansers and male Shoveler and male Teal were slightly unusual visitors.

Photos: SRW
 

8th November 2026

 Weather: SE force 2/3 with mist,   later ESE  light air    

 

  

 Another great morning on the island - highlights being 4 pochard (2 drakes, 2 ducks) early on which flew south up the estuary (west side) opposite the Obs. 

 Pochard are real rarity here nowadays so much so that normally 2 Puffins that flew north east off the north end would steal the headlines, but not today. Another scarce arrival this morning was a Woodcock that was flushed from the 'Khyber pass' near the north end which delighted observers. 

 

It was probably freshly in from Europe as the thrushes and some other visitors were. There were 9 Redwings today,

 

 ........... 5 Fieldfares,

 ....and 2 Song Thrushes.

 Starlings were moving again, 62 today, also Skylarks (10). Apart from the Linnets, just 4 Goldfinches and 5 Siskins were noted. Among the wildfowl 9 Pink-footed Geese passed early on, 800 Common Scoter were out to sea, 80 Shelduck, a single Canada Goose and a Red-breasted Merganser arrived as did 6 Eider, 17 Teal, 7 Wigeon and 5 Pintail.

 A Magpie added to the interest on the island.

 

 

 On the sea 24 Red-throated Divers drew attention, also 8 Great Crested Grebes, while hanging around the shore were 4 Little Egrets,and  a Grey Heron. A Raven made the sheet again, as did the Kestrel and the Stonechat of late. A few Meadow Pipits came through and present on the island were 11 Rock Pipits, 8 Robins, 6 Blackbirds and 2 Pied Wagtails. Waders were not the prime focus today but there were 2,000 Knot, 300 Dunlin, 210 Redshank, 65 Grey Plover and 4 Purple Sandpipers.

 

 

 Ringed :  1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Blackbirds.

Photos: SRW

7th November 2026

 Weather: ESE force 2, later SE 2     mist and murk

 A very good day of migration, mostly winter movements to the island. Recorded today were 44 Redwing.

 

 .... and 22 Fieldfare

 

 

  

 

 Starlings often move overhead  at this time of year but seldom do they congregate in such numbers as on the island today.

 

...... nearly 400 were estimated.

 

 They put the passing Skylarks to shame, only 11 appeared. Meadow Pipits were not to be ignored, with 120 logged today.

 There were 12 Blackbirds on the island also 2 Song Thrushes and 11 Robins. Apart from the Linnets there were only a few finches: 2 Goldfinches, 1 Greenfinch and a Siskin. Later on a couple of Woodpigeons were added to the list. A Blackcap was ringed, very often a winter/passage bird when appearing at Hilbre.

 

A Swallow flew over to the surprise of members, a very late appearance.

 Brent were estimated at 400 with 13 Wigeon and 3 Pintail later for company and for a change no passing flocks of Pink-footed Geese but a single stayed near the island to be photographed. 

A Slavonian Grebe stood out as an important sighting on the sea, more usual fare were 7 Red-throated Divers, 2 Mute Swans, 120 Common Scoter, 3 Great Crested Grebes. A Snipe was noted and other waders counted were 8,000 Oystercatchers, 4,000 Knot, 6,000 Dunlin, 20 Ringed and 2 Grey Plover. 500 Redshank, 30 Sanderling and 45 Curlew.

 

 

 As usual most attention was on the 4 Purple Sandpipers present.  

For a change there were 2 Peregrines present in addition to the Kestrel and a Raven.

Ringed: 3 Meadow Pipits, 2 Wrens, 2 Robins, 1 Blackcap, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing.

Photos: AEH, CJW, SRW  

 

6th November 2026

 Weather: ENE force 1/2    with mist

 

 

 A very brief late morning visit to check quickly what is about confirmed the continued stay of the male Stonechat. There may have been a few extra Meadow Pipits today, a couple here taking advantage of the 'lookout' ...

 ......... but little else although 7 Wrens seem to be an increase. At least 390 Brent were seen with 220 Shelduck and 25 Common Scoter. The usual waders were in good numbers: 7,500 Oystercatchers, 80 Ringed and 60 Grey Plover, 420 Curlew, 85 Turnstone, 400 Dunlin, 110 Redshank and 20 Sanderling.  The Kestrel still hung about and 8 Little Egrets were on the shore and one was catching crabs at West Kirby marine lake. 

 Four Grey Herons were also on the shore around the islands.

 

 
 

Photos: SRW

5th November 2026

 Weather:  E force 3

The Glossy Ibis of yesterday is apparently still in the marsh at Hoylake this afternoon - so near and yet so far.

 Meanwhile at Hilbre.....

 

 It was not a bad day, with lots of activity to report. A massive count of 536 pale and a single dark-bellied Brent may well be a record count of all time. 

 

 Some on the sea, others on the 'whaleback'

 

 

Shelduck came in at 225 birds with 3 thousand Common Scoter out to sea while 3 Teal were more local visitors at east hoyle bay, and 3 Wigeon came south to the island.

 

 

 Also out to sea were 9 Red-throated Divers, 3 adult Gannets, 16 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Guillemots. A winter movement flock of 29 Lapwings was interesting and nice to see as they flew between Middle and Little Eye. 

 

 .......  while several Meadow Pipits and 5 Starlings were moving.

  The Kestrel was here, also a juvenile Merlin appeared and showed well.

 

 

 

 

Good numbers of waders included 8,500 Oystercatchers, 2,000 Knot, 485 Curlew, 450 Dunlin, 110 Redshank, 120 Sanderling, 60 Grey Plover, 40 Ringed Plover, 65 Turnstone and 2 Purple Sandpipers, and a couple of dozen Bar-tailed Godwits. 

 

 

 There were 11 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons. A Raven was here and of course the now seemingly resident Stonechat. 

Photos ; SRW