31st October 2009

The first Snow Bunting of the winter (left) was feeding around the north end this morning for a couple of hours and then appeared to leave at high tide.

Another sign of the coming winter were 4 Purple Sandpipers (above) amongst the roosting Knot and Turnstones (left). Surely this time these birds will stay at Hilbre to became the basis of they regular flock and are not migrants travelling further south.

The Great Northern Diver is still in the area and may remain for other visitors to see in the days ahead.

A redwing overhead at dawn was not the precursor of a thrush movement but finches were in evidence with both Greenfinches and Chaffinches being seen in addition to some Linnets. Two hundred Starlings were counted during the morning.

One of the 3 Rock Pipits was trapped making a record total of 4 in one year.

Ringed:- 1 Rock Pipit (right), 1 Robin, 1 Wren.

(JE) [579 ] photos JE

30th October 2009

A Great White Egret flew west over the south end at 11.20 this morning and continued towards Wales, this is the first record for Hilbre. The Great Northern Diver was found again this time preening in Niffy Bay for a short time while the Common Buzzard made another trip from the mainland and was seen all the way from Rocks Rocks to its reception party of 120 gulls and 4 Crows which gave it a hard time for an hour on the island.
There were lots of other good records totaling 45 species for the day, very similar to yesterday in many respects plus the Great White Egret !
Other highlights were 2 late Gannets, 2 Razorbills, 14 Wigeon and a Teal, a Merlin, a Woodpigeon, 6 Lapwing, a Redwing, a Siskin and a continuing passage of Starlings with 1,500 passing today.
(DB)

29th October 2009

Lots of finches were seen travelling south over the West Kirby shore this morning but Hilbre as usual did not share in this movement and all we could muster was 1 Chaffinch and 3 Goldfinches. It was however a very decent day otherwise with about 800 Starlings passing south mostly in parties of a few dozen at a time, and at least 12 Blackbirds going through the island also a Song Thrush and Redwing.

A Flock of 5 Little Egrets flew north up the shore and a Golden Plover called and was seen crossing Little Eye.
On the sea the Great Northern Diver from yesterday was found half way between Hilbre and bird rock (right), although later in the afternoon it came close to the north end and was seen to devour some crabs. Two razorbills were together just off the slipway.





A Peregrine chased a Woodpigeon (left) over the island (the photographer concentrating on the Woodpigeon as the far rarer of the two birds at Hilbre !)


Mid -morning it was a case of deja vu from 12 months ago when a large raptor was seen from the obs veranda to be mobbed further up the island. The same three members from last years Rough-legged Buzzard were again running up the island to see it better. Unfortunately it turned out to be just a Common Buzzard this time (above), but still a rare bird to see on the island.


Just a single Wigeon today, but a drake Scaup (left, very scarce in the last few years) flew east passed the north end. The Brents were still counted at 38, including the bird with white colour rings (below).











Ringed :- 3 Blackbirds, 1 Chaffinch.
(DB,CJ,KMc) [576] photos CJ

28th October 2009

At this moment (09.50hrs) a Great Northern Diver is sitting off the end of the slipway at the north end and has been there for half an hour. The Brent with white colour rings is still in the area.
(DB)

27th October 2009

A small amount of movement this morning comprising 5 Blackbirds, 3 Redwings, 2 Song Thrushes, 100 Starlings, 2 Goldfinches and a Chaffinch. The regulars included Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Pied wagtails, Rock Pipits and a Dunnock.

On the sea were 6 Wigeon (left), a Common Scoter and a Shag.

The most interesting sighting was a pale bellied Brent wearing colour rings not seen previously (second bird from right), white rings on both legs with the letter A on the right and number 4 on the left; enquiries will be made to try and find out where, when, and by whom it was marked. Today the Brents were at a high for this autumn of 38 birds.

Ringed:- 1 Blackbird (left)

(DB,JE) [573] photos JE

24th October 2009

Hilbre was sunny this morning (left) and fortunate in not sharing in the rain affecting the rest of Liverpool Bay.
A Fieldfare was on the ground early on (not an everyday experience at Hilbre), a Redwing and a flock of 4 Chaffinches were found while moving through were 250 Starlings and a number of Linnets and Meadow Pipits. On the shore the Brent had increased to 15 individuals and a Peregrine hunted the area.
Another Rock Pipit visited the obs today (right), the third to be ringed this autumn, and equaling the record number ever caught in any one year (2007).
(JE) [572] photos JE

23rd October 2009

Some thrushes were evident at first light when 7 Blackbirds, a Song Thrush and 3 Redwings were grounded. Not many other passerine migrants down except for 4 Chaffinches (left) and a Reed Bunting. Overhead movement saw 50 Meadow Pipits, 57 Starlings and 3 Skylarks passing through during the morning.

A Merlin (right) stayed around the north end for a short while and then went off east, while a Lapwing went west between the islands and a Teal (below) landed in the east gutter.

Only 9 Brent could be found on the shore along with 20 Sanderling and 26 Bar-tailed Godwits.

As with the last week or so 4 Dunnocks are still on the island with at least 2 Rock Pipits.

Observers were treated to 9 Helicopters in twos and threes flying across from the Navy vessels in the Mersey to celebrate 100 years of naval aviation.

Ringed:- 4 Blackbirds, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Wren.

(DB,CJ) [571] photos CJ

Further updates from the last few days are now shown below

21st October 2009

A good migration day with 110 Meadow Pipits, 224 Starlings, 80 Linnets, 17 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches and a Redwing being logged. On the shore were 4 Wigeon, 2 Teal and 42 Sanderling.
Another very late Swallow passed Hilbre.
(DB)