25th June 2026

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

22nd June 2026

 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.

 

14th June 2026

 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)

31st May 2026

 

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  

25th May 2026

 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.

 

Common Swift

 

Brown Silver Line

 

Marbled Coronet

 The butterflies were nice too, there were 3 of these,

Common Blue 

 and a big influx of 24 of these,

Painted Lady

 

 

Bird's-foot Trefoil

Photos: CJW

24th May 2026

 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.

Photos  CJW
 

22nd May 2026

 

 

 

 

 

Weather: SE force 2   warm and mostly sunny.   NNW 2 in the afternoon

The first day recently with a warm south easterly at dawn. In the main however it was still quiet for birds. Two Yellow Wagtails were seen first thing, a female landed and a male flew passed while 2 Redpolls called over and later 2 Goldfinches came to ground. A female Greenland Wheatear was found mid-morning down the west side but it did not linger. Also not hanging about was a Whitethroat that dropped in the birches along the obs garden fence, but was not seen again. Five Starlings and 2 Swifts flew passed and a Jackdaw called as it flew west. A male White Wagtail was a bit of a surprise as the recent regular one was ringed and this was not.

 

 

 

Two Pied Wagtails seen were not surprising. One of the juvenile Rock Pipits was caught for ringing and joined our colour scheme.

   

Waders were not prolific, about 100 Dunlin and 85 Ringed Plover were about post tide, also a Whimbrel, a Grey Plover, a Curlew and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits. A group of 80 Common Scoter flew distantly and 6 were close to the island. Four Shedluck and 6 Little Egrets were on the list. A drake Eider floated off the north end. The sunshine meant butterflies were about, 5 Painted Lady, 2 Common Blue,

 

 a Green-veined White, a Cinnabar moth and an Orange Footman moth.

 

  

 Just after noon 2 Ravens inhabited the shore near the marine lake.

Photos SRW 

21st May 2026

 Weather: SSW force 5/6

 After a cool week or so in the month of May a brief visit found it somewhat milder but little evidence of much spring movement although a single Wheatear was about and 2 Redpolls passed through. Some fledged birds were seen on the island, a juvenile Blackbird was in the obs garden and a young Rock Pipit was in Telegraph west paddock.

 

Just 4 local Swallows flew over the island. The White Wagtail which has been a feature this spring is still here. Waders also lingering here were 120 Dunlin and 39 Ringed Plover and 2 Turnstone. Three Shelduck were noted, also 3 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons. A Painted Lady brightened up the scene.  

Photos: SRW