22nd August 2010

A check of the log sheet at the end of the morning looked quite impressive, but the day was somehow unsatisfactory in that the views of significant birds were brief or in the case of the Green Sandpiper completely lacking as it was heard calling along the shore but not seen. Others deciding not to display themselves were a Bonxie which was on the sea close to the west side for a few seconds then disappeared, a Greenshank (right) seen just once in the east gutter, a Stonechat (probably yesterdays bird) that flew over the obs garden into the bracken and was not seen again.

At least an increase of Wheatears (below) took place with 5 on the main island in the usual places, but only a single Willow to represent the warbler family. Ten Swallows only was the total for the morning.

Manx Shearwaters were again very distant with 300 estimated off to the north west sometimes whirling in feeding flight, 6 Guillemot and 21 Common Scoter were a little closer with 50 or so Gannets that never approached the island. Four Arctic Skuas were chasing the numerous terns over the high tide period.

No birds ringed

(AMC+1,CJ,PSW,SRW) photos SRW

21st August 2010

Just before high tide an unprecedented group of 31 Goosanders were found off the east side of Middle Eye (left and above). The flock floated slowly south and were then hidden from view from the obs, but one intrepid member waded across to Middle (below left) and stalked them commando style in the bracken to obtain good views and photos at the south end of the island. Some of the birds came out on the sand before they departed together towards the Welsh coast (below)

Up until that point the main attraction was a juvenile Stonechat (right and below) that appeared in the obs garden and spent the next few hours touring the paddock areas and avoiding the mist nets. This is the first Stonechat this year, normally at least one is seen in early spring on Hilbre.

A short sea-watch proved there were still some Manx Shearwaters (50) in the area but distant (see yesterday), along with about 35 Gannets and a single distant Arctic Skua.
Later a Greenshank was found in the east gutter.

Hirundines were again scarce with just 5 Swallows noted all morning, and the other regulars were also in small numbers:- 3 Little Egrets, 3 Whimbrel and 1 Wheatear.
A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was on the West Kirby marine lake with the Black-headed Gulls after the tide (below). The bird was bearing a colour ring (right, click picture to enlarge) and enquiries are on going but initial thoughts are that it may be from Poland.

Considering the wind was from the west/south west, all in all not a bad day but no birds ringed, so a picture of a Cormorant at the north end instead.
(AMC,JE,CJ,SRW) photos CJ, SRW (Goosanders and others)

20th August 2010

A thoroughly wet night was followed by an equally wet morning and so no migrant were expected, nor did any arrive, although the phylloscopus with the unusual call was ringed and found, as expected, to be a Chiffchaff.

A Greenshank was in the gutter early morning and was possibly the same bird from yesterday (see below).

Squally west /south west winds made the sea interesting especially when a massive amount of Manx Shearwaters were seen feeding distantly to the north west. An estimate of 750 was in line with the large number present on a similar date in August last year. Gannets were counted at 150 and Great Crested Grebes 25, whilst among the commoner terns was a Little and an Arctic Tern.

A second winter Mediterranean Gull (see right and below left) was on the East Hoyle sandbank after the tide and was probably one of the birds seen at West Kirby beach recently, there were also six Little Egrets in the gutter after the tide.

(DB,PSW, et al) [395]

19th August 2010

A Sparrowhawk (probably the same as yesterday) spent most of the morning around the island before flying off towards Wales, finch feathers in the entrance of the SK trap were evidence of its stay. Two Peregrines made a brief appearance over the south end, two Collared Doves (left) flew around the island avoiding the mist nets and settled for long periods on the fencing, but birds of the day would be the 2 Black-tailed Godwits that flew west separately down the Dee (below) and the Greenshank that appeared in the east gutter. The Little Egret count today was 5, while Redshanks increased to 90.

No warblers were to be found first thing but later a phylloscopus warbler with an unusual call was heard and briefly seen in between bouts of diving into bracken. It appearance however seemed normal and it was thought to be one of the Chiffchaff races from Northern Europe. Later a Willow Warbler dropped in to keep it company. Two Robins were fresh in today but the only Wheatear was on Middle before the visitors arrived. Twenty six Swallows were counted and a group of 35 House Martins flew south west between Middle and Little Eye.

Ringed:- 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Robins, 1 Linnet.

(DB,CJ) [394] photos CJ

18th August 2010

A male Sparrowhawk arrived on the island today, but not much else of note, just 1 Wheatear and a Willow Warbler. Four Little Terns were seen, these have been very scarce around Hilbre this year despite the good breeding season at Gronant. An Arctic Skua and 3 Gannets were on the sea, and an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the shore with the Black-headed Gulls.
(DB,AMC)

17th August 2010

A Grasshopper warbler was in the paddocks, possibly the same as the one ringed on Sunday, and a Wheatear was identified as the Greenland race on passage south. A thorough count of Sandwich Terns was made and the total is 676 which backs up recent estimates. Fifty Gannets were on the sea despite the wind being a moderate force 3.
(DB)

15th August 2010 continued- Hover flies

Large numbers of hover flies were noted at Hilbre on 15th, and it will be of interest to record the following comments by observatory member and insect specialist Dr. Gavin Broad verbatum :-
The invasion was of Episyrphus balteatus – often called the Marmalade Hoverfly (left). There were also quite a few of two other species, Syrphus ribesii (below) and Scaeva pyrastri. Both Episyrphus balteatus and Scaeva pyrastri are well known migrants as well as residents. On the East coast there are sometimes huge arrivals of E. balteatus and one year when I was working at Monks Wood they filled the countryside for many miles. I guess ours were probably migrants but it’s interesting that there were a lot of individuals of an ichneumonid, Diplazon laetatorius, which is a parasitoid of E. balteatus (and other hoverflies). It can lay eggs in the egg or young larva of the host hoverfly. That there were so many of the ichneumonid suggests that the hoverflies could have been home-grown (or a mix of a large emergence and an immigrant swarm). Or that the ichneumonids also move along with the hoverflies. The latter would be really interesting.
Keep an eye out for hoverflies!
photos BSB

15th August 2010

A big team assembled this morning in anticipation of the fine weather and the migrants that may arrive on the north easterly breeze; they were not disappointed with about 10 Willow Warblers on the ground and a Tree Pipit (left) in the garden mist net first thing. Tree Pipits are heard calling overhead occasionally in spring and autumn but this is the first ringed for 5 years. Even in the hand they are very similar to Meadow Pipits and to check the species measurements are needed such as the wing formula (right) and the length of the hind claw. Later in the morning a Grasshopper Warbler (left) was trapped in the 'SK' heli, a species that is more often ringed in spring than autumn.










Although the date is typical for Greenshank on Hilbre the sight of 7 calling as they flew across the island (right) is certainly however the event of the day in terms of there being a group as large as this of this scarce Hilbre bird.

Other birds moving this morning were 3 Collared Doves (left), 2 Grey Wagtails 34 Swallows, 2 more Tree Pipits and 2 Wheatears.




Two Peregrines flew about, one was an adult in heavy moult (right) which landed on the radar mast for a while, and the other was a juvenile bird.

The sea was remarkably quiet and no Gannets, Shearwaters, Skuas or Scoters to be seen this morning, just 4 Great Crested Grebes and a small number of terns, perhaps observers staying for the afternoon high tide will fare better.



When the warmth of the sun really brought out the visitors to the island, it also encouraged many varied species of butterfly to fly including the Painted Lady (left) which has been very hard to find this year.

Moths from the light trap last night are, left to right, Rosy Minor, Willow Beauty, Lime Brindled Pug












Ringed:- 6 Willow Warblers, 3 Linnets, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Grasshopper Warbler.
(GB +1,JE,CJ,SPL,CJW,NDW,PSW,SRW,TGW) [390] photos CJ , JE (moths)