1st May 2026

 Weather: ESE force 3, mist down the welsh side     NW 1  by afternoon, with drizzle 

 A migrant friendly start with the weather brought in 6 Willow Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs and 5 Greenland Wheatears (all female), 

 

 also 5 Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit. and a Whitethroat.  

 One of the Willow Warblers was already bearing a ring which was applied in Hampshire in 2024.

Others worth mentioning were 3 Pied Wagtails, 2 Redpolls, 2 Goldfinches and a House Sparrow.

 

.... and a number of hirundines, (120 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins) and 2 Swifts. Highlight of the morning for the observers was the sighting of a Red Kite heading east out of Liverpool bay towards the Lancashire coast. The disturbed Oystercatchers raised the alarm.

 

This was only the 11th record at Hilbre of this once rare british raptor. Sea records today were 3 Red-throated Divers, 22 Gannets, a Manx Shearwater, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Guillemots, 240 Sandwich Terns, 4 Common and 11 Little Terns and 200 Common Scoter. The gathering of Black-tailed Godwits on salisbury bank occured again with 240 noted while other waders were 450 Dunlin, 25 Knot, 8 Ringed Plover, 7 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 15 Whimbrel. Around about the islands were 4 Eider (3 males), 3 Shelduck, 4 Mallard (males), 2 Little Egrets and 1 Grey Heron. A Raven again made a visit to the island, the Fox was also seen. A large arrival of butterflies today included 30 Red Admiral, 6 Painted Ladies, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and a Peacock. 

  Ringing: 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Wheatear, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Linnet.

 Photos SRW 

30th April 2026

 Weather: ENE  4      ESE force 6/7 later

 Our first Garden Warbler of the year was singing briefly from the Blackthorn, 

 

 The next arrival was a Whitethroat in off the west side of the island, 

 

 ...... followed by a Grasshopper Warbler appearing in Telegraph House west garden, the first sighting of the Grasshopper Warbler was the distinctive undertail. 

 

 Both the Garden Warbler and the Grasshopper Warbler were ringed late afternoon when they emerged from cover where they had hidden from the wind. 

 

About a dozen Willow Warblers made it here,

 

.......as did 3 female Wheatears,

 

A Yellow Wagtail was down briefly by the pond, and a few Siskin and Redpoll went over, while 2 Sand Martins and 12 House Martins joined several Swallows over the island, while 6 Swifts were counted. An unringed Rock Pipit was trapped and received the colour rings from our scheme.

 

 Sixty Sandwich Terns and 2 Little Terns fed in the estuary, also 60 Common Scoter and nearer the islands were 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, and a pair of Eider. Most noticed waders were 500 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 3 Sanderling, 2 Curlew and 8 Whimbrel. 

 A full moon finished off the day nicely.

 

Ringed: 8 Willow Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Wheatear, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Rock Pipit.

Photos BT, SRW

29th April 2026

Weather: NNE force 4     E6 in the afternoon

A surprise red letter day today when a Cuckoo literally found its own way into the SK trap ready to be ringed. At first sight before approaching the trap we assumed it was a raptor but it soon became apparent it was only the 3rd Cuckoo caught and ringed in the last 40+ years, (there had been 12 prior to 1983 in an era when they were more widespread in Britain).

  

 

 

 

 

 

After ringing the Cuckoo flew back into the paddock and later off to the south west towards Wales.

  

 Other bird news was at a slower pace although we had another brief view of a Puffin and the sighting of a Manx Shearwater. Two Swifts flew over the island and 2 Willow Warblers were present also a Pied and a White Wagtail and a Goldfinch, while ominously a Carrion Crow was seen carrying nesting material.

 

 A genuine raptor appeared in the form of a Peregrine which has not been a regular visitor lately.

  

There were  25 Ringed Plover also 100 each of Sanderling and Dunlin, and 18 Whimbrel. 

 

 

 A pair of Eider were the sole duck noted. 

 

 Butterflies ranged from Green-veined White to Orange Tip, Red Admiral and Peacock.

During a quiet moment our secretary gave a talk to visiting students from the University of Liverpool.

Photos: PSW, SRW  

28th April 2026

 Weather: NE force 5

 A fairly cold north easterly did not make for many migrants but a Whitethroat was a good bird to be ringed this morning.

 

 

Other contenders for bird of the day was a Willow Warbler and a Greenland Wheatear. A House Martin was noted over the island with the 6 Swallows. Action on the sea included 125 Gannets, 16 Guillemots, 6 Great Crested Grebes and the terns; 350 Sandwich, 25 Common and 6 Little. Waders seen were 120 Dunlin, 80 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew and 8 Whimbrel. Nine Shelduck and 4 Eiders (2 pairs) were the only duck around apart from the 3 Mallard on the pond. Breeding birds logged were 3 Blackbirds, 16 Linnets, 10 Meadow Pipits, 6 Rock Pipits and a Wren. A Grey Heron and 4 Little Egrets fed on the shore.

  Photos JE, SRW 

27th April 2026

 Weather: W force 3  mist    WNW 4   in the evening

The mist was thicker this morning than during the last week, although migration was at a trickle possibly because of the westerly.

 A Tree Pipit was ringed, the second this year of a bird that does not appear some years on the ringing list. It almost seemed it willed itself to be there as it sat for half a minute on the guy rope of the mist net!

 

 A lovely male Whitethroat was also ringed early on.

Nine Redpolls came down to the island but just a single was ringed.

 

 

 

 Seven Willow Warblers were around the island paddocks and gardens, also the White wagtail that has been here for some days, and a Robin that is very furtive and is supected of a breeding attempt. In previous years we have found no nest before young birds have appeared.

 A Woodpigeon appeared again and a few Swallows flew through in addition to those that are possibly breeding. Just after 10.00 hrs a Little Ringed Plover flew east across the island whilst calling, quite a rare bird at Hilbre, only occuring occasionally in times of passage. Not many of the regular waders were in view except for 12 Turnstones and 6 Whimbrel.

 Twelve Shelduck were here including 6 sitting on the 'air raid shelter', that's a few more than has been around most days. Four Eiders here included 2 males, just 8 Gannets were on the sea with 2 Guillemots, 85 Sandwich Terns, 8 Great Crested Grebe and 12 Common Scoter. Shore feeders were 5 Little Egret and 1 Grey Heron. The only species of butterflies noted were 4 Green-veined Whites. The Bluebells are giving a good show at the south end.

 

Ringed:  4 Willow Warblers, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Linnets, 1 Redpoll.

Photos SRW 

26th April 2026

 Weather: SE force 6,    backing N to SE 4 with mist in the afternoon

 Fairly quiet today in cold and blustery conditions, felt warmer in the afternoon.

 Nicest bird today was a male Whinchat.

 

Warblers did arrive, Willows about 10, and a Chiffchaff. Passing birds included 18 Redpolls (more than yesterday), 8 Goldfinch and 4 Yellow Wagtails, about 20 Swallows and 3 House Martins came through. Larger singletons were a Woodpigeon and a Raven which circled the island several times, while 4 Canada Geese were early arrivals to add to the 4 Eider Geese. The sea was fairly quiet apart from the 85 Gannets; just a Manx Shearwater, 2 Guillemots, a Razorbill, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and 20 Common Scoter. Terns were much more numerous, 350 Sandwich Terns, 45 Common and 1 Little Tern. Fourteen Turnstone, 5 Ringed Plover and 11 Whimbrel were noted today.

 One Grey Heron kept the 5 Little Egrets company.

In the evening when the sea went calm a couple of dozen more each of Guillemots and Great Crested Grebes floated near the island.

 Ringing: 7 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff,  2 Redpoll, 1 Wren, 1 Robin.

Photos: SRW