6th April 2026

Weather: SE force 3/4

Thousands of Pink-footed Geese were exiting the estuary at dawn, staging through the Dee on their way to the breeding grounds further north. Less impressive flybys were 7 Canada Geese early on.

 

 

 

A male and 2 female Eider were at the north end with the odd Brent, it's seems possible that many of the Brent have departed the islands as there were so few about today.

Four Shelduck were here with 4 Red-throated Divers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Guillemots, 18 Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Gulls and 40 Common Scoter out to sea also single figures close in.

The southerly element in the wind brought a return to some migration including 3 Pied and 17 White Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaffs, 12 Goldfinch and hirundines comprising 4 Swallows and 3 Sand Martins. As is often the case 2 Wheatears drew the attention of the island observers.

A female Sparrowhawk hunted the island birds for a while

 

Best of the gulls was undoubtably a second summer plumage  Mediterranean Gull passing over the island, while best of the waders was a sighting of 5 Golden Plover.

 
Photos: GB, AEH, CJW. 

5th April 2026

 Weather: W force 7     showers

The after effects of storm Dave the night before blew away any chance of migrants arriving. There were no unexpected birds and the weather was not conducive to exploring the island. A count could be made  of the Brent however and 218 were here. Fifty Scoter a Great Crested Grebe and a Guillemot were out to sea and 3 Eiders (1 male) near the island. A decent number of Waders were seen including 84 Grey Plover, 28 Ringed Plover, 50 Curlew, 110 Knot, 3 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 45 Turnstone and 17 Purple Sandpipers.   

 

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.

 

3rd April 2026

 Weather: SW force 5

A very short and quiet visit this morning with little to report, just the resident birds plus records of 94 Brent, 6 Shelduck, 12 Common Scoter, 1,300 Oystercatcher, 4 Curlew, 18 Turnstone, 10 Redshank and 6 Purple Sandpipers. The Water Crowfoot is looking like we may have a good display this year.

 

 Photo CJW

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