18th July 2026

 Weather: ESE force 3,  S 2 by late morning

 A cool and cloudy start for a change, different enough to bring the first autumn Willow Warbler to the island.

No other small migrants were about, only the regulars, most interesting of which were the mixed pair of a female Pied Wagtail and a male White Wagtail feeding young at the north end.

 A pair of Swallows amongst the half dozen or so on the island seemed also to be engaged in nesting activity.

 

 

 At least one juvenile Blackbird was also locally bred.

 Its many years since Kestrels bred on the island, but they are frequently here to feed.

 

 

 

Amongst the 70 Curlew present it was great to see returning Curlew BB-OBB which was ringed at Nordhorn Zoo (close to the Dutch border), Germany, on 12/06/2024. This was one of 30 juvenile Curlews released at Nordhorn Zoo in 2024

 Thirteen Redshank and a Whimbrel arrived from the North calling as they flew in .

 

 Three Turnstone fed at the north end.

 

 A single Red Admiral was the sole butterfly showing in the morning.

Ringed: 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Rock Pipit. 

Photos AEH 

16th July 2026

 Weather: E force 1/2   later N 2/3   hot and sunny

Not so many butterflies as the other day, nevertheless for a summer day a good number were recorded again. As usual Red Admirals predominated with 200 seen, many were looking a bit battered from their journey.

 

 Painted Ladies appeared with up to 40 recorded and there were 30 Small Whites, 4 Common Blues, 2 Gatekeepers, 2 Meadow Browns and a Cinnabar. The most surprising find was a Box Tree moth, a species originally from Asia that has spread to Britain over the last couple of decades and caused some damage to plants.

 

 Just 3 dragonflies were seen today, 2 Emperors and a Migrant Hawker. Only 2 Swifts were recorded today but 64 Sand Martins were exceptional in addition to 29 Swallows. A pair of White Wagtails and 2 immature Pied Wagtails were on the island. Rock Pipits numbered 14 following a good breeding season. The sea was very quiet (just 120 Sandwich Terns) and waders seen included 4 Ringed Plover and a Whimbrel. Three Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons were on the shore.

Photos BT 

14th July 2026

 Weather: ESE force 2/3  Hot and sunny

 Another nice morning, still the odd Swift coming through, a Chiffchaff and a couple of Pied Wagtails still here. Terns including 4 Little and 20 Sandwich are around. Six Little Egrets and 4 Grey Herons are about the shore with the waders. Chief interest in the morning was the contents of the overnight moth trap which included a long list.

 Massive highlight for the day however was a Lesser Emperor dragonfly which landed on the mesh of one of the traps.

 We are used to seeing a few Emperors in mid-summer but never before has there been a Lesser Emperor at Hilbre! A few pictures of some of the moths.

 

Rustic

 

Smoky Wainscot

 

Shaded Broad-Bar

 

True Lovers Knot

White Line Dart

Even with the parched landscape at least a Common Frog has survived.

Photos CJW

13th July 2026

 Weather: E force 3/4    sunny and very warm

 The easterly breeze drifted in a few migrants to the islands also a great many insects. Among those present were (left to right) the Hilbre obs chairman and secretary plus John Horton warden of the Cape Clear observatory in Ireland. They had represented the Bird Observatories Council at the bird fair over the weekend.

A Ruff, very scarce at Hilbre, was found while passing over Middle and seen again to the west of Middle in the evening. Also on the shore this morning were many Black-headed Gulls, several Common Gulls and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull. An adult Mediterranean Gull was also seen moving down the west side of the island this morning. A Marsh Harrier drifted south at lunch time. 

 

On the island in the morning were 2 Chiffchaffs, a Sand Martin came through and there were 9 alba wagtails. Later small parties of Swifts totalling 110 birds mostly also headed south as the evening approached.  Reasonable numbers of terns were around the island including 14 Common, 5 Little and 55 Sandwich.

 

Other sea sightings were few, although 16 Gannets and a Red-breasted Merganser made the list. Many waders (including 4 Whimbrel) were about but insects provided the main interest of the day. Five species of dragonfly were one of the highlights, an Emporer was the largest as usual. 

 There were both male Ruddy Darter,

 

 .. and female Ruddy Darter

 

 

  A Migrant hawker and a scarcer Black-tailed Skimmer were also on the list.

 

 Butterflies arrived in massive numbers, 500 Red Admirals, 

 also 200 Small Whites, 10 Peacocks, 3 Green-veined Whites, 2 Gatekeepers, 2 Meadow Browns, a Common Blue, A Wall butterfly, a Ringlet. Photographed were a Large White and a Painted lady. 

 

 Our guest (JH) made a great list of insects including over 200 7-spot Ladybirds !

 

 also a Burnet moth 

 Further information on the Bird Observatories Council is here in their newsletter.

Photos: CJW, SRW

11th July 2026

 Weather:    sunny and very hot.

There were 142 Sandwich Tern (36 juveniles) on the east Hoyle opposite Hilbre with lots more flying around, there were also 51 Dunlin and 2 Sanderling also a Mute Swan there. Thanks to Tim Kinch for info. 

On the shore towards West Kirby but still in the Hilbre recording area, one of Black-headed Gulls was seen to be wearing a colour ring from when ringed in Belarus. 

  

 Thanks to Richard Smith for photo and info.

5th July 2026

 Weather: W force 6,  moderating 4 by mid morning, slight drizzle early

 A Mediterranean Gull flew passed the north end this morning before landing on the north shore, mid-summer is a good time to find them in the estuary

Of course other gulls are also present, seen were 60 Black-headed Gulls, 

and  120 Herring, 10 Lesser Black-backed and 2 Greater Black-backed.

 Best arrival on the island was a juvenile Stonechat that was in the obs garden.

 

 

 

 Among the waders, Curlew are increasing, about 60 today,

 and around 300 Oystercatchers.

A Black-tailed Godwit was the scarcest sighting this morning while sea birds were also hard to find with 100 Sandwich Terns and just 2 Common Scoter showing.

 Meanwhile on the island were 4 Blackbirds, 45 Linnets, 8 Meadow Pipits, 10 Rock Pipits with a pair feeding young in Niffy bay.  

 

 Just a single female Pied Wagtail was present.

 

 Some of the flowering plants are now getting past their best including the scarce Rock Sea-Lavender.

 and the Pyramidal orchid which has flowered in one of the paddocks intermittently over the last few years.

Butterflies have been a bit slow this spring, today there were 2 Red Admirals and a Peacock.

 Photos AEH