30th October 2025

 Weather: SE force 3/4.

A cold and blustery morning on the island today. Grounded migrants were restricted to a single Goldcrest and Chiffchaff and what is probably the same Dunnock that has been seen recently. Overhead migration continues with the highlight being 3 Brambling heading southwest. Seventeen Skylarks and 20 Meadow Pipits were also observed flying over with the majority heading south or  south east. Brent geese numbers are building up and 353 were counted around the whaleback and the north end slipway feeding on the rocks. 

 

 

 

The regular female Kestrel was seen on the roof of one of the stone buildings as the sun rose and later hovering over the south end. 

Only 1 Rock Pipit was recorded today. Waders were widely dispersed as the tide was out but a flock of 18 Grey Plover were a nice record and 130 Redshanks shows a definite increase in numbers. 

 Photos PSW

22nd October 2025

 Weather: WSW  force 2  veering W 1  later

The weather improved gradually during the day after heavy rain earlier in the morning.  A few birds were grounded on the island with 6 Blackbirds along with 2 Dunnocks, several Robins and 6 Goldcrests. 

 A single ringed Chiffchaff was probably one that had been ringed on Hilbre recently as were the two ringed Robins seen. 

Overhead passage was slower than in recent days but there were 3 Siskins, 4 Goldfinches, a Pied Wagtail and 2 Skylarks, the latter dropping onto the island by the area of the pond, also a few Meadow Pipits came through. 

   

A Snipe dropped into the access track at the south end where it was flushed and flew to the pond.  Two Goldfinches arrived in to feed on the seed heads of Thrift before moving off as the tide ebbed. A real surprise was a male Stonechat that arrived at the north end over the high tide and then promptly disappeared. 

Wrens are ever present on the island but some are not resident on the island, it is often difficult to tell which is which unless they are ringed. 

Wader numbers are building up but still no Purple Sandpipers yet. Ninety three Turnstone and 16 Redshank roosted on the ledges of the wall by the steps in Niffy Bay.

A young Common Seal (most at Hilbre are Grey Seals) hauled out just below the SK paddock and happily sunbathed undisturbed until a local fisherman in a rib got to close and it swam off.

 The sunshine brought out a few Bumblebees and an unfortunate dead frog was also logged.

 Ringed : 2 Goldcrests 

Photos PSW 

20th October 2025

Weather: E force 3, light drizzle, later SSW  light air

A Short-eared Owl appeared east of middle being mobbed by crows and was watched disappearing high over the mainland at about 1045hrs. Amazingly 4 hours later a second bird was flushed from middle after the tide by dog walkers and briefly alighted on Hilbre twice (south end and west side) headed out towards wales then south before turning back towards middle landing briefly on the reef before disappearing behind middle.

 

 

 

 

 After the appearance of the first owl, a Woodcock was flushed in the 'heli' garden.  It flew into the east side gardens.

As can be seen we are back to the quality of most glimpses of Woodcock at Hilbre as they fly away, so we show another shot from Friday which at least is in focus.

Unlike yesterday views of Chaffinch (just 6 today) and Starling (15) were at a more usual level now that we are in the eye of the low pressure system.

 

Two Chiffchaffs were here, and also 5 Goldcrests sometimes known as the 'Woodcock pilot' especially on the east coast where they often arrive together after crossing the north sea.

 Small species also arriving were 3 Siskin, 11 Linnets, the 6 Chaffinches, a Goldfinch, a Skylark and several Robins and a couple of dozen or so Meadow Pipits. A couple of Dunnocks were probably the leftovers from the small arrival the other day.

 Large numbers of Common Scoter (1100 estimated today) are arriving ahead of winter, several were showing well close to the island.

 Brent were estimated at 260 today, also 120 Shelduck and 11 Red-throated Divers were a decent count but no Gannets were sighted. Six Great Crested Grebes were here also 8 Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons. Some good wader counts were 7500 Oystercatchers, 145 Curlew, 5,000 Knot, 1200 Dunlin, 250 Sanderling and 65 Grey Plover. The immature male Kestrel was the only raptor today. A late Painted Lady was a pleasing find. 

 Ringing: 2 Goldcrest, 2 Wrens, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Song Thrush.

 Photos: SRW 

19th October 2025

 Weather: ESE force 5      rain late morning

Two species dominated this morning, a total of 227 Chaffinches flew south as the front arrived in the area and 2 came down to be ringed.

 

Starlings followed a similar pattern, 205 also flying south.

 

  as were 22 Linnets and 4 Siskin. Five Redwings paid a visit.

 The only other migrant was a single Goldcrest. A glance at the sea in the rain found 4 Gannets, 120 Common Scoter but little else. Apart from the Oystercatchers the most numerous waders were 118 Redshanks. An immature female peregrine that appeared was probably the same one as yesterday. Grey Herons for once outnumbered the Little Egrets by 11 to 6.

Ringed: 2 Chaffinches, 1 Robin.

Photos SRW  
 

18th October 2025

Weather: ESE force 4     slight mist

It generally felt like late autumn today, cold blustery and not a lot moving considering the weather conditions, but despite this it was not totally devoid of migrants. A couple of Chiffchaffs were on the island with 5 Song Thrushes, 2 Goldcrests and passing birds including singles of Fieldfare, Redwing, Skylark, 8 Starlings and 3 Chaffinches, one of which became ringed. 

 

 a Lapwing turned up, not an everyday experienced at Hilbre.

Waders seen around the island included 110 Redshank, 80 Turnstone, 60 Knot and 13 Bar-tailed Godwit. A Razorbill was close to the island.

 

 

Further out were 12 Gannets, a Red-throated Diver and 450 Common Scoter. There is still about 240 Brent also 10 Wigeon showed today with 150 Shelduck. Eight Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons worked the gutters around the islands. The only raptor today was an immature female Peregrine Falcon.

 Ringed: 3 Song thrushes, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Chaffinch.

Photos SRW  

17th October 2025

 Weather: ESE force 2, mist around the estuary, light air in afternoon

 As the tide was flooding a Firecrest was found in the obs garden, the first this year and very welcome was this fine looking bird.

 

It stayed in the obs garden until just before noon and was re-located about 4pm when it performed really well for the camera.

 

Quite often in the past when a Firecrest is here, there are no Goldcrests present, today was an exception because it arrived with 15 Goldcrests.

Plenty of other small migrants were around or passing over, 42 Skylarks, 13 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Reed Buntings, 9 Pied Wagtails, a few dozen Meadow Pipits, a female Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaffs.

Nine Blackbirds were also present as were 12 Wrens, 8 Robins and 3 Dunnocks. Finches turned up in the form of 55 Linnets, a single Chaffinch....  

 and 4 Greenfinches which have been scarce in recent years. 

 

 Late in the morning a Woodcock was seen by the 'Newton' and eventually flushed out of the main pond, the first of the autumn for Hilbre.

 

and at lunchtime a Whooper Swan flew between the islands towards the west.

Eight Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons fed in the gutter. Chief among the waders today (apart from the Woodcock) was a Snipe, a Black-tailed Godwit (and 12 Bar-tailed). Sea birds included 22 Gannets, 8 Red-throated Divers, 800 Common Scoter, 6 Guillemots and 4 Great Crested Grebes. Fifteen Shags included another remarkable flock of 14 together.

Ringed:  3 Goldcrest, 2 Linnet, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Firecrest, 1 Wren, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Blackbird.

Photos AEH, SRW