9th August 2024

 Weather: W force 6,  slowly falling to 5 in the afternoon.

Three Common Sandpiper were accidently flushed at the south end, a nice surprise, and the sole Wheatear (juvenile) was also seen there. A single Willow Warbler was on the island and after the tide a Whitethroat appeared in the obs garden.

A juvenile Linnet was ringed as were 2 more Rock Pipits as part of our study at Hilbre.

As the tide dropped waders on the rocks in the lagoon were 300 Dunlin and 50 Sanderling,

Other waders seen were 20 Redshank, 30 Ringed Plover, 12 Curlew, 4 Whmbrel, 14 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot, 80 Turnstone and over 4,200 Oystercatchers. Young birds bred here included a Goldfinch, 2 Pied Wagtails, and a couple of Blackbirds in the obs garden.

A round-up of other birds today featured 120 Sandwich and 50 Little Tern, a Gannet and 2 Common Scoter, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, the Kestrel and of course our 9 Eiders. Insects highlights were an Emperor Dragonfly, and a Painted Lady butterfly, also 6 Small Whites, 3 Red Admirals and a Meadow Brown.

 Photos AS, PSW