5th October 2025

 Weather: WNW force 7,    W 7 by late afternoon

Following the storm yesterday a lot of sea birds were in the irish sea and the continued blow today with a slightly northerly element was expected to push them into Liverpool bay, and so it turned out. Sea-watching was undertaken from dawn to almost dusk and what everyone wishes to see in these situations are plenty of Leach's Petrels. With a final count for the day at 42, they did us proud at Hilbre. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Occasionally a (very similar) Storm Petrel will be found amongst them as one was today. They pass through more frequently in the early autumn.

 

 Three Manx Shearwaters were logged early in the day as were 3 of the 4 Arctic Skuas.

 

Terns were represented by just 2 individuals, a Sandwich and an Arctic, while the usual gulls included 32 Great Black-backed and an adult winter Mediterranean Gull with other gulls.

About 1,000 of these gulls were put up by a Bonxie heading west at 6pm in the evening. 

 

 Auks numbered 28 Razorbills and 35 Guillemots.

 Another flock of 8 Tufted Duck flew over the sea, could they be connected to the 4 seen yesterday? Where could they be from?

 

There were 850 Common Scoter seen distantly towards the wind farm and a single male close in to the island.

 

 The Gannets did not let us down in the rough sea, 87 showed today.

 A round-up of others on the sea featured 32 Great Crested Grebes, 32 Kittiwakes, 3 Red-throated Divers, a pair of Eiders, a Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Teal. Only 39 Brent were seen today, with 12 of those coming in off the sea which included a dark-bellied bird. Sixty five Shelduck were logged, a Raven rested on the east hoyle, a Peregrine was noted and there were 6 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. Oystercatchers are always about, 4,500 were estimated today.

A Golden Plover was the pick of the waders and there were 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlew, 25 Ringed Plover, 56 Sanderling, 18 Turnstone and 25 Redshank.

A ringtail harrier flew between Hilbre and Red Rocks early afternoon, and was most likely a well-marked young Hen Harrier.  It was not the day for recording passerines on the island however a late Swallow made it here, a substantial passage of Meadow Pipits came in off the sea steadily, a couple of Goldfinch were seen and 7 Skylarks arrived in off the sea as did 22 Linnets. Fifty three species seen on any day at this time of year is notable.

Photos; AEH, SRW