4th April 2026

 Weather: SE force 4/5   veering SW 6/7 by early afternoon

A gusty day was to get worse later in the evening but even at the high tide sea watching was only possible from the obs itself. There was not much about until 23 Sandwich Terns (newly arrived ?) flew into the estuary over the swash. Also off the west side was a close in Red-throated Diver and 4 Guillemots. Also at high tide a male and 2 female Eider appeared east of middle, getting out onto the rocks to preen. They were joined by a second male later. Niine Purple Sandpipers were in Niffy bay with 45 Redshank and 75 Turnstone, while 2 Shelduck were out on the west side rocks. There were 46 Common Scoter and 4 Little Egrets. There were no obvious small migrants.

 

 

1st April 2026

After the recent windy weather it was nice to have a calm day. Despite the westerly winds a few migrants made it to the islands with two Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff and a female Wheatear being ringed. 

  

 

 The calm conditions were good for spotting birds on the sea and alongside the regular Common Scoter two female and one male Eider were logged along with a Great Crested Grebe and Red-throated Diver. Brent’s numbered 105 whilst there were still 8 Purple Sandpipers and 30 Turnstone around the foreshore. A retrap Meadow Pipit was found to have been ringed on the 18th May 2018, by our Chairman, and is now at least 7 years, 10 months and 1 day old. A venerable age for this species where the average lifespan is 3 years. 

 Our Rock Pipits are pairing up and CBA was retrapped in Niffy Bay.

 A Dunnock caught in the Obs garden was a real surprise as they’ve been secretive on the island recently. This one appeared to have the start of a brood patch so hopefully they’ll breed again.  

 

 Photos PSW 

 

26th March 2026

 Weather: NNW force 1/2   later WNW 2

 A welcome change from yesterday were the light winds, but the north and west direction did us no favours. A single Goldcrest made it to the island, also 4 Pied Wagtails and 2 Goldfinches which were around most of the day so may be intending to breed. At least 6,000 Herring Gull were on the West Hoyle as the morning tide ebbed, probably due to a Razor shell wreck after the storm. It was also likely to be the reason that 16 Carrion Crow were on the tide edge of the East Hoyle. Eleven Purple Sandpipers fed below the Obs but disappointingly the previous days storm had not pushed in any sea birds and only a single Great-crested Grebe and 15 Common Scoter were seen. Pale-bellied Brent Geese numbered 130 and a single Dark-bellied was amongst them.

25th March 2026

 Weather: NW force 7    showers of rain, hail and snow.

A truly awful day weather wise … but repair works were completed on another heligoland trap.  Before and after. 

      
Weather front having passed Hilbre (looking towards red rocks from middle)

 

 With the work taking place in a gale, not much bird watching took place, however recorded were 120 Brent, 20 Common Scoter, 220 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 650 Oystercatchers, 90 Redshank, with 85 Turnstone cowering in the reef or east of Middle out of the wind, rain, hail and snow, also 12 Common Gull, 8 Great black-backs, 220 Herring Gulls, 4 Blackbirds, 2 Rock Pipits and a Wren. A Weasel moved between the gazebo garden and the obs garden.

 Photos PSW, SRW

24th March 2026

 Weather: WSW force 6/7      N 7/8 early afternoon

 The weather forecast was heavy rain today with strong winds later but the weather station at the obs was showing it was gusting to gale force before noon and indeed it was stronger later.

The weather defined the sort of bird sightings with the only land migrants being a few dozen Meadow Pipits in off the sea, 2 Wagtails (a Pied and a White) and 2 Woodpigeons flying high to the west. The usual Oystercatcher roost at the north end of Middle was very disturbed by the very strong wind blowing across and many were seeking alternative resting places. 

Curlews (225 counted) were likewise unsure of their usual places to rest.

The tide is still fairly high at the moment so few waders were able to be counted but 82 Turnstone, 62 Redshank, 12 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, 6 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Grey Plover were around the main island at high tide. 

 

 

Eighty five Shelduck were by Tanskey rocks, 385 Common Scoter were out to sea while a single Gannet was noted, also 3 Great Crested Grebes and a male Red-breasted Merganser. Mostly closer in was the female Eider.

  and our famous Scaup with a companion drake Scoter.

There were no Grey Herons logged but 3 Little Egrets were on the shore.

 

The wind increased even further in the late afternoon especially as the heavy rain showers arrived.

 

 

 

  

 Photos SRW 

  

23rd March 2026

 Weather: WSW force 1/2,   WNW 2 in afternoon

Despite the subtle change of direction the wind is still light and some migration came through at a trickle. Our first Sand Martin for this year finally arrived even though we have already had 2 Swallows, certainly Sand Martins seem somewhat delayed this spring, they are normally one of the earliest to fly through the islands in March. There were no Goldcrests or Chiffchaffs first thing this morning but recorded were Reed Bunting, 2 Pied and a Grey Wagtail, 2 Goldfinches, a Siskin and a Greenfinch. Wildfowl appearance is less dependent on weather over 200 Brent were present, also this dark-bellied bird.

  

Other wildfowl listed were 1 Red-throated Diver, 120 Common Scoter, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 9 Guillemots, 4 Shelduck, 2 Canada Geese flying east and the female Eider at the north end. The Scaup was back on the marine lake at 6am this morning and still there after midday. A lot of Carrion Crows again with 12 seen and a Raven showed distantly over Red Rocks, while 2 Peregrines flew about the islands. 

 

Recorded were 165 Curlew on Salisbury bank, 80 Turnstones and 9 Purple Sandpipers while out to sea were 8 Little Gulls and 45 Black-headed Gulls, 60 Common Gulls, 25 Lesser Black backs, 12 Great Black backs and 700 Herring Gulls. Feeding on the shore were 7 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. A Harbour Porpoise yet again showed to observers.

Many of the Rock Pipits from our colour ringing study still show on the islands.

 Probably just breeding birds among the 8 Meadow Pipits and many of the 42 Linnets noted.

The low tide haul out on the west hoyle was counted at 102 Grey Seals. 

 Photos SRW 

22nd March 2026

 Weather: SE force 1   with mist   WNW 1/2

 

Before dawn the sky was clear then the sun rose to a very calm but chilly morning.

 

 Another nice day on the island, not the grounded migrants of recent days (with only 3 Goldcrests, Chiffchaff that arrived after high tide and 3 Wheatear), but still small numbers of finches and alba wagtails (including 3 definite White Wagtails). The Chiffchaff landed an hour or so after noon. 

 There were of course typical early spring visitors such as a House Sparrow which hung about the island for a while, particularly liking the large pittissporum bush in the obs garden.

A Reed Bunting made itself known, also a single Starling which came down for a short time.

and a single and later 4 other Jackdaws passing over. Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs were far fewer today than yesterday but finch species performed almost as well today. Ten Goldfinches were top of the list and others were 3 Chaffinch, 3 Siskin, 2 each of Greenfinch and Redpoll, plus 36 Linnets. Three Wheatears were here again today (2males). As usual the sea was calm when 2 Porpoise were seen swimming off the west side.

 

 

Birds on the sea were varied: 2 Red-throated Divers, 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, 18 Great Crested Grebes, a Guillemot, a Razorbill, a Wigeon (here with some of the 184 Brent, plus a drak-bellied bird)   

 and 'our' drake Scaup, 2 Shelduck and 2 Canada Geese, and then another 7 flying off the east side

 and a female Eider.

Waders were in normal numbers, including 145 Curlew, 68 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, 11 Ringed Plover and 6 Purple Sandpipers. A Merlin arrived and sat on the lifeboat station at high tide (and was later seen pursuing and catching a small wader south of middle with crows also in pursuit).

 

 

Nine Rock Pipits are present and 4 Robins and 4 Blackbirds were seen in the gardens and paddocks.

 At high tide and with little disturbance Grey Seals can give close views if you are lucky.

Photos CJW, SRW