1st December 2012

A brisk NNW breeze and clear skies greeted observers who ventured over to Hilbre to stay over the tide today. A tour of the paddocks soon revealed there were no new migrants in so attention turned to the sea.
It soon became obvious there was a good movement of ducks with at least 80 Teal being logged including one flock of 30 birds. 15 Wigeon also flew past the island and at least 100 Common Scoter were logged.
There were plenty of Great-crested Grebes and as the wind died and the swell reduced a conservative count of 150 was made although the haze made counting difficult. Red-throated Divers were present in good numbers and at one stage there were 15 in the air together. A Black-throated Diver was a good record and was seen several times before eventually flying out towards the wind farms as the tide ebbed.
Star bird however was a late Grey Phalarope that jinked in from the Point of Ayr and landed on the sea never to be seen again!
As the tide fell the Purple Sandpipers made a reappearance off the end of the slipway and 12 birds were noted.
(PSW)