Weather: E force 2, later backing NNW 1
It was quite fresh from the North, and we could make out the Lake District peaks first thing, while the pond had a lot of ice on the surface.
There have only been 2 individual Rock Pipits at Hilbre over the last few weeks, colour ringed CAK (below) and CAD, both ringed here as part of our ringing scheme. We can only speculate as to where the others are at this time (unless we recieve reports from elsewhere) and we await the spring to see if others return. This proves the value of colour ringing individual birds on the island.
A count of small birds around today found 8 Wrens, 3 Robins, a Pied Wagtail, a Meadow Pipit, the Rock Pipit, 5 Blackbirds and a Song Thrush.
A decent number of seabirds were seen, 5 Red-throated Divers, 22 Great Crested Grebes and 1,200 Common Scoter towards the wind turbines. The only wildfowl were 180 Brent, 13 Shelduck and 4 Eiders. Some of the 2,000 Knot roosted the tide on the island with 180 Turnstone and 125 Redshank.
Likewise some of the 29 Ringed Plover also rested on the island.
Purple Sandpipers were here in a pleasing number today, 24 birds.
The Kestrel hunted the island while on the shore just 2 Grey Herons and 1 Little Egret fed. The Weasel was once again seen in the obs garden so still surviving at the moment in the colder weather.
Photos CJW
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