10th October 2016

Weather: SE force 1

Two of the Rock Pipits that bred on the island this year were recaptured this morning, so when another Rock Pipit was seen to be in the potter trap, nothing special was thought of it, until that is a bird bearing a Norwegian metal and colour ring was extracted.

Rock Pipits were known to pass through the islands in small numbers in late autumn and we could only speculate as to their origin, now we have concrete evidence that at least some are from Scandinavia.  Members were naturally very excited by this occurrence, one of the best ringing controls ever at Hilbre.

 

Norwegian ringed Rock Pipit  (SRW)

Migration this morning was characterised by the arrival of a small fall of 12 Goldcrests and a few Wrens and Robins, also over 20 Skylarks passing over and the odd Pied Wagtail and Goldfinch. Early on 9 Little Egrets were in a tight roost on the rocks west of Middle, then a Merlin was perched briefly on the obs garden gate, and a mixed group of 30 Wigeon and 12 Pintail flew north over the east hoyle.

Ringed: 10 Goldcrests, 3 Wrens, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Linnet.    [ 459-29 ]