14th April 2017

Weather: W force 1/2   drizzle
A Black-throated Diver was a good find off the north end this morning, it was in fine summer plumage. Early spring is a favoured time for this scarce species to occur at Hilbre. In the afternoon a Great Skua was seen to be harassing the gulls off the north end. Additional sightings on the sea today were 2 Kittiwakes, 8 Gannets, 36 Sandwich Terns and a Guillemot. Three Golden Plover landed on the shore and were also in summer plumage, while other waders present this morning were 3 Whimbrel, 39 Curlew, 55 Bar-tailed Godwit and 150 Knot flying east.

Record shot of distant Golden Plover

Whimbrel

Shelduck

Small migrants were not too bad considering the light westerly with 10 White Wagtails, 3 Willow Warblers (below), 1 Wheatear, a Reed Bunting and 8 passing Swallows.

Ninety four Brent are still around the islands.
Ringed: Nil       [ 87-19 ]      photos  AEH