10th October 2026

 Weather: NNW force 6/7,  backing N 6 then WNW 5 by evening

 

 A round the clock coverage from dawn to dusk was made to capture sea bird movements in the strong winds from a north westerly direction. It was not long before Manx Shearwaters appeared (6) and Leach's Petrels were flying west (22 during the whole day).

 

 A Bonxie was logged and another seen as it flew from Hoylake between Middle and Little. 

 

A light phase Arctic Skua flew came before the tide and later a juvenile dark phase flew in from the east and over the obs garden.

 

 

 

 Completing the story of the seabirds, an Arctic Tern flew west in the morning, a Common Tern was also seen and a juvenile Common Tern was over the end of the obs garden, 

... a Red-breasted Merganser flew west, 3 Gannets were out to sea, also 3 Kittiwakes and good counts of gulls: 5,100 Herring (on razor clam wreck), 52 Lesser Black-back, 45 Greater Black-back, 320 Common and 220 Black-headed. A Razorbill and a Guillemot were recorded and over 300 Common Scoter seen distantly. Twenty five Shelduck were counted and 4 Pintail were here early on. Brent were present to the tune of 150 birds.

The regular waders were here in good numbers, 7,500 Oystercatchers, 72 Grey Plover, 55 Ringed Plover, 125 Curlew, 140 Bar-tailed Godwit, 41 Turnstone, 290 Sanderling, 400 Dunlin and 65 Redshank. Five Little Egrets were on the shore. As expected few small migrants were seen but a Goldcrest and a Reed Bunting were present and a Skylark was seen over the sea.

 

Ringed : 1 Meadow Pipit

Photos: SRW

7th October 2026

 Weather NNE force 4, raining but clearing later.

  The early morning high tide meant arriving in the dark. The first round of the island revealed there had been a small fall of migrants during the rain. A single Skylark was grounded at the north end along with a handful of Meadow Pipits, 2 Wheatears were on the more sheltered side of the island while several Robins were heard.

 

Twenty Linnet were found roosting in the SK paddock Blackthorn before flying off towards Middle Eye.

 

 Photos PSW

5th October 2026

 

 

  Weather: SW force 3/4       WSW 4

 

 A nice morning of some movement of birds. A male Stonechat was on the island, we have had a few lately.

 

 

A steady movement of single Skylarks totalling 11 birds took place while  another passage of Meadow Pipits occurred, about 85 this morning.

 

 

A Chiffchaff was on the island.

 

There were 6 Robins also on the island and as we often point out many could be migrants, one was ringed today.

  

Two Swallows were seen also a House Martin, the first for a little while. Brent were counted at 162, 18 Pintail flew west, 180 Common Scoter were out to sea with 11 Red-throated Divers, 5 Guillemots and 3 Great Crested Grebes. Shorebirds present were 6 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons. Again 86 Bar-tailed Godwits were the highlight of the waders.....

 

 

 ......... and others were 800 Oystercatchers, 120 Curlew, 85 Ringed Plover, 8 Grey Plover, 49 Turnstone, 14 Knot, 25 Dunlin and 110 Redshank.

 

Ringed: 1 Robin
 

Photos : SRW  

4th October 2026

 Weather: SE force 2

The weather looked good for us today and for once it was indeed good. Just after 7.00hrs a Yellow-browed Warbler from the east arrived in off the west side and subsequently it was caught in the obs garden. 

 

 

  

  

  

 

It received colour rings as requested by the national scheme to study the movements of these birds.

 

That was not the end of the excitement. Eight Spoonbills flew west passed the north end of the island, sightings of Spoonbills are less rare now that they breed in this country but are still unusual here, certainly for a flock of eight ! 

 

 A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in and was caught for ringing.

Great Spotted Woodpecker is still very scarce at Hilbre, maybe less than one a year and they nearly always turn up here in the first 2 weeks of October. 

 

 

 

  A male Blackcap was the only warbler to arrive after the Yellow-browed warbler.

 

 

  Another scarce visitor to Hilbre were 8 Rooks.

 

Two Starling came to the island and one sang from the 'motus' mast. 

  Other autumn visitors were a Wheatear and 6 Reed buntings.

 

 

 

 Meadow Pipits were again on the move with a few dozen across the island. 

 

Thirteen Skylarks were also passing.....

 

 ....... while a Greenfinch, a Siskin, 6 Redpolls and 4 Goldfinches joined the large influx(65) of Linnets about the island. A single followed by 7 more Wigeon flying at dawn were the main duck visitors although a Teal showed later in the day.

Among the waders 4 Snipe were typical arrivals at this time of year and there are 140 Bar-tailed Godwits together with 35 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 120 Redshank, 7 Sanderling and 100 Curlew. On the sea were 130 Common Scoter, 17 Red-throated Divers and 2 Guillemots. Others seen were 106 Brent, 3 Shelduck, 12 Little Egrets, 4 Great Crested Grebes a Peregrine and the Kestrel. Three late Red Admirals were in flight.

Ringed: 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Wren

 Photos: AEH,  CJW,  SRW