29th April 2022

 Weather: SE force 1, N3 by midday

A Whinchat was on Middle Eye first thing, however it became elusive even though it transferred to the main island and was still here in the afternoon. Spot the Whinchat !

 Nine more Greenland Wheatears arrived today, and one fed from the potter trap and was ringed.

Willow Warblers again did not let us down, 12 in the paddocks this morning, and 4 White Wagtails were down on the rocks.

A Tree Pipit called overhead and a male Blackcap was found in the old obs, and there were 12 Goldfinch and a Siskin today, while the hirundines were moving in force this morning, about 80 Swallows, some of which look as though they are Hilbre breeding birds arriving, and 14 House Martins with a single Sand Martin were many more than recently. Whimbrel are now calling all round the island, there were 21 today,

Dunlin flocks at the high tide proved larger than expected with 2,000 birds wheeling about when disturbed. Three Grey Plover, 40 Ringed Plover, 3 Purple Sandpiper were logged,

  also this single Sanderling.

The breeding season is now in full swing, with Blackbirds feeding, 3 fledgling Song Thrushes running about,

  and of course the Linnets are very vocal.

The 3 Eiders are still hanging about and there were 65 Sandwich Terns on show with 12 Common Terns and a single Gannet off the west side, while the male Scoter still resides at the north west end of the island.

Calm overnight meant it was suitable for the moth trap to be deployed: in order from the top below are Dark-Sword-grass, Marbled Coronet and Hebrew Character.

 

 Ringed: 9 Willow Warblers, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Greenland Wheatear, 1 Blackcap.

Photos CJ, BT, CJW, PSW, SRW