16th September 2024

 Weather: SE force 2/3 later NNE 2   sunny all day

A very nice day with a small number of migrants arriving. A Chiffchaff was in the obs garden in the morning and a Willow Warbler in the afternoon and a Stonechat was in the upper paddock briefly. Three Wigeon were at the north end early on while other wildfowl were 5 Eiders, 63 Brent, 36 Shelduck and 60 Common Scoter. A Merlin was around the north end after the tide and was mobbed by the 6 remaining Swallows on the island, and a Sparrowhawk later came through. A late Swift flew over the island and a wandering Skylark was at Middle Eye. Despite the pleasent weather the visitors were few as the tide was mid-morning, so waders were able to rest without much disturbance.

There were 110 Ringed Plover, 78 Turnstone, 6 Sanderling and 5 Bar-tailed Godwit. A few birds were trapped for ringing and the Wrens were juveniles, showing with contrasting Greater Coverts.

 

 The were 8 Robins on the island, one Robin was retrapped, it was first ringed in August.

A member gave a presentation to the Wirral Branch of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust on The Hilbre Bird Observatory and the Birds of Wirral. They got more than their usual attendance and made a donation to the obsevatory.

Photos JE

15th September 2024

 Weather: SSW force 4/5 some rain from mid-morning

The list of wildfowl this morning gave an autumnal feel to the day. The list included 50 Shelduck, 560 Common Scoter, 5 Wigeon plus another 14 later.

Other regulars here of course were 63 Brent.....

 

and just 4 Eiders today.

 A Merlin was seen again today,

 

 Also a Raven.

A Common Snipe made a typical autumn appearance with other waders including 160 Curlew and 120 Dunlin,

 as well as 65 Turnstone, 32 Redshank and 56 Ringed Plover.

 

Two Grey Herons and 4 Little Egrets fed around the island.

Highlight on the sea was undoubtably 2 Manx Shearwaters passing the island.

Photos CJW 

11th September 2024

 Weather: NW force 6,    showers

The wind was still fresh and from the north west and therefore continued sea watching was  the order of the day. Manx Shearwaters were passing early morning and numbered 67 by the end of the day.

 

Among the many good sea birds were 2 Black Terns, 6 Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie and the expected passage of Leach's Petrels, there were 31, most of which appeared in the afternoon.

 

The best of the day were the sighting of 2 Juvenile Sabines Gulls which flew passed the island later in the afternoon.

 

A Fulmar was pleasing as they have been very scarce recently.

 

More regular sightings included 1,200 Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, 500 Sandwich Terns, a Shag, 2 Golden Plover, 5 Little Egrets, 3 Eiders and 51 recently arrived Brent Geese. A single Willow Warbler reminded us that small migrants are still moving at this time.

Photos SRW

10th September 2024

 Weather: W force 7/8  veering WNW during the day, some drizzle

Gale force winds in September mean only one thing - sea watching. Our local speciality duly obliged with 9 Leach's Petrels passing the island right through to the evening when a lovely Black Tern appeared. The count of Manx Shearwaters numbered 18, but surprisingly no Gannets were logged although a passage of terns did oblige, 490 Sandwich and 70 Common. Common Scoter were noted mostly way out, with 575 in total. Four Arctic Skuas were seen including 2 in the evening. Early in the day 4 Pintail appeared, while other wildfowl included 20 Shelduck and 4 Teal, but the Eiders were missing today. There were 54 Turnstone, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 20 Ringed Plover among the waders. Seven Little Egrets and 4 Grey Herons hung around the shore. A Peregrine showed and a Wheatear weathered the storm on the island.

8th September 2024

 Weather:  ENE force 2,  backing NNW 2,   some drizzle

 A nice trickle of autumn migrants this morning including a Willow Warbler,

.........  4 Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat, a male Blackcap, 9 Pied Wagtails, many Robins and 2 Wheatears.

 Twenty Sand Martin and good numbers of Swallows fed before moving on.

Highlight was a Marsh Harrier arriving out of the estuary over the east hoyle and moving off east towards Red Rocks.

 

 

Two Raven also flew east. Among the wildfowl today 6 Teal flew north early on, 4 of the Eiders were present and 2 early Brent Geese were about. Not too many waders recorded today but there was still a single Whimbrel in the area. Four Shags were here also 8 Little Egrets and 4 Grey Herons.

Photos AEH, SRW

7th September 2024

 Weather:  Light air, misty

A lovely quiet morning with no wind discernible on the island this morning but also quiet for birds.The best sighting of the day was a Sparrowhawk that also provided the best pictures.

There was a single Wheatear on the island.

A female Goldcrest was also here and was then caught and ringed. We hope for a small passage now this early autumn.

Eighteen Swallows are still about the island, also 9 Rock Pipits and 9 Robins. Four Shags, 3 Grey Herons and 8 Little Egrets were logged (including a colour ringed bird). In addition to the 120 Curlew were 3 Whimbrel and 48 Ringed Plover. Butterflies arrived included a scarce Speckled Wood, 25 Red Admirals, 35 Small White (top picture) and 6 Green-veined White.

 

.............and a Migrant Hawker dragonfly.

  Photos SRW

6th September 2024

 Weather: NNE force 2   ENE 4 late afternoon,   hazy

 

Five Shag rested with the Cormorant on the Whaleback early morning but soon left and two Brent Geese took their place. A Peregrine was put up from the west side where it had probably roosted. Seven Wheatears moved through during the day.

....also a small number of House Martins which briefly joined the Swallows feeding over the island.

 Three Chiffchaffs were the sole phylloscopus warblers this morning.

 Some of them were joined by 2 Grey Wagtails that stayed around Niffy bay.

 

To complete the set 5 Pied and a Flava Wagtail passed over the island. Some extra Robins were here today, also 8 Rock Pipits and 14 Linnets.

As the tide made a Common Sandpiper was heard calling on the east side but could not be located, however a couple of hours later it was again heard and found in Niffy Bay

Others noted were 6 Eiders, 12 Sandwich Terns, 4 Little Egrets, and the Kestrel. The usual waders were present, including 2 Whimbrel, 25 Ringed Plover, and 6,500 Oystercatchers.

 It was a good day for insects with 60 Red Admirals arriving, also 20 Green-veined Whites and 3 Migrant Hawker dragonflies.

 

The Fox continues to leave evidence of its presence. 

Photos AS, SRW 

4th September 2024

 Weather: NW force 2/3  rain showers

The 14 Swallow around the buildings early morning included newly fledged birds.

There were 8 Shag on the Whaleback this morning, a very good count for the obs. About 8,000 Oystercatchers are to be found at the high tide.

 

 Over tide there were 85 Turnstone and 26 Redshank roosting in Niffy Bay.

 

  As yesterday, when the rain stopped the Wheatear appeared, but only 3 today.

 Scanning the sea found  a Gannet, 4 Guillemots, 30 Common Scoter and 12 Sandwich Tern. The 8 Eider showed well as did 5 Little Egret and 3 Grey Herons but the Kestrel showed only briefly as a Peregrine sat on the rocks west of Middle after the tide.

Photos AS