20th October 2018

Weather: SE1, a dark start because of the early tide

The Brent reached a new high for the season when 65 were counted at midday, earlier 3 Wigeon were with them between the islands. The morning was otherwise very quiet with little visible migration, just 42 Meadow Pipit, 35 Linnets, 3 Skylarks, 3 Goldfimches, 2 Pied Wagtails and a lone Starling landing at the north end.

Pulses were sent racing when a late Wheatear arrived by the light on the west side which showed a tail pattern typical of  Isabelline Wheatear.

Better photos were obtained in the sunshine and unfortunately the other features of identification could only be considered as that of a Northern Wheatear, we will get a rare Wheatear here one day!

A tatty Red Admiral enjoyed the sun early afternoon.

Also noted today, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 140 Redshank, 80 Turnstone, 87 Curlew, 3 Grey Plover, 39 Scoter, 18 Shelduck, 2 Rock Pipits, 2 Dunnock.

Ringed: 2 Wren      [ 535-34 ]
photos JE,AS.

19th October 2018

Weather: SSE  2-3    vis 5mls with mist around the estuary

This morning it was a single wigeon that was on the Whaleback,

but it started to feel like a replay of yesterday when a Lapwing was spotted flying between the main island and Middle, then 8 Pintail flew west followed by 5 Shelduck. To add to the duck tally, 4 Teal were in the Gutter.

There were 43 Brent Geese on the west side of Middle along with 2 Heron, 5 Little Egret were east of the Gutter. Four Redwing were heard going over, a male Blackbird was in the Old Obs and 2 more were seen to fly off towards Middle, a single Song Thrush was also down but did not stay long. A flock of 137 Starling were observed heading west  with a further 12 later, other fly overs were 5 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtail , 30 Meadow Pipit and 14 Linnet.

A Chaffinch twinked from the Old Obs garden but refused to show itself and the Kestrel was still around the island.

photos AS

18th October 2018

Weather: E  1  vis 12 mls

A Lapwing down on the Whaleback before dawn was unexpected  today, but the 5 Redwing heard calling overhead were not, 6 Song Thrush were down on the island .

 A handful of local Meadow Pipit were about and 46 passed over along with 3 Reed Bunting , 18 Skylark and 9 Pied Wagtail. On the island were 18 Linnet, 4 Dunnock and 5 Goldcrest.

Turnstone were counted at 62, Ringed plover 24 and Redshank 160.

A Raven flew east passed the North End and 8 Pintail flew west. An unusual record came from Jane Turner who saw a Water Rail fly from the direction of Middle Eye towards Red Rocks.

The Kestrel is still about and loves posing for the camera !

 photos AS

17th October 2018

Weather : W  1-2  vis 10 mls decreasing slightly later.

Although the wind was ‘wrong’ today the passerine migration was an improvement on yesterday with 2 Starling found in the Old Obs first thing, then 116 flying west over the island later. Skylarks were regularly passing overhead with a total of 39 recorded, 2 Reed Bunting also flew over with one resting briefly in the Obs garden.

 Meadow Pipits numbered about 100 with 2 Rock Pipit at the North End and 1 on Middle Eye, in addition to the usual Dunnock, Robin and Wren were 14 Linnet,  9 Goldfinch and 2 flocks of Greenfinch totalling 27 which came down on the main island.

The Kestrel was again noted and a Grey Heron was west of Middle Eye, also 5 Little Egret in the Gutter.

Fifty five Brent Geese were on the Whaleback and 16 Shelduck flew north out of the estuary

Only 6 Common Scoter were seen off the North End but 12 Pintail flew west and 7 Teal were in the Gutter below the Obs, unfortunately in poor light.

Oystercatcher around the islands were estimated at 3,000, there were 237 Curlew and 190 Redshank but other waders were in small numbers.

 photos AS

16th October 2018

Weather: SSE force 3, cloudy, mist around the coast.
Hopes were high with seemingly ideal conditions for a good arrival of birds this morning but a brief visit proved otherwise. A small passage of Meadow Pipits (60) in a couple of hours were the best to be seen, with just single Goldfinch, Linnet and Skylark and 4 Pied Wagtails to be found. The Brent numbered 51 and Little Egrets 4, while 91 Redshank were the pick of the waders. Fourteen Carrion Crows were about.

15th October 2018

Weather: NE  1-2  vis 20 mls
The Carnedd range in Snowdonia was in sunshine this morning unlike the rest of Wirral and North Wales until the front cleared.

Two Redwing were heard flying over before dawn, but no thrushes were down on the island. Skylarks passed over singly and in small groups totalling 19 and a single Magpie headed west very high overhead, a Reed Bunting was seen to come down in the Old Obs garden but only stayed briefly, a second passed over the Obs garden later in the morning.

At least 10 wren were about the main island with 75 Meadow Pipit and 12 Linnet passing through. Bird of the day was our second Yellow-browed Warbler of Autumn which was unexpectedly caught in the ' Heli', it had been keeping very quiet but was more vocal when feeding later.

 Also down on the island were 2 Goldcrest, 3 Greenfinch, 15 Goldfinch and 3 Pied Wagtail.

Forty five Brent Geese were recorded and again included the colour ringed bird HDRB.

Redshank have increased to at least 100 birds. A Heron and 2 Little Egret were present, also the ‘tame’ Kestrel.

Ringed:  1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Wren, 1 Goldcrest.       [ 533-34 ]

photos JE, CJ, AS