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.
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
Amongst the terns and gulls in the roost between West Kirby marine lake and Little Eye a Roseate Tern was photographed today. A superb shot by Richard Smith.
A lot of ringed Roseate Terns are fitted with what is called a 'Roseate Special' metal ring with a four character code which is readable in the field. Although the marks on the special ring were not readable in the photos. However due to the position of the special ring it appears almost certainly to have been ringed at the large breeding colony at Rockabill near Dublin rather than at Coquet island in Northumberland.
For further details see the dee estuary birding newsletter by Richard Smith. http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/news.htm
Weather: SE force 4/5 , later N 2/3, very warm
A visit at the very middle of the year is usually quiet, as was the case today, but as always there is normally something of mention, today it was the passage of 64 Swifts, all in off the north end in a steady influx. More normal was just the odd Swallow on the island and 5 Sand Martins on passage. The other small passerines were mostly the regular breeders. Fourteen Little Egrets were a good number, although they often peak around this time of year. Sandwich Terns were counted at 45 and were the only 'seabirds'. Butterflies about were 8 Small White, 6 Red Admiral and 2 Painted Ladies, while moths flying by day included 4 Silver Y, a Cinnabar and a Burnet. Grey Seals were counter at 180 just before low tide.
Weather: NW force 3 moderating force 1 in the afternoon
After a windy few days, today was a pleasant surprise with light winds and slightly warmer. It was a typically quiet June day for birds but there were a small movement of Manx Shearwaters (12) early on and also a few Gannets (24). About 20 Sandwich Terns were here and 54 Common Scoter were noted. The female Eider was about, also 4 Shelduck. Naturally there were plenty of Meadow Pipits and Linnets, including their young. There were 5 Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons, a Kestrel hunted the island while a Swift flew over. Insects are always a feature at this time of year, a Red-tailed (Bombus lapidarius) bee,
and some Buff-tailed (Bombus terrestris) bees
Burnet moths were numerous, one got close and personal.
Photos. CJW. Phil Smith (Burnet moth)
The first week of June is the typical date to see the amazing Hummingbird Hawkmoth on the island, 3 were present today, it loves the Valerian by Niffy bay.
Large White and The Painted Lady butterflies that were present also were attracted.
There was still decent wader passage over the tide, 150 Oystercatcher, 12 Sanderling, 2 Turnstone, Knot, 40 Dunlin and 200 Ringed Plover.
There are Linnets with young around the island.
Shelduck were sitting in the sunshine.
as were the small flock of Sandwich Terns.
The feeding Swallows still fed about the island.
and the resident White Wagtail seems to have found a mate.
A fox cub was found in the SK paddock feeding on a dead auk!
Photos AEH
Weather: S force 1 sunny and very hot
On what is probably the hottest bank holiday ever at Hilbre, few birds made unexpected appearances. There were 6 Pied Wagtails seen and a female Wheatear was here. The lingering waders included 200 Dunlin and 250 Ringed Plover. Little Egrets increased again to 16 birds. Four Grey Herons were also present. Fifteen Sandwich Terns were about the islands. The morning moth trap was the main interest.
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| Common Swift |
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| Brown Silver Line |
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| Marbled Coronet |
The butterflies were nice too, there were 3 of these,
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| Common Blue |
and a big influx of 24 of these,
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| Painted Lady |
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Bird's-foot Trefoil |
Weather: ENE force 1
Another beautiful and warm day with little wind and no cloud.
Twenty Gannets and 8 Sandwich Terns were noted with few records of any surprise amongst the birds. Eleven Little Egrets was an increase in the most recent times, although 2 Grey Herons and 2 Shelduck were not. Ringed Plover numbered 35, the only waders of the day (apart from 240 Oystercatchers). The resident pipits, Linnets and Blackbirds were in low numbers. Insects were the best sightings, as they often are in mid-summer, there were 8 Painted Ladies, 4 Common Blue butterflies, 2 Brown Silver-line Moths and Azure Damselflies, one of each sex.
