15th October 2024

 Weather:  ESE  force 3,  SE 4/5 in the afternoon, mist around the estuary

 Another pleasant enough quiet day with the south east winds being not too cold. The highlight did not come until after the tide when members were leaving the island. A juvenile male Hen Harrier came across the shore between Middle and Red Rocks and headed off south of Little Eye, but unlike the recent Red Kite it did not land there.

 

 

A very scarce bird at Hilbre it is the second here this year after one at the end of March. Both Peregrine and Kestrel were also on the list today. During the morning the best bird found was a male Blackcap which became ringed.

On the island were 6 Meadow Pipits, 6 Rock Pipits, 2 Song Thrushes, 6 Robins, 4 Blackbirds, 2 Pied Wagtails and 5 Wrens, some of these maybe migrants rather than residents.

 A small trickle through of finches happened this morning including a couple of Siskins, a Goldfinch and a male Chaffinch. Brent numbered 360 and groups of 3 and 7 Wigeon were seen, also 4 Eider and 50 of the distant Common Scoter. Other sea species featured a Red-throated Diver, a Shag, 200 Cormorant, 4 Great Crested Grebe and a Razorbill. Apart from the 2,000 or so Oystercatchers the most numerous waders seen were 180 Turnstone. Four Little Egret and 3 Grey Heron fed on the shore. At the end of the day up to 10 Redwing were detected over the island.

Photos JE, SRW