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 

25th April 2026

 

 Weather: SE force 1,    sunny and warm

 Not so much mist around the coast this morning so no surprise that there were not many migrants about. Early morning 2 Willow Warblers and a Greenland Wheatear were ringed,

 

 .... indeed up until noon the only other birds ringed were another Willow Warbler and a female Blackcap, quite a contrast to the last 2 days! 

 

A Whinchat, 6 Greenland Wheatears and a couple of White Wagtails were also about the island from early on,

 

...... while overhead passage was also very quiet with just a couple of Redpolls, 5 Goldfinches, a few Swallows and a Sand Martin recorded. A surprise was a Green Sandpiper calling over the reef as the tide ebbed. Concentration on the sea paid off with 4 Black Terns flying south into the estuary, the Long-tailed Duck was seen again this morning with several Common Scoter off the east side (below)

Just then was a really exciting sighting of a Puffin diving in on arrival off the west side. Shortly afterwards it reappeared floating distantly off the east side for about 30 minutes, and finally it was seen flying south down the estuary off the west side. Although still a rare Hilbre bird it has become almost an annual visitor over the last few years.

 

 

 

 Looking to the west paid off again when an Arctic Skua was seen way out in the Dee, it was the first of the year at Hilbre. In the same direction and another first of the year were 2 Little Terns feeding, while a mute Swan floated out of the estuary and 3 Canada Geese flew inwards. Apart from the Little Terns there were 200 Sandwich and 6 Common, also at least 6 Red-throated Divers, 120 Gannets and 4 Great Crested Grebes. Twenty one Whimbrel are here now, much more noticeable than the few Curlew at the moment, other waders are 250 Bar-tailed Godwit, 250 Sanderling, 25 Knot, 8 Ringed Plover and 10 Redshank and 500 Dunlin, which looked magical in the morning light. 

 

 

Regulars around the islands included 5 Eider (3 males), 8 Shelduck, a female Goosander, 4 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. Three butterflies today, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Speckled Wood. 

 Ringed: 2 Greenland Wheatear, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap.

Photos CJW, SRW.

24th April 2026

 Weather: ESE force 3, later 4,     slight mist

 

 Another fall of Willow Warblers, it is not often we get them on 2 days consecutive days, not quite as large as yesterday, and probably just short of half the numbers. A new bird ringed for the year was a Grasshopper Warbler. An elusive migrant so always pleasing when are able to ring them.

 

  Yellow Wagtails showed up well today with 8 individuals calling and some dropping to the ground.

 

  

 Redpolls also exceeded the norm, 18 went over this time, six came down to be ringed.

 

 

 

 

Whereas we used to be looking out for Common Redpolls which are always much paler, we now don't have to agonise over the identification as we are now told they are all the same species. Four Siskins and 8 Goldfinches were the only other finches among the local Linnets. A female Redstart was ringed,

  also a female Blackcap and a male Blackcap was seen in the field.

 

 Three out of the 4 Whitethroats here were ringed.

 

  

 

 

 Eight Greenland Wheatears were seen during the day.

 

  Just a single White Wagtail was recorded.

  and 20 Swallows were logged.

 Eight House Martins went over

 and 8 Sand Martins did their flights on passage.

 

 The single Whinchat today was a female.

 

 

Among the waders 2 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits stood out, 

 Not quite so spectacular were 17 Whimbrel calling about the island.

Dunlin numbered 835, Ringed Plover 24, Turnstone 21 and there were 2 Purple Sandpipers. Gannets featured again as they have for a few weeks now.  

 Sandwich Terns were counted at 120, there were 2 Guillemots, 9 Great Crested Grebes and 8 Common Scoter. Five Eiders were present with 12 Shelduck.

Seven Little Egrets were around the islands (more than of late) and a Grey Heron.

In the middle of the evening the Long-tailed Duck reappeared off the island with some Scoter. Summer butterflies featured 2 Speckled Woods, an Orange tip, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock.  

Ringing: 46 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Redpolls, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Redstart, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Blackcap.

 Photos AEH, SRW