8th May 2010

9am update

A brisk north easterly (force 5-6) overnight, but despite good cloud cover the visibility was just too good – you could even see the peaks of the Lake District from the island. If there were any grounded migrants they were certainly keeping low (and who could blame them?) Despite the temperature reading 10.8 degrees C the wind meant that it felt considerably colder.

A couple of new Linnets were caught in the SK early morning but there was little else of passerine interest.

The main focus was on the small but increasing numbers of Dunlin (c300) and Ringed Plover (c30).

Despite the wind sea-watching was also very unproductive with single Great Crested Grebe in the gutter, 3 Common Terns and 6 Gannets seen.

Two Greylag Geese reappeared between the islands over the tide but departed soon after.

[DCT, PT, VT, NDW, AW, SRW] [266]

7th May 2010

The wind picked up and had veered to the North East however a couple of Willow Warblers arrived (and one was caught). A single Whitethroat remained on the island and 4 Wheatears appeared.

The day was one of small numbers but an interesting mix of species with two Canada Geese, a single Razorbill and two Little Egrets in the gutter. Waders included 15 Whimbrel, 150 Dunlin and 35 Ringed Plover.

The bird of the day was the hoped for (with this wind direction) Marsh Harrier which was found by observers leaving the island as it flew over Little Eye and battled its way into the headwind (photos above and below).

[DB, PGR, DCT, PT, VT, CJW, NDW] [264] Photos by CJW

6th May 2010

A very light variable wind but backing easterly later with some drizzle early on grounded a trickle of migrants with two Willows and singles of Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Linnet and Goldfinch were trapped and ringed.

A single Little Egret was feeding in the gutter, 2 Greylag Geese appeared, 2 Wigeon and 4 Eider completed a strange trio of wildfowl species.

Highlight of recent moth trapping was a Waved Umber (see below).

[DB, DCT, JVT, PT, NDW et al] [263]

5th May 2010

A moderate west north west breeze meant that expectations were low - however, drizzle grounded some migrants including the first two Sedge Warblers of the year (right and below right), 4 Whitethroats (see below left) and 10 Willow Warblers. Fourteen birds were caught and ringed.

Visible migration was much thinner but included a late Grey Wagtail, a couple of House Martins and a Swift.

Over 300 Grey Seals was an increase in recent weeks.

[DB, DCT, JVT, PT et al] [257]

4th May 2010

The wind dropped to light air overnight giving hope of a few migrants making it to the island this morning. First impressions were not encouraging and 2 Wheatears and a single Willow Warbler were all that was to be found. During the morning things improved as a Grasshopper Warbler was heard singing in the bottom of the obs garden, but was never seen then or later. A Collared Dove (right) was trapped in the SK heli, and later another which was not associating with it was also caught. One of the 2 Greenland Wheatears was then trapped which is a much better than average hit rate of 50%, and by mid-morning a Whitethroat which had not been seen previously appeared in the old obs net. Swallows arrived in moderate numbers but no martins or swifts were with them.
A Grey Plover (left) was on the ridge south of middle, and towards noon its near cousin the Golden Plover flew north off to the west of the island (record shot, above right). A Little Egret (below) spent all morning within sight of the observers, and Whimbrel seemed to be in lower numbers than last week, 11 being counted today. Not much time allocated to sea-watching, 2 Sandwich Terns being the only decent record.
Ringed:- 2 Collared Doves, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Greenland Wheatear, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Wren.
(BSB,CJ,KMc,DCT,PT,NDW) [243] photos CJ

3rd May 2010

Northerly winds produced very little indeed on the island on bank holiday Monday, although the brisk winds kept the 'grockle' numbers down - the blue skies were appreciated by some (see photo below of the Bird Observatory from the South End).



The only birds of note were good numbers of Whimbrel (32) and single Wheatear, Willow Warbler and a drake Eider.


[DCT, PT, NDW, SRW + TGW, CJW (f)] Photo SRW

2nd May 2010

A fresh north-easterly did little in the way of raising expectations. However, a Yellow Wagtail, a couple of Wheatears (left) and a single Willow Warbler (trapped) were 'new in'.

Later in the morning with the wind still fresh the highlight of the day appeared in the form of our second Lesser Whitethroat of the spring, found in the Obs garden mist net (see below). It is very unusual for Hilbre to get two of these small sylvia warblers in a spring (or a year).

Other sightings included 7 Eider (including 6 males - see single left), 8 Whimbrel (below right) and 2 Greylag Geese.

(JE, DCT, PT, PSW, SRW + TGW) [237] Photos PSW except Lesser Whitethroat SRW

1st May 2010

A brisk northerly air flow kept most birds (and birders) at bay.


The only grounded migrants were a Wheatear and a Chiffchaff which was caught and ringed mid afternoon.



[FES, TJS + 2, DCT, PT, NWD, SRW, TGW + MH, AH, EH] [235]