Thursday 18 January 2024

18th January 2024

 Weather: ENE force 2/3    later N 3

 Flocks of Pink-footed Geese totalling 1400 left the estuary at first light, flying N.E over Caldy Hill. A Dark-bellied Brent was present amongst the 358 Pale-bellied birds, many of which had a good wash and preen in the calm water of the Gutter.

A Red-throated Diver was distant but 12 Common Scoter were around the island with 3 Goosander (1male)

 

Three Eider were also at the North End and included an adult male.

Two of the 3 Song Thrush recorded today were on Middle, along with 1 of the 3 Robin present.

Waders today featured 100 Grey Plover, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 16 Sanderling and 11 Purple Sandpiper.

An exciting day for Hilbre members on the shore when one found a Smew diving with a couple of Goldeneye on the marine lake. Other members were first on site and captured superb photos to record the event. It was the first to appear on the lake since 1972 !  It was seen at one stage to fly out over the lake wall with a Goldeneye and return, thus making it into the Hilbre recording area. A few Hilbre records are in the archives but apparently not since 1980.

 

 

 

 

Photos: AEH, AS, CJW, SRW
 

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