9th November 2010

The highlight of the day was a winter plumaged Red-necked Grebe found off the Whaleback which then drifted round the North end before disappearing before the high tide. Ninety three Great Crested Grebe were counted during a 5 hour seawatch with force 6 NE winds, most moving towards Hoylake. Eighty three Common Scoter were noted, together with 15 Guillemot, 34 Gannet & 4 Red-throated Diver. Twenty two Pinkfooted Geese flew towards Formby Point. A drake Scaup, a drake Goldeneye, 7 Wigeon and a male Red-breasted Merganser kept the interest up. Brent Geese numbers remained high with 92 counted, including the return of colour ringed bird (white left 4; white right A) which first appeared on the island in October 2009 but had not previously been noted this winter.Thirty two Lapwing flew east in three groups, possibly disturbed from the Welsh side of the Dee by the rising tide as did a number of smaller waders, mostly Dunlin but including one Snipe. Two Purple Sandpiper were noted. The windy conditions were not condusive to passerines but those seen included 4 Blackbirds, 3 Song Thrush and 2 Rock Pipits
(DB,CS+RB+GS)

8th November 2010

In foul weather this morning a Woodcock was on the island and 3 Goldeneye were on the sea.
Four more Goldeneye were seen later, when the weather improved slightly and a single Lapwing was seen and a Lapland Bunting arrived 'in off' over the North End.
(DB,MGT)

7th November 2010

Cold, clear and sunny this morning with light easterly that brought parties of Lapwings, below, (total 51), Starlings (45) and Skylarks (20) across the island but not many finches, just a largish flock of Linnets and 2 Greenfinches. Twenty Blackbirds were already present from dawn with 5 Redwing (left) and 4 Song Thrushes but no other significant passerines apart from 3 Goldcrests.




One hundred and ten Carrion Crows flew north east up the West Kirby shore, also early in the day 3 Wigeon, a Teal and 2 Common Snipe were close to the islands. One of the 4 Little Egrets on the shore shore was seen to be colour ringed.
More Brent must have arrived last night as 97 were between the island and Red Rocks this morning.
Five Purple Sandpipers roosted the tide on the main island at the north end with a few Turnstones, while Middle was host to at least 8,000 Oystercatchers, some Curlew and a few smaller species. The sea was fairly quiet yet 4 Red-throated Divers, 13 Great Crested Grebes , 50 Common Scoter and 3 Guillemots were seen.

A moth found resting on the obs veranda was identified as being a Tawny Pinion, a scarce species, its status at Hilbre being uncertain at this stage but it could be the first of its type recorded here.
Ringed:- 7 Blackbirds, 1 Song Thrush (right), 1 Goldcrest.
(DB +ESCA,JE,CJ,PSW,SRW,TGW) [696] photos CJ

6th November 2010

Winds were light and variable with rain later and therefore no more Leach's petrels but a sea watch produced 7 Red-throated Divers, 9 Guillemots, 22 Grest Crested Grebes and 135 Common Scoter.
Two Mute Swans flew south west, 23 Wigeon were noted and 5 Little Egrets were on the shore.
The Brent increased to a record 87 for so far this winter.
The most notable passerines were 28 Skylarks across the island, and in the evening 27 Redwings heard overhead.
(DB,CJW,NDW,PSW,SRW,RTW,TGW,CJW)+SH

5th November 2010

Despite the light winds sea-watching was the main focus again today. Divers were much in evidence with 6 Red-throateds and single Black-throated and Great Northern, however, perhaps surprisingly these weren't the highlights. A single Leach's Petrel passed west by at 10am much to the surprise of the observer as was a very late Sandwich Tern which passed east towards the North Wirral shore.

Up to 36 Kittiwakes were counted as were 16 Great Crested Grebes. As the tide ebbed more observers arrived from the mainland not really expecting much however two more Leach's Petrels (making it three for the day) were found passing west close inshore on a now almost flat calm sea.

Purple Sandpipers had increased to eight birds and there were five Little Egrets around.

Passerines were again in short supply although Song Thrush, Starling and Skylark were all new, whereas the 2 Rock Pipits were almost certainly resident (at least one bird bearing a ring).

[DB, NDW et al]

3rd November 2010

A more prolonged visit today produced a good list of species typical for November. Sea-watching provided 3 Red-throated Divers, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Gannets, 5 Razorbills and a flock of 10 Eider flew southwest.

Good counts today included 630 Cormorant, 310 Shelduck, 400 Curlew and 208 Turnstone. Other waders included 4 Purple Sandpipers and other wildfowl included a slight increase in Pale-bellied Brents to 59 birds present.

Passerines were expectedly thin on the ground with single Goldcrest, Rock Pipit and Goldfinch present. Other interest was provided by the first 'prolonged' view of the resident Rabbit, but will it give itself up for the Obs photographers?

[DB]

2nd November 2010

A brief visit today produced an increase in Pale-bellied Brent numbers up to 56 birds now present (although none with colour-rings have been seen yet this autumn).

Other birds of note included a good count of 57 Grey Plovers, 2 Rock Pipits and a single Little Egret.

[DB briefly]

1st November 2010

A beautiful morning after early heavy mist found a group of 13 Eiders loafing to the east of the island until they circled around and flew off north (left). A Sparrowhawk was on the island from first light and another later arrived over the sea from the Red Rocks area.
Only 10 Blackbirds and a single Song Thrush today whilst also feeding up were 4 Goldcrests but no sign of yesterdays Firecrest. Again no Redwings apart from a single flyover early in the day but there were a good trickle of finches all morning including 39 Goldfinches, 20 Greenfinches (right), 3 Chaffinches, 41 Linnets, and 6 Siskins. Although there were no large numbers of Meadow Pipits, 46 Skylarks went through mostly in small groups likewise 54 Starlings passed during the morning.
The Brent Geese have reached a new high of 47 and there were no less than 9 Little Egrets present, mainly to the east of the island early in the day.
Ringed:- 3 Blackbirds, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Greenfinch.
(DB,CJ,KMc, et al) [687] photos CJ