18th April 2017

Weather: ENE 1, 0/8 cloud clear and bright

Wheatear by Lookout (Matt Thomas)

The morning started with lovely clear skies ideal for migration commencing and skeins of Pink-footed Geese (540, 42 and  300) left the estuary heading north over or passing the island.  A short video of a smaller skein flying north passing the Obs garden can be viewed by clicking below.

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A Wheatear was present early morning on the reef south of Middle and a further eight birds were noted during the morning including a single Greenland bird caught in one of our potter traps on Wheatear Hill and subsequently ringed.

Matt Thomas (the Wirral BC Ranger for Hilbre Islands LNR) about to release a Greenland Wheatear for us

The clear skies, although conducive to some 'vis mig', did not provide appropriate grounding conditions on the islands with only a couple of Willow Warblers singing from the blackthorn in the trapping areas noted.

At sea Sandwich Terns were very evident not only calling around the islands in the calm sunny weather but also roosting in good numbers on the sandbanks as the early morning tide receded.  275 were counted although no other species of tern were noted.

Hirundines were much in evidence during the morning with a small but steady passage of Swallow (30) and Sand Martins (16) as well as our first House Martin of the spring.  

Ringing: Goldfinch, Linnet and Greenland Wheatear [95-19]

Photos by SRW & @mattthomas966 (female Wheatear)