Sunday, 30 June 2019
30th June 2019
Weather: W force 2
A Magpie was the only unexpected visitor to the island today, although there were 2 passing Swifts. Lepidoptera included 4 Painted lady, 3 Red Admiral, a Silver Y and a Plume moth. Six juveniles were amongst the 200 Black-headed Gulls gathered about the island chain. Nine Shelduck and 2 Little Egrets were on the shore, while sea going species seen were 3 Gannets and 25 Sandwich and 20 Common Terns. A male Kestrel was on the island, but the finest sight is still the Pyramidal orchid flowering.
Ringed: 1 Wren [568-30 ]
Saturday, 29 June 2019
29th June 2019
Weather: warm and sunny
What a great day, it could have been spring if you just look
at the bird species that turned up but when you saw their ages and took the
dragonflies and butterflies into account it had to be summer.
Collared Dove, Magpie, Kestrel and Whitethroat turned up. As well as Linnets, Wrens and Meadow
pipits a Blackcap and a male Redstart was ringed, the Redstart just starting his post
breeding moult.
A Scoter and the Eider loafed at the north end as the tide
came in, sharing it with some gulls and seals.
There was a passage of painted
ladies, at least 30 but it could have been twice that. There were a lot
of Red Admirals also. A Red-veined Darter dragonfly was at the south end and three Emperor dragonflies were present including this on the netting one of the traps.
The Swallows in Gus Lowe’s were doing well, but the nest in the lookout fared less well, although they seem to have re-laid. .
The Pyrmidal Orchid was splendid in the sunshine.
A Grey seal looking back at you is a common sight at high tide.
Ringed: Blackcap, Redstart, and 8 others. [ 567-30 ]
photos JE
Friday, 21 June 2019
21st June 2019
Weather: NW force 3
Young Meadow Pipits are now about the island, and one was ringed this morning.
It appears the Swallows may be stuggling with the conditions lately, at least one nest seems to have failed. The female eider was at the north end with some oystercatchers.
The oystercatchers moved to roost on the beach as the tide came in.
A Common Sandpiper was also seen (per Matt Thomas)
Ringed: 1 Meadow Pipit [ 557-30 ]
photos JE
Young Meadow Pipits are now about the island, and one was ringed this morning.
It appears the Swallows may be stuggling with the conditions lately, at least one nest seems to have failed. The female eider was at the north end with some oystercatchers.
The oystercatchers moved to roost on the beach as the tide came in.
Ringed: 1 Meadow Pipit [ 557-30 ]
photos JE
Tuesday, 18 June 2019
18th June 2019
Weather: SSW force 2
There were 9 Swallows today including a fledged juvenile. The male Common Scoter and the female Eider seem to be summering here. Two Gannets and 2 Sandwich and 4 Common Terns were seen, also 2 Little Egrets. Three Painted Ladies were on the wing.
There were 9 Swallows today including a fledged juvenile. The male Common Scoter and the female Eider seem to be summering here. Two Gannets and 2 Sandwich and 4 Common Terns were seen, also 2 Little Egrets. Three Painted Ladies were on the wing.
Sunday, 16 June 2019
16th June 2019
Weather: ESE force 2/3
Wildfowl present included the female Eider, 4 Shelduck and 2 wandering Greylag Geese. Flocks of 10 and 16 Starlings were unexpected at this time of year. A Fulmar paid a visit, as sometimes happens in spring. Twenty Sandwich Terns and 2 Common Terns completed the sea birds.
Wildfowl present included the female Eider, 4 Shelduck and 2 wandering Greylag Geese. Flocks of 10 and 16 Starlings were unexpected at this time of year. A Fulmar paid a visit, as sometimes happens in spring. Twenty Sandwich Terns and 2 Common Terns completed the sea birds.
Saturday, 15 June 2019
15th June 2019
Weather: SE force 4, cool
Not much happened over the tide although the female eider with the damaged wing spent the tide at the south end and part of the time she shared it with a cormorant.
The 2 male Eiders and another female did fly passed the north end and 2 Shelduck spent the tide sitting on the sea. A few sandwich terns passed through also. A surprise find on Hilbre this morning was a migrant, albeit a Painted Lady butterfly.
There was a lot of breeding activity as well as the Linnets: Meadow Pipits were displaying; the swallows eggs had not hatched yet which was a good thing considering the lack of insects. Two adult and 2 juvenile Linnets were ringed.
Two Crows roosted by the SK.
Ringed; 4 Linnets [ 556-30 ]
photos JE
Not much happened over the tide although the female eider with the damaged wing spent the tide at the south end and part of the time she shared it with a cormorant.
The 2 male Eiders and another female did fly passed the north end and 2 Shelduck spent the tide sitting on the sea. A few sandwich terns passed through also. A surprise find on Hilbre this morning was a migrant, albeit a Painted Lady butterfly.
There was a lot of breeding activity as well as the Linnets: Meadow Pipits were displaying; the swallows eggs had not hatched yet which was a good thing considering the lack of insects. Two adult and 2 juvenile Linnets were ringed.
photos JE
Friday, 14 June 2019
14th June 2019
Weather: NW force 2 light rain
The Common Scoter was still about, also noted were 3 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Little Egrets. Other species showing in the rain were 21 Linnets, 2 Swallows and a Pied Wagtail.
The Common Scoter was still about, also noted were 3 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Little Egrets. Other species showing in the rain were 21 Linnets, 2 Swallows and a Pied Wagtail.
Sunday, 9 June 2019
9th June 2019
Weather: SW force 1
Best visitor of the day was a Collared Dove, most other birds seen were more predictable: 3 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 8 Wrens, 4 Pied Wagtails and 11 Meadow Pipits.
Best visitor of the day was a Collared Dove, most other birds seen were more predictable: 3 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 8 Wrens, 4 Pied Wagtails and 11 Meadow Pipits.
Friday, 7 June 2019
7th June 2019
Weather: SE force 1 cloudy
A brief visit this morning established that the female Eider was still present. A single Goldfinch was the only 'migrant', and wader numbers were understandably low: just single Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit and 200 Oystercatchers. Three Mallard were on the island, 86 Cormorants were counted and a male Common Scoter and 2 Common Terns were off the north end. Three Little Egrets, a Grey Heron and 2 Shelduck were also listed.
A brief visit this morning established that the female Eider was still present. A single Goldfinch was the only 'migrant', and wader numbers were understandably low: just single Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit and 200 Oystercatchers. Three Mallard were on the island, 86 Cormorants were counted and a male Common Scoter and 2 Common Terns were off the north end. Three Little Egrets, a Grey Heron and 2 Shelduck were also listed.
Thursday, 6 June 2019
6th June 2019
Weather: SW force 1/2
A maintainance visit to the observatory this morning included a quick look around for birds and 10 Canada Geese were noted, also 12 Sandwich and 6 Common Terns, 2 Shelduck and 2 Little Egrets.
A maintainance visit to the observatory this morning included a quick look around for birds and 10 Canada Geese were noted, also 12 Sandwich and 6 Common Terns, 2 Shelduck and 2 Little Egrets.
Wednesday, 5 June 2019
5th June 2019
Today was no repeat of 10 years ago on this date when the Paddyfield
warbler was a surprise visitor to the island, (below)
The only ringing available today were 2 adult Linnets and a Meadow Pipit, all breeding birds, as was a Dunnock with a brood patch which was first ringed in 2018.
There were lots of field voles, 12 were counted, and lots of
juvenile frogs.
A survey of the island confirmed that there were at least 3 Swallows nests.
A mammoth sea watch found 80 Gannets, 2 Manx Shearwaters, a few terns, some Great Crested Grebes but it was otherwise not very rewarding. The female
eider with the damaged wing turned up after the tide.
Ringed: 2 Linnets, 1 Meadow Pipit. [ 552-30 ]
photos JE
Sunday, 2 June 2019
2nd June 2019
Weather: SSW force 4 drizzle
An early morning pre tide visit was duly awarded with x2 Puffin passing the North end heading West closely followed by a dark phase Arctic Skua which spent an hour harrying Common Terns around the West Hoyle bank. A single Gannet was also seen. The female Eider was still present as was several Little Egret feeding below the Obs.
Twenty Ringed Plover feed south of Middle Eye nowhere near the large numbers present earlier in the week.
Three Shelduck were noted, are they breeding ?
Defineitely breeding were Pied wagtails and Swallows.
Twelve Black-headed Gulls were recordedthis morning.
photos AEH
Three Shelduck were noted, are they breeding ?
Twelve Black-headed Gulls were recordedthis morning.
Saturday, 1 June 2019
1st June 2019
Weather: no discernable wind early, ESE force 2 later on. warm and overcast.
Two Dunlin in summer plumage seemed to be the only migrants this morning.
The main interest were the breeding birds. The Pied Wagtails have now fledged. One of the male Linnets trapped was first ringed in 2015, it was a male but unusually had little or no red plumage showing.
Five juvenile Linnets were also ringed this morning, also an adult female Robin with a brood patch, which seems to indicate that once again they have been breeding secretly.
The Airbus transport ship came in to Mostyn and was the most impressive sight on the sea as only a few terns, several Cormorants and a Common Scoter were seen today.
Ringed: 5 Linnets, 1 Robin [ 549-30 ]
photos JE
Two Dunlin in summer plumage seemed to be the only migrants this morning.
The main interest were the breeding birds. The Pied Wagtails have now fledged. One of the male Linnets trapped was first ringed in 2015, it was a male but unusually had little or no red plumage showing.
Five juvenile Linnets were also ringed this morning, also an adult female Robin with a brood patch, which seems to indicate that once again they have been breeding secretly.
The Airbus transport ship came in to Mostyn and was the most impressive sight on the sea as only a few terns, several Cormorants and a Common Scoter were seen today.
photos JE