24th September 2022

Weather: NNE force 3

An afternoon visit to the island found that there were now 24 Brent present, and amongst them were 2 first year birds, the first seen this season (not visible in photo).

There were many Cormorants about, about 2 hundred of which flew down the estuary as the later afternoon arrived, we usually see them travelling in the other direction in the early morning.

Three Red-throated Divers flew east and a Guillemot and several dozen Common Scoter were seen. Some of the good counts of waders and gulls were enhanced by sightings at the Tanskies; 9,500 Oystercatchers, 485 Curlew, over 1,000 Black-headed Gulls. Nearer the island were noted 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 36 Ringed Plover, 22 Redshank and 19 Turnstone. The sunset alone was worth waiting for.

Photos SRW

23rd September 2022

Weather: NNW

A beautiful breezy autumnal day to celebrate the autumn equinox on Hilbre today.

The sea was generally quiet with just a small flock of Common Scoter being recorded but two sub-adult Gannets flew up the west side just after high tide.

Wader numbers are increasing with good numbers of Curlew and Oystercatchers roosting on Middle Eye over the high tide along with Redshanks and Turnstone. A flock of Ringed Plover and Dunlin roosted on east side the north end, sheltered from the NNW breeze.

 

Linnets have had a good breeding season with at least 100 birds commuting between Middle and Hilbre. Many dropped to feed on the seedbeds of Rock Sea lavender and Thrift at the north end of Hilbre. Birds were also taking advantage of the freshwater puddles on the main track to have a bath. 

The small passage of Robins continued with another new bird being ringed along with another juvenile Blackbird, probably from a 2nd or 3rd brood reared by the resident pair. Rock Pipits are also on the move with at least 4 unringed birds being seen. A single Grey Wagtail was recorded flying over and 2 Wheatear stayed around the north end.

  The regular Kestrel was also seen hunting voles and appears to be completing its moult.

Photos PSW

22nd September 2022

  Weather: SE, force 4/5,  S 3 by noon with persistent rain

The sky at dawn gave the clue of the weather to come with constant rain from 11.00 am. Wildfowl featured again this morning with totals of 15 Teal, 4 Wigeon and 2 Pintail (which flew west directly over observers),

  also a party of 9 Pink-footed Geese.
 

  A single male Common Scoter sat on the island rocks.

No terns were seen, although a Common Tern was reported to be by West kirby marine lake. Two new Linnets and a Rock Pipit were ringed today, 

 also one retrapped.

 and a juvenile Blackbird was also retrapped.

Up to 200 Linnets flew around the island but only 3 Meadow Pipits were noted and there were no hirundines, warblers, crests nor wheatears seen. A late Whimbrel was here today, also 180 Curlew, 70 Ringed Plover, 17 Bar-tailed Godwits and 7 Grey Plover. Peregrine and Kestrel were both in attendance and at one stage 2 Ravens were on the island, one had been attacked by the Crows.

Photos JE, SRW 

21st September 2022

 Weather:  SE 3, veering SW 4 by mid morning, mostly cloudy

An early start to be there before the tide.

Hopes that migrants would be in the paddocks and gardens were soon dashed and it was not until mid-morning that a Chiffchaff was heard (it was still present in the middle of the afternoon). 

As time went on a few visitors appeared in the form of 2 Pied and 2 Grey Wagtails, a small passage of Meadow Pipits passed south, which for the most part has so far been absent this autumn, but there had been a Wheatear on Middle early on. 

 It was however a excellent wildfowl and wader day starting with distant views over Wirral of 35 Pink-footed Geese going north and a total of 320 Black-tailed Godwits flying in from the estuary towards Newton. About 100 Shelduck flew into the estuary in many small groups, similarly about 30 Wigeon did the same in 8 parties.

The wildfowl were not finished, a group of 4 Teal flew over the east hoyle sands at high tide, another was later also flying south. Early in the day a Common Snipe had been flushed by the west side of Middle and flew up the west side of the main island while calling, but could not be relocated. More usual waders included 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 62 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 50 Redshank, 26 Dunlin and 2 Knot. A Guillemot was off the west side, while other sea birds seen were 250 Common Scoter and several Gannets. A Kestrel hovered over the island and a Peregrine flew passed the north end in the morning.

The afternoon was livened up when 3 Ravens spent some time flying around the west side of the island. One picture shows the characteristic tail shape.

 

On the shore all day were 6 Little Egrets and 4 Grey Herons and flying about all day were the itinerent 2 flocks of Linnets, estimated at 140 birds. There still seems to be at least 8 Rock Pipits here, some will be ex breeders and others migrants at this time of year.

Photos AS & SRW

20th September 2022

 Weather: SE force 1/2   cloudy at first sunny later

A Golden Plover species was heard over early on with a disyllabic call, unfortunately it was not seen but it was suspected of being an American Golden Plover, we shall never know. Regular waders present included 29 Bar-tailed Godwit and 47 Ringed Plover.

A flock of 9 Teal were the only wildfowl today, they were on the tide edge before visiting the gutter east of the island.

Among the small visitors today were another Goldcrest, 2 Goldfinches, a Wheatear, half a dozen Swallows, a Grey Wagtail and a Reed Bunting. Little Egrets seem to be back to single figures now after the many birds present over the last few weeks.

As regular visitors know seals rarely haul out on the island rocks, but today there were pups at either end of the island, one at the north end and another below the obs. 

 Photos SRW

19th September 2022

 Weather: NE force 2, drizzle at first, sunny intervals later

The light north easterly was obviously suitable for the arrival of Goldcrests as 4 were here this morning when very few have been on the island this autumn. A male was ringed today.

No other migrants on the ground but still 5 Robins and 3 Blackbirds in the paddocls and gardens. A Red-throated Diver and 10 Common Scoter were the only sea birds around apart from the Guillemot that seemed not well in the gutter after the early tide. Wildowl today only featured 13 Shelduck and 5 Brent, there may be more Brent somewhere in the local area.

Waders included 15 Bar-tailed Godwit and 55 Ringed Plover, 18 Turnstone, 2 Knot and 27 Redshank. A Raven visited the area and a Kestrel found the island good for vole hunting.

 Photos SRW 

18th September 2022

 Weather:  NW force 5

A Goldcrest was on the island early on, they have been very scarce here this autumn, while the 10 Brent were located at Little Eye during the day. Nice wader records included 25 bar-tailed Godwits (the most for some time), about 200 Dunlin and 8 Sanderling. The fresh north westerly brought in view a Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannets, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Guillemots and several Common Scoter, but sighting of the day did not occur until dusk when a flock of 35 Pintail flew over the island. Both Kestrel and Peregrine showed up. Our insect expert found these springtails (Anurida maritima) in a rock pool, these fascinating creatures  are not strictly speaking insects, but are closely related.

 

Photo GB

17th September 2022

 Weather:  SE force 1, NNW by mid-morning

A spectacular sky first thing this morning.

 

A good collection of wildfowl was available to see this morning, small parties of Pink-feet Geese ( 4 then 11 going north east, then about 100 heading north over mainland Wirral) started the day.

The theme continued by sightings of 2 Pintail and 5 Goosanders dropping into the lagoon between the islands before flying off towards Wales. 

A Red-breasted Merganser was in the gutter before flying passed the north end of the island and a total of 23 Shelduck moved north east. Three Brent Geese showed this morning and another 7 were found later on.

A Greenshank in the east side gutter was the wader of the day, but a single Whimbrel is still with us, also 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 3 Grey Plovers. There were just 4 Sandwich Terns seen today. Migrants on the island were as scarce as they have been in the last few days, although this morning a Reed Bunting made it to the south end of the island, and a Grey Wagtail was recorded. Two more Robins were ringed to add to the total recently, most are undoubtedly migrants. A Merlin paid a visit to the island.

Photos SRW