19th September 2024

 Weather: ESE force 1,  S force 1 after the tide

The Chiffchaff was still here but a new bird in the form of a female Blackcap was on the island. Two Grey Wagtails completed the small migrants of the day. The Weasel was still here and would undoubtfully be the rarest sighting today. Flocks totalling 138 Pinkfeet flew over, expect many more during the next few months, while 40 Brent and 60 Shelduck showed, and for a change 4 Red-breasted Mergansers made the list. Eiders stayed the same as yesterday (3 of each sex). Two Shags were still here also 12 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons and 2 each of Peregrine and Kestrel today. Good butterflies again today, no less than 80 Small Whites arrived with 5 Small Tortoiseshells, 12 Red Admirals and a Small Copper (fairly scarce here). Two Migrant Hawkers represented the Dragonflies.

18th September 2024

 Weather: E force 3, increasing slightly force 4 in the afternoon

The highlight of this morning was an Osprey on the east hoyle bank feeding on a large flatfish before heading off south down the estuary.

The approaching tide moved the Osprey towards the north shore while being mobbed by some gulls.

 

 

Thousands of Oystercatchers became airbourne as the Osprey flushed them on its way south.

 A few other birds kept interest in the island such as 3 Wheatears,

 

.............. also 3 Grey and 3 Pied Wagtails, a Chiffchaff, and still present 20 Meadow Pipits, 12 Swallows and 15 Linnets. No Gannets were seen today although a single Guillemot, 7 Sandwich Terns and 1,500 Common Scoter were noted. At the high tide were 70 Ringed Plover, 35 Grey Plover, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 22 Sanderling and 60 Turnstone. Seen around the shore were 11 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons and a Shag. The Kestrel was outnumbered by 2 Peregrines, Nice weather for butterflies brought out 15 Small Whites, 2 Red Admirals, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock. The Eider today were equally split, 3 males and 3 females, while only 45 Brent wrere counted.

Photos SRW

17th September 2024

 Weather: SE force 3, slight mist, SSW light air later in the afternoon

A light south easterly brought in 2 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler with a Grey and 5 Pied Wagtails among the supporting cast. There were also 11 Robins present and possibly extra Meadow Pipits and Wrens. Some of the 9 or so Wrens present on the island were seen sitting on the Canoe Club fence looking down at the woodpile which drew the observers attention to a Weasel, a rare visitor here, and we are very glad that it didn't arrive during the breeding season.

 

Only 48 Brent Geese could be found around the islands today, 62 Shelduck were over by the marsh along with the majority of the 8,500 Oystercatcher noted today, 6,500 Common Scoter could be seen on a calm sea out toward the windfarm. Closer in a Red-throated Diver went east passed the North End and 6 Eider fed just off the Whaleback. One of the 3 Females was sadly trying to eat a piece of hard plastic but was saved by a Herring Gull which stole it from her, please take your litter home!

 

 

A very pale Kestrel was present today and was seen to take unidentified prey onto a roof to feed.

There are big tides this week and some of the waders like to gather near the islands when not disturbed, such as the 80 Turnstones,

 also 145 Curlew, 14 Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Sanderling, 32 Redshank and 45 Ringed Plover.

One of the local Ravens paid us a visit, and sea birds noted were 23 Gannets, 6 Sandwich Terns, a Guillemot and 2 Shags.

 Photos AS

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 

14th September 2024

Weather: SW force 4

A Merlin spent this mornings tide chasing Turnstone and Rock Pipits, a Peregrine was also here. The Merlin is the typical autumn falcon on the island but usually when Meadow Pipits are moving.

Ten Wigeon were amongst the several species of wildfowl this morning which also included 49 Brent Geese, 21 Shelduck, 7 Eider and an overhead passage of 150 Pink-footed Geese. There was just a single Gannet and a Great Crested Grebe on the sea with little else showing apart from 150 Common Scoter and 2 Shags. Little Egrets excelled today with 15 present but only 2 Grey Herons. Two Ravens arrived at the island as did 2 Grey Wagtails. The waders before the tide included single Grey Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit, 307 Curlew, 100 Dunlin, 22 Ringed Plover, 25 Redshank and 40 Turnstones.

 Photos AEH

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