17th November 2010

A new high count of Brent today when 131 were seen around the islands.
(DB)

16th November 2010

A different colour ringed Brent was present today (left), however it was the red and blue ringed individual that has now appeared for its third winter at Hilbre after previously been seen many times in the Dublin Bay area. He was orginally ringed (as an adult male) on Axel Heiberg Island in Canada on 2nd August 2007.

Other wildfowl were 4 Wigeon that spent some time with the Brents at the north end before taking to the tide (below).
A Merlin stayed around for about an hour, during which time it was seen to be carrying a kill on one occasion. A Kestrel and a Peregrine completed the trio of raptors for the day.
Four Rock Pipits was a good total, one was re-trapped that had been ringed here on 7th October this year.

Passerines were few, a flock of 40 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches, 2 Blackbirds and a Song Thrush were the pick apart from a Redwing that dropped into the paddocks but unfortunately did not stay. Starlings again passed in numbers early in the day including as group of 500, but only a single Skylark went over during the morning although later one was on the ground on Middle (left).
Great Crested Grebes were by far the most numerous of sea birds (25) with very little else to attract attention on the sea.
Ringed:- 1 Blackbird
(DB,CJ,KMc) [700] photos CJ

15th November 2010

Overnight rain did little to disuade observers this morning. The moderate south-easterly breeze and beautiful blue skies prompted morning visits by a couple of members supplemented later by a couple of visiting birders.

A Snow Bunting was heard several times as it passed over the main island mid morning and was the highlight of the morning's observations.

The colour-ringed Little Egret (left and below) was one of four birds around the tidal pools between the islands during the afternoon. 120 Pale-bellied Brents were counted and Purple Sandpipers were spread out and less easy to count with at least 15 noted, however, some were very photographable (see above).

On the sea single Red-throated Diver was close in off the West Side and up to 45 Great Crested Grebes floated about in loose groups off the North End and four Goldeneye were seen including a couple of stunning males.

A single Grey Seal was hauled out at the North End (see right), where two or three Rock Pipits spent the day.

A single Redpoll appeared in the gardens at lunchtime (see left). Later a couple of Obs members decided an afternoon return visit might be productive ... but it was a visiting birder (SR) who had the surprise of the day as he left the islands, he heard and then watched four Waxwings flying over the estuary between Little Eye and West Kirby.

A phonecall alerted the Obs - "the Hilbre book" came out, these were the first Waxwings for Hilbre since 19th November 1961 (note the coincident date)! Much discussion was had on the Obs balcony, including some consolating words, and someone even said "don't worry with the current influx it may not be that long before we get another one"... little did we know it would be so soon!

Incredibly, fifteen minutes or so later stunned observers watched from the Obs balcony as a single Waxwing flew down the east side of the island (just over the BBQ) and off south heading over to Middle and away to the south. Speechless looks were exchanged before the usual celebratory handshakes began. Another great day on the island.

[DB et al, + visitor S Reid] Photos by visiting birder Scott Reid (many thanks)

14th November 2010

A quiet morning with no significant movements of birds apart from several flocks of Starlings going south including a party of 800 early in the day. Two Song Thrushes were trapped (right) but no Blackbirds were seen and the only other birds on the ground were the regular Robins, Dunnocks and Wrens, and a House Sparrow that landed in the obs garden and was around for a short while. A single Goldfinch overhead was the sole finch apart from the flock of 45 Linnets which spent a lot of time on Middle.
No divers on the sea, just 20 Great Crested Grebes and 150 Common Scoter, although the sea watch also produced 3 Wigeon and 2 Whooper Swans flying towards Hoylake.






A Dark-bellied Brent was among the 118 birds seen today and 4 Little Egrets (above) were on the shore.
Ringed :- 2 Song Thrushes (right, showing clear moult limit in the greater coverts of a bird of the year)
(DB +ESCA,JE,CJ,PSW,SRW,TGW, +SH) [699] photos CJ

13th November 2010

Saturday morning and no observers ... however a lunchtime visit saw the tide on the flood and the Pale-bellied Brent Goose flock drifting up the flooding gutter. Over 120 birds now present they made for a beautiful sight and sound as they called to each other in the afternoon sunshine (see below and right).

Waders were much in evidence with over 50 Bar-tailed Godwits on the tide edge. The Purple Sandpiper flock had increased significantly with 21 birds present mid afternoon and as the tide flooded large flocks of Knot were arriving from further up the estuary and joined the already roosting Oystercatchers on 'the ridge' (between Middle and Little Eye).


Up to four Little Egrets were fishing the flooding gutter and adjacent tidal pools (see below), but no colour-rings could be seen.


[ESCA, DB and SRW] Photos to follow

12th November 2010

After a howling gale overnight a couple of intrepid members and a visitor headed out to see if anything had been blown in.

The first nice bird of the day was a very tame Purple Sandpiper, which had perhaps just arrived, which fed around the saltwater pool on top of the North End before the tide (see right). This later joined the others that have now built up to eleven birds.

Other wader counts today included 200 Turnstone, 28 Grey Plover, 75 Bar-tailed Godwit and 278 Curlew.

The Pale-bellied Brent Goose flock had obviously been supplemented since yesterday with groups of greese sheltering with heads tucked in on the sand on the east side. Later a count of 110 birds (the highest of the autumn so far) was made as the gutter flooded. The colour-ringed bird from earlier in the week (and last winter) was still present and a new adult colour ringed bird was found (see left) on the whaleback (information to follow on where and when this bird was ringed).

The sea-watching was good with 18 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Red-throated Divers, 2 Gannet, 4 Teal, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and single Kittiwake, Razorbill and Arctic Skua seen.

However, the highlight of the day was a Grey Phalarope which was spotted flying in from the North, it momentarily landed on the sea, before continuing to head towards the North End - all observers hoping it would 'ditch in' in front of the hide. Unfortunately, it got to opposite the North End then unexpectedly turned round (see left and below), probably in the face of the stiff westerly wind and it headed up the East Side towards West Kirby and was lost to view.

Passerines were thin on the ground although at least two Rock Pipits were present and a Redpoll dropped in to the Obs garden mid afternoon. A single female Blackbird was caught and ringed.

[DB +SH, et al] [697]

Moth update - New species for Hilbre

Update on the moth found on 7th November 2010 - it has now been confirmed as a Tawny Pinion and is in fact a first record for Hilbre. Well done to TGW (aged 7) who found it! Photo below by PSW.

10th November 2010

A moderate north-easterly today brought a couple of observers to the island, but sadly no sign of yesterday's Red-necked Grebe but 43 Great Cresteds were counted.

Wildfowl was the main focus today with 97 Pale-bellied Brents still present (including the returning colour-ringed bird from yesterday), 4 Wigeon, 11 Pintail, 4 Eider, 3 Scaup, single Teal and 2 Goldeneye.

There were very few passerines although a couple of Rock Pipits remain but 15 Skylark and an excellent movement of 667 Starlings (including one flock of 550) passed over.

An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen from the North End over the tide and the Rabbit made another brief appearance!

[DB + SH]