9th March 2026

 Weather: SE force 3      some mist

A very good count of pale-bellied Brent this morning, 426 also 2 dark-bellied Brent (with pale bellied, below). Many gathered towards the islands as the tide flooded to join others already here. Some maybe passing through but most of our birds will still be here for another month yet.

 A Merlin flying south was a notable sighting, and again the only raptor present. A male Mallard was on the pond. A few more Meadow PIpits to be seen this morning but little else moving among the small birds except for 2 Siskins flying south and a Pied Wagtail. Only 2 Robins present today but one of them was ringed.

 Looking to the sea were sightings of 2 Red-throated Diver, 9 Great Crested Grebe, a single Red breasted Merganser and the regular female Eider, while on the shore were a Little Egret and a Grey Heron. Sixty five Grey Plover sat on the east hoyle and other waders included 800 Dunlin, 120 Knot, 95 Redshank,  16 Sanderling, and a single Bar-tailed Godwit. 

Photos: SRW 

8th March 2026

 Weather: E/SE force 2/3    some mist

The weather was cold and murky, however the maintenance work at the end of the day was mostly completed. 

 

  

A fairly quiet day again for birds with few small migrants but they did include the first 2 White Wagtails of the spring, also 8 Pied Wagtails, 2 Chaffinches and a Lesser Redpoll. A drake Scaup off the north end (below) just about confirmed the individual on the Marine Lake recently that flew off from there this morning is the same as the bird seen here which seems to prefer the islands at certain states of the tide.

  

Other wildfowl counts were of 125 Brent, 1 female Eider, a single Pink-footed Goose, 220 Common Scoter and 4 Wigeon. 

 

 

Out to sea were 2 Great Crested Grebes and 3 Red-throated Divers. The island Rock Pipits are now showing preparations for breeding.

 

  The few Robins present are more evasive about their intentions.

 

Eight Purple Sandpipers still inhabit the north end. Singles of Grey Heron and Little Egret fed on the shore.

Ringed: 2 Linnets
 

Photos CJW, SRW, PSW 

7th March 2026

 Weather: SE force 2    some mist early

 

Repair works commenced on the Observatory this morning with materials being brought over from the mainland by Landrover and trailer pre-dawn.

 

The wind was in the north until this morning so not too surprising it was fairly quiet for birds. A Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaffs were on the ground nevertheless. 

 

Already on the ground was the elusive Great Tit from yesterday and it was just as elusive today, again failing to be ringed. Other passing migrants were a very vocal Chaffinch, the sole finch apart from the Linnets, also 4 Grey Wagatils and 6 Pied Wagtails. The resident birds include 8 Rock Pipits, we look forward to seeing where our colour ringed birds settle down to breed.

The sea was calm today so 12 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Red breasted Mergansers were counted as well as 550 Common Scoter, and around the islands were 220 Brent and 16 Shelduck. As the tide approached about 800 Dunlin were in flight, while 200 Knot were seen and on the shore were 40 Curlew, 25 Redshank, 12 Sanderling, 5 Grey Plover, a single Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Purple Sandpipers at the north end .

 

  A Little Egret was a late morning arrival just as the sun came out briefly.

Photos SRW 

6th March 2026

 Weather:  N3 with drizzle, brighter later NW 2 by afternoon

 

The elusive Great Tit  spent much of yesterday and today deep in Blackthorn, and only revealed itself properly when it appeared in the Obs garden this afternoon for a brief soirée after the rainy weather broke.

 

A phonecall at 14.25hrs from Tim Kinch at Hoylake (east of lifeboat station) that a Marsh Harrier was heading high our way, it took some finding though as it went west south of Middle Eye.

 

The female Eider was around the islands and 2 a pair of Goosanders were in the lagoon between Middle and the main island.

 

A counts of the Brent only reached 145 plus 1 dark bellied bird, there were 8 Shelduck seen and 380 Common Scoter on the sea. Small migrants were naturally scarcer today in the northerly inclement weather although 2 Starlings rested on the 'motus' mast. Two Goldcrests were here, and a Dunnock was in the obs garden. The usual few Blackbirds and Robins were on the ground. Single Little Egret and Grey Heron were present and a Peregrine was seen carrying its prey. Waders included 200 Knot, 40 Dunlin, 92 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plover, 120 Sanderling, 62 Redshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Much neglected, some gulls counts were 12 Great-black  backs, 2 Lessers, 25 Commons, 120 Black heads and 950 Herrings.

 On interest is fact that the drake Scaup was seen again today on WKML

 Photos SRW
 

5th March 2026

 Weather: SE force 5 with mist, later SE backing north 4 

 But the sun shone through later.

The first Wheatear of the year, on this exceptionally early date, indeed the second earliest ever for us, was found this morning by Matt Thomas at the north end of the island just before 10.00hrs.

 It was a fine male, and was later trapped for ringing.

 

 

  Just the one Stonechat today, another male and also trapped.

 Around the gardens and paddocks were at least 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 got ringed,

 

 and 6 Goldcrests, 3 of which became ringed including this male.

Finches featured again today with 6 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinch and 2 Siskin, and Pied and 3 Grey Wagtail came through with at least 90 Meadow Pipits. The scarcest inhabitant of the island paddocks and garden area however, a Great Tit, was in the obs garden, but failing to gain a ring. Other early March migrants did not let us down, including 32 Jackdaws,

   a single Starling.

  and a single Woodpigeon.

 A male Scaup appeared with the Common Scoter and the female Eider loafing off the north end then off shell bay later - at this stage we don’t know if it’s the male from WKML - that was still present yesterday but we've had no reports there today (as yet).

 

  No Egrets today and only a single Grey Heron about looking forward to its next meal.

Waders recorded today were 120 Sanderling, 32 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 68 Redshank and 6 Purple Sandpipers.

Ringed:  1 Wheatear, 1 Stonechat, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin.

Photos: SRW , Matt Thomas

4th March 2026

 Weather: SSE force 5

Lovely morning on the island - the highlight was a colour ringed Stonechat that was ringed on Mull last year. It was first seen on seaweed south of Middle before being relocated on Middle Eye were it stayed with 2 others. 

 

There were 5 around the islands but this bird is exceptional for us in that it is a long distant migrant from Scotland. It was ringed on 22nd August 2025 by Moray Souter on the island of Mull (see below).

 

 This is the first re-sighting of the 26 Stonechats ringed on Mull during 2025. Another of the Stonechats at Hilbre today were caught for ringing.

 A typical mix of birds included a couple of Coal Tits (scarce here). which became ringed after being first heard near the Newton trap but were then later caught in the SK. 

  

Some less scarce arrivals in the brisk cool south easterly but in impressive numbers and variety here were 15 Robins, 15 Pied Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail, 50 Meadow Pipits, 25 Skylarks, 2 Starlings, and quite a few finches including 24 Linnets (potential breeders), 5 Chaffinches, 3 Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, 2 Siskins and later on 2 Reed Buntings. 

 

Three Chiffchaffs were down on the island, one was caught for ringing. 

 Corvids seen included 19 Jackdaws and a Rook, also 12 Woodpigeons made the list.

 

More predictable visitors were the female Eider and 5 Pink-footed Geese which arrived later

 . A Dark-bellied bird was amongst the 280 pale-bellied Brent Geese.

 There was nothing particularly notable among the waders and sea birds at the high tide. A Merlin was the only raptor seen today. A nice day round for early March … maybe just missing a wheatear but it’s still early for us!

 Ringing: 7 Robins, 2 Coal Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Stonechat.

Photos SRW, PSW