Weather:- NE force 4
Two Thousand plus Common Scoters out by the wind farm. An excellent count of 640 Curlews some of which were seen to be moving off high to the north east while calling. Three Red-throated Divers and 35 Great Crested Grebes noted, a Little Egret and a Kestrel present.
(DB)
Friday 28 February 2014
Wednesday 26 February 2014
26th February 2014
Weather:- WSW force 3/4 , some rain
A male and female Pintail flew south, a Skylark was down on Middle Eye, There was frog spawn in the wildlife pond, the earliest ever record. Thirty two Shelduck present, 8 Common Scoter were close in down the east side. From the east hoyle / little eye area :- 5,500 Dunlin, 160 Sanderling, 576 Curlew and 18 Ringed Plover. Only 5 Purple Sandpipers could be found, 120 Turnstones and 30 Redshank present.
(DB)
A male and female Pintail flew south, a Skylark was down on Middle Eye, There was frog spawn in the wildlife pond, the earliest ever record. Thirty two Shelduck present, 8 Common Scoter were close in down the east side. From the east hoyle / little eye area :- 5,500 Dunlin, 160 Sanderling, 576 Curlew and 18 Ringed Plover. Only 5 Purple Sandpipers could be found, 120 Turnstones and 30 Redshank present.
(DB)
Tuesday 25 February 2014
25th February 2014
Weather:- SSE force 4, then SW 5/6, rain later
A good late winter/early spring day of 40 species, highlight being the arrival of a pair of Stonechats after the wind veered to the south west. Other migrants included 48 Woodpigeons flying over the east hoyle, a Lapwing, and 2 Starlings. On the sea were counted 45 Great Crested Grebes, a Razorbill and 6 Common Scoters close in to the east side. The first Lesser Celandine and Purple Crocii were in flower.
(DB)
A good late winter/early spring day of 40 species, highlight being the arrival of a pair of Stonechats after the wind veered to the south west. Other migrants included 48 Woodpigeons flying over the east hoyle, a Lapwing, and 2 Starlings. On the sea were counted 45 Great Crested Grebes, a Razorbill and 6 Common Scoters close in to the east side. The first Lesser Celandine and Purple Crocii were in flower.
(DB)
Friday 21 February 2014
21st February 2014
Weather :- WSW force 5, later in the morning 6/7
A quiet day all round, the main interest was the first 2 birds ringed this year! Ringing is always very slow indeed in the first 2 months of the year, but 21st February is an exceptionally late start for the ringing log sheet. The new Robin and Blackbird on the island had been seen over the last week or so but not trapped. A Chaffinch flew in late morning from the north but was the sole small visitor today. Surely it won't be long before we can look forward to the arrival of the early spring migrants, already the first Daffodils were in flower in the old obs garden and the Lesser Celendine does not seem far behind. A sea watch in the freshening wind was not very productive, just 1 Red-throated diver, 6 Great Crested-Grebes, 1 Guillemot and 1 Razorbill. There were no sightings of the huge Scoter flock, just some smaller parties travelling that totalled about 100. The Brent flock contained the dark-bellied bird and the red and blue ringed individual that is an old friend now. Waders of note were a flock of 30 Grey Plover and Sanderlings flying passed numbering 40 in all.
Ringed :- 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin [ 2-2 ]
(DB,AEH,CJ,KMc+SD)
Robin (CJ) |
Blackbird (AEH) |
Brent Geese (AEH) |
(DB,AEH,CJ,KMc+SD)
Thursday 20 February 2014
20th February 2014
Weather :- WSW force 5/6 some rain
A good count of the Brent revealed 235 birds (2 were colour ringed), which equals the high number for the winter. A flock of 2,000 Knot was seen to fly straight out to sea towards the north west, obviously starting their return journey. The female Kestrel was still present and a Little Egret made an appearance and 15 Great Crested Grebes were on the sea. A Pied Wagtail flew south and a single Meadow Pipit was noted but there was no sign of the Rock Pipit.
(DB)
A good count of the Brent revealed 235 birds (2 were colour ringed), which equals the high number for the winter. A flock of 2,000 Knot was seen to fly straight out to sea towards the north west, obviously starting their return journey. The female Kestrel was still present and a Little Egret made an appearance and 15 Great Crested Grebes were on the sea. A Pied Wagtail flew south and a single Meadow Pipit was noted but there was no sign of the Rock Pipit.
(DB)
Wednesday 19 February 2014
19th February 2014
Weather :- SW force 2, mild for February
As the tide flooded late morning many Common Scoters passed the island, but with the arrival of a fast boat out towards the wind farm a massive amount of Scoters lifted off out of the water and moved east before disappearing again into the distant sea. There were thought to be at least 7,000 birds as they spanned the whole length of the wind farm as seen from Hilbre and created a long patch of darkness on the water because they were packed so tightly. Twenty five Great Crested Grebes were also on the sea, but no divers noted. A female Goosander arrived from the north west and flew low over the west side of the island, more normal fare were several flocks of Wigeon totalling 70 birds, and the 2 regular Canada Geese flying west after dawn. Five Linnets were back on territory joining the resident 5 Blackbirds, 3 Dunnocks, 5 Wrens and 5 Robins with just a couple of Meadow Pipits calling and a Rock Pipit at the north end. The only visiting passerines were 2 Goldfinches across the island. A Peregrine and the female Kestrel were present and 150 Sanderling flew east in small parties as the tide advanced. The rabbit was seen 3 times this morning, this will frustrate those who have yet to connect!
(DB,CJ)
Common Scoter (CJ) |
Grey Heron by the main pond (CJ) |
Tuesday 18 February 2014
18th February 2014
Weather:- SSW force 1 , drizzle
Eighteen Woodpigeons flew south west (a spring migrant at Hilbre), 12 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Meadow Pipits, 4 Blackbirds. One Grey heron and about 150 Brent. At Little Eye 260 Curlew, 2,500 Dunlin and 1,000 Knot on the east hoyle.
(DB)
Eighteen Woodpigeons flew south west (a spring migrant at Hilbre), 12 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Meadow Pipits, 4 Blackbirds. One Grey heron and about 150 Brent. At Little Eye 260 Curlew, 2,500 Dunlin and 1,000 Knot on the east hoyle.
(DB)
Monday 17 February 2014
17th February 2014
Wind SSW increasing to force 4, scattered light showers.
The day started with five Canada Geese & one Greylag flying across the
beach between West Kirby and Little Eye. A hundred and fifty five light-bellied and one
dark-bellied Brent were around the island. Ducks were represented by 161 Scoter,
including three males and two females that spent the day around Niffy Bay; six
Red-breasted Mergansers & a drake Goldeneye. It was a good day for divers
with 21 Red-throated and one Great Northern, and 62 Great Crested Grebes were
counted. Fourteen Guillemot and one Razorbill were also noted during the three hour
sea-watch, during which the year's first Little Gull flew past the North end,
hopefully the first of many.
The long-staying rabbit made a brief, but welcome, appearance.
(DB,CS)
Thursday 13 February 2014
13th February 2014
Weather:- WNW force 4/6
One Great Northern Diver, 3 Red-throated Divers, 64 Common Scoters, 1 Kittiwake, 4 Guillemots,2 Razorbills, 3 Goldeneye, 240 Turnstone, 7 Purple Sandpipers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine. On the island 2 Dunnocks (1 singing), 4 Robins, 3 Blackbirds and a Song Thrush.
Counts from the east hoyle sands :- 384 Curlew, 60 Grey Plover, 2,000 Dunlin, 8,000 Herring Gull,
A Jack Snipe was flushed from the edge of the spartina in the recording area.
The tide was earlier and higher than predicted after the 'hurricane force' winds of yesterday and there was some damage to fences and buildings.
(DB)
One Great Northern Diver, 3 Red-throated Divers, 64 Common Scoters, 1 Kittiwake, 4 Guillemots,2 Razorbills, 3 Goldeneye, 240 Turnstone, 7 Purple Sandpipers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine. On the island 2 Dunnocks (1 singing), 4 Robins, 3 Blackbirds and a Song Thrush.
Counts from the east hoyle sands :- 384 Curlew, 60 Grey Plover, 2,000 Dunlin, 8,000 Herring Gull,
A Jack Snipe was flushed from the edge of the spartina in the recording area.
The tide was earlier and higher than predicted after the 'hurricane force' winds of yesterday and there was some damage to fences and buildings.
(DB)
Tuesday 11 February 2014
11th February 2014
Weather:- W force 6 turning to 7/8 in the afternoon with snow blizzard conditions at one stage.
One hundred and thrity Bar-tailed Godwits on the north shore, 10 Sanderling, 1 Song Thrush.a female Kestrel.
(DB)
One hundred and thrity Bar-tailed Godwits on the north shore, 10 Sanderling, 1 Song Thrush.a female Kestrel.
(DB)
Monday 10 February 2014
10th February 2014
Weather;- SE force 2
A male and 4 female Teal, male and female Goldeneye, 370 Curlew (Little Eye), 4 Blackbirds, 5 Goldfinches on the feeders.
(DB)
A male and 4 female Teal, male and female Goldeneye, 370 Curlew (Little Eye), 4 Blackbirds, 5 Goldfinches on the feeders.
(DB)
Friday 7 February 2014
7th February 2014
Weather :- W force 5, heavy showers
Thirty four Lapwings on the shore between Little Eye and West Kirby, 10 Pintail flying off the north end, 34 Sanderling.
(CJ,KMc+SD)
Thirty four Lapwings on the shore between Little Eye and West Kirby, 10 Pintail flying off the north end, 34 Sanderling.
(CJ,KMc+SD)
Thursday 6 February 2014
6th February 2014
Tuesday 4 February 2014
4th February 2014
Weather :- SSE force 2/3 cold with slight wind chill
On the east hoyle :- 15 Ringed Plover, 10 Grey Plover, 2,800 Dunlin. At low water 240 Turnstones were counted. A hundred and twenty Sanderlings passed, and a Pied Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipits and 4 Blackbirds present.
(DB)
On the east hoyle :- 15 Ringed Plover, 10 Grey Plover, 2,800 Dunlin. At low water 240 Turnstones were counted. A hundred and twenty Sanderlings passed, and a Pied Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipits and 4 Blackbirds present.
(DB)
Monday 3 February 2014
3rd February 2014
Weather :- SE force 6/7
A sea watch was productive despite the strong blow from the land,
Four Red-throated Divers, 65 Great Crested Grebes, 61 Common Scoters, 8 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills. A Rock Pipit and a Song Thrush on the island.
(DB,MGT)
A sea watch was productive despite the strong blow from the land,
Four Red-throated Divers, 65 Great Crested Grebes, 61 Common Scoters, 8 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills. A Rock Pipit and a Song Thrush on the island.
(DB,MGT)
Sunday 2 February 2014
2nd February 2014
The very high spring tide flooding into the old lifeboat house |
Eight
Purple Sandpipers roosted on the cliffs above tide gauge but were disturbed by a
visiting birder just after high tide. Large numbers of Common Scoter were moving
off the west side with 500 being logged. Red-throated Divers (20) and
great-crested Grebes (100) were also noted in good numbers. There were lots of
Razorbills (40) and a few Guillemots (10) moving before the high tide but
sightings dropped off as the tide ebbed.
Seven Pintail and a single male Goldeneye were seen but the highlight was the large
numbers of waders displaced by the high tides and looking for somewhere to
roost. 200 Ringed Plover, 2000+ Knot and 500 Dunlin were seen flying around the
islands.
An
unusual sight was 67 Brent Geese roosted on the top of Middle Eye – including
the two regular colour ringed birds.
(PSW)
+ guest Mark Payne photos PSW
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