Hilbre Bird Observatory: 17th July 2016

Weather: NW force 3/4 cloudy at first then sunny and warm

Two juvenile Wheatears were about the rocks at the north east corner of Middle (above,CJ), indeed they were still there after the tide. Three Swifts and a couple of swallows flew north west through the island during the morning. On the sea 20 Gannets fed and 14 Little Terns flew north out of the estuary as the tide ebbed. On the shore 3 Little Egrets and 5 Whimbrel were noted. Both Kestrel (scarcely seen so far this year) and Peregrine made an appearance, the Peregrine scattering the terns and waders. As the sun warmed things up later in the morning many butterflies started to show including 20 Small Whites, 6 Meadow Browns, 6 Small Tortoiseshells, 4 Red Admirals, a Garden Tiger and 2 Cinnebar moths.