8th October 2023

 Weather:  SE force 3

Many good records today of bird movements on the islands. The winter spectacle of Pink-footed Geese flying passed the island has started in ernest with 5,000 arriving early on and later another 25. Other early arrivals were a Reed Bunting, and three others were here during the morning.

 Grounded were 6 Goldcrests and 3 Chiffchaffs.

Two Grey Wagtails and about a dozen Pied Wagtails came through, some making it down on the island.

 

A Tree Pipit called as it flew over and there was a steady passage of Meadow Pipits, in the order of 250 birds.

A strong day also for Rock Pipits with 12 counted. Two Swallows went south and Skylarks came over in numbers, 21 in total.

Among the sea birds today were 4 Red-throated Divers, 17 Guillemots and a single Gannet and about 1,000 Common Scoter were scanned distantly. Apart from the Pinkfeet other wildfowl noted were the 5 Eiders, 106 Brent and 30 Shelduck.

The scarcest waders in a Hilbre context were the 200 Black-tailed Godwits in addition to 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 145 Redshank and 120 Curlew.

We cannot fail to make mention of the regulars at Hilbre like Linnet (60) today,

  and Wrens (7)

while Little Egret (14) now comes into that catergory.

Carrion Crows are normally in single figures but today 13 were noted.

Three species of raptor were here today, a Sparrowhawk flying through the island, 2 Peregrines and of course the Kestrel.

Photos AEH, AS