17th October 2012




rainbow over the obs

The heavy overnight rain stopped at 07.00hrs giving way to a day of sunshine and showers leading to some stunning rainbows.The Snow Bunting was still feeding on the tide wrack on Little Eye, giving great close up views to those with a camera. 



Snow Bunting

An immature male Blackcap was in the trapping area at dawn, a real bonus after the rain and especially pleasing following the extreme scarcity of sylvia warblers at Hilbre this autumn, also a Goldcrest was heard, possibly the single bird recorded yesterday. 

Blackcap

  

 Four Skylarks were over the shore and 3 Starlings later arrived over the sea from the north west, a single Chaffinch was in the garden briefly and a Lesser Redpoll was heard overhead. It seems there are 3 Rock Pipits present at the moment, although we suspect different birds move through at this time of year.

 As one of the highest tides of the year approached a Sparrowhawk flew across the shore and a Merlin was found sitting on the rocks west of the old lifeboat house.



Grey Plover



A brief sea watch was mostly uneventful, just a distant Arctic Skua , 5 Great Crested Grebes and a Guillemot, while waders on the log included 350 Sanderling, 100 Knot, 40 Dunlin and 76 Grey Plover.

  

Sanderling





Merlin

Video above of the tide joining behind Little Eye to finally cut off the islands
Ringed :- 1 Blackcap.       [ 1035-31 ] 
(DB,AEH,CJ,NDW,SRW,+ Phil Collins (LOC member))

Photos:- CJ (rainbow and Blackcap), SRW (Snow Bunting, Grey Plover, Sanderling and video) Phil Collins (Merlin)