A warm morning for a survey of the breeding birds on the island with Swallows noted feeding around the islands, Meadow Pipits, Wrens, Pied Wagtails, Dunnocks, Linnets, Blackbirds, Shelducks and Mallards all in evidence but the Crows were not seen today. A visiting birder (AT) managed to get a mid-summer sighting of Rock Pipit furthering our suspicions that they have bred on the islands this year ...
Two Common Sandpipers were found (June is a good month for this species at Hilbre), although a touch early for the anticipated first autumn migrants (rather than the last of the spring). Two Sandwich Terns were on the west side of the island.
(JE + Andy Thomas)
Monday, 20 June 2011
Saturday, 18 June 2011
18th June 2011
The wind had changed overnight to just north of west although it had dropped it still felt fresh (moderate force 3-4). The only 'write-on' the day-sheet was the Little Egret fishing the flooding gutter - so regular now that it won't be long before it will, perhaps sadly, be relegated from 'write-on' status.
A few terns passed the island as the tide flooded but there were no migrants seen and focus remained on the breeding birds, many of the females of which appear to have gone whilst the males were actively singing again. No doubt some will be having second broods, although the pair of rather late arriving Swallows will only be on their first.
Concerns that it was going to be another 'null day' ringing-wise were allayed when a drake Mallard was caught by hand in the Obs garden (see photos)!
Presumably the same juvenile Kittiwake had changed its preferred roost site to Middle Eye, but sea-watching was also quiet (up until high tide).
[PSW, SRW, TGW] [618-39]
A few terns passed the island as the tide flooded but there were no migrants seen and focus remained on the breeding birds, many of the females of which appear to have gone whilst the males were actively singing again. No doubt some will be having second broods, although the pair of rather late arriving Swallows will only be on their first.
Concerns that it was going to be another 'null day' ringing-wise were allayed when a drake Mallard was caught by hand in the Obs garden (see photos)!
Presumably the same juvenile Kittiwake had changed its preferred roost site to Middle Eye, but sea-watching was also quiet (up until high tide).
[PSW, SRW, TGW] [618-39]
Friday, 17 June 2011
17th June 2011
A blusterly south-easterly and leaden skies did little to raise hopes for an improved day, but as recent events have proved ... you just never know.
A solitary Little Egret fished the gutter on the rising tide, as did two Black-headed Gulls - something of a scarcity at this time of year, and these were joined by a single Redshank. Later a Whimbrel was heard calling - arriving or returning - that is the question now for these mid-summer waders?
Desperate to cling on to the last bit of "spring" observers had a single House Martin low over the South End and although the threatened rain did not develop beyond a few drops the fronts passing down the estuary brought 8 Swifts 'batting' across the islands.
The sea produced a few Gannets, Common Terns, single Sandwich Tern and a juvenile Kittiwake spent some time roosting on Lion Rock in Niffy Bay.
Friday is clearly the day for photographing rare mammals at Hilbre (see Friday 10th June 2011). Today produced something of a surprise to observers scoping the gulls on the edge of the tide on the East Hoyle sandbank when one observer stated "This looks like a squirrel amongst the gulls!" It was indeed a Grey Squirrel amongst the gulls, who only seemed to take any interest in
the little blighter when it dashed about the sand as the tide flooded. It then became disorientated and trapped as the tide flooded behind it (and the gulls) and it made a swim for it 
(not sure what it would have been identified as had it been seen swimming past the North End!?!). Unfortunately for the squirrel it headed south rather than east back to dry land. After a few attempts he was lost to sight and presumed lost to Davey Jones' Locker... apologies for the very poor (distant) record shots of this rare sighting.
Coverage remains high this June (as with the last few Junes) and this has already brought its rewards with the Blyth's Reed Warbler, Hobby as well as Hummingbird Hawk Moth to name just a few of the diverse highlights from the islands this month.... is it too much to ask for one more goodie before the days start getting shorter...
A Sedge Warbler seen earlier this week (Wednesday 15th June) was another sign that odd birds are still turning up.
(DB et al)
A solitary Little Egret fished the gutter on the rising tide, as did two Black-headed Gulls - something of a scarcity at this time of year, and these were joined by a single Redshank. Later a Whimbrel was heard calling - arriving or returning - that is the question now for these mid-summer waders?
Desperate to cling on to the last bit of "spring" observers had a single House Martin low over the South End and although the threatened rain did not develop beyond a few drops the fronts passing down the estuary brought 8 Swifts 'batting' across the islands.
The sea produced a few Gannets, Common Terns, single Sandwich Tern and a juvenile Kittiwake spent some time roosting on Lion Rock in Niffy Bay.
Friday is clearly the day for photographing rare mammals at Hilbre (see Friday 10th June 2011). Today produced something of a surprise to observers scoping the gulls on the edge of the tide on the East Hoyle sandbank when one observer stated "This looks like a squirrel amongst the gulls!" It was indeed a Grey Squirrel amongst the gulls, who only seemed to take any interest in
the little blighter when it dashed about the sand as the tide flooded. It then became disorientated and trapped as the tide flooded behind it (and the gulls) and it made a swim for it 
(not sure what it would have been identified as had it been seen swimming past the North End!?!). Unfortunately for the squirrel it headed south rather than east back to dry land. After a few attempts he was lost to sight and presumed lost to Davey Jones' Locker... apologies for the very poor (distant) record shots of this rare sighting.Coverage remains high this June (as with the last few Junes) and this has already brought its rewards with the Blyth's Reed Warbler, Hobby as well as Hummingbird Hawk Moth to name just a few of the diverse highlights from the islands this month.... is it too much to ask for one more goodie before the days start getting shorter...
A Sedge Warbler seen earlier this week (Wednesday 15th June) was another sign that odd birds are still turning up.
(DB et al)
Sunday, 12 June 2011
12th June 2011
The day started nicely enough with a light south-easterly promising more than it delivered. An 
early morning sea-watch produced a dark phase Arctic Skua (after three were seen on last night's tide along with lots of Gannets). A few passage waders were still in evidence to observers following the tide back with a few Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Curlew seen. The last few days have seen more jellyfish washed up including many Lion's Manes (see right).
Breeding birds were again in evidence with the female Mallard making a rare appearance and a rather advanced juvenile Shelduck with adults in the gutter. Four Grey Herons and three Little Egrets were feeding on the edge of the ebbing tide.
A single Swift provided evidence of some migration but this was soon quashed when the forecast rain arrived on queue at 10am and was clearly 'set in' for the day. However, the highlights of the day, other than the earlier skua, were a female Goosander in the east gutter and the immature drake Eider was off the North End over the tide (see left).
(ESCA, DB (from over), JE, CJ, SRW) Photos to follow Lion's Mane jellyfish by JE, Eider by SRW
early morning sea-watch produced a dark phase Arctic Skua (after three were seen on last night's tide along with lots of Gannets). A few passage waders were still in evidence to observers following the tide back with a few Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Curlew seen. The last few days have seen more jellyfish washed up including many Lion's Manes (see right).Breeding birds were again in evidence with the female Mallard making a rare appearance and a rather advanced juvenile Shelduck with adults in the gutter. Four Grey Herons and three Little Egrets were feeding on the edge of the ebbing tide.
A single Swift provided evidence of some migration but this was soon quashed when the forecast rain arrived on queue at 10am and was clearly 'set in' for the day. However, the highlights of the day, other than the earlier skua, were a female Goosander in the east gutter and the immature drake Eider was off the North End over the tide (see left).(ESCA, DB (from over), JE, CJ, SRW) Photos to follow Lion's Mane jellyfish by JE, Eider by SRW
Saturday, 11 June 2011
11th June 2011
Best bird of the day was an immature male Eider that was found as the tide receded to the east of the island and stayed in the area for most of the morning. Thirty five Kittiwakes were an unusual site at this time of year as they fed fairly closely off the north end on the ebb, more distant were 3 Gannets and 25 Common Terns, while the only 2 Sandwich Terns seen were passing west in front of the island. Heavy rain showers failed to produce any influx of birds and most of the activity took place amongst the breeding species. Wading birds are now as expected at their lowest numbers present during the year, 75 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers and 90 Oystercatchers are all that could be found. Two Little Egrets fed with the 3 Grey Herons in the east gutter. No sign of any rabbits today, although even the most sceptical members who had still not seen the mythical beast on the island will now have to believe after yesterdays photos ! (CJ,NDW,TGW,SRW,PSW+4) photo CJ
Friday, 10 June 2011
10th June 2011
A very light south-westerly breeze and sunshine greeted 
observers making their way out as the tide ebbed first thing this morning. A few nice waders were present on the tide edge including 3 summer plumaged 
Sanderling, 2 Grey Plover and at least 17 Ringed Plover plus 28 Dunlin (see right).
Two Little Egrets (left) were present on the reef and up to 3 Grey Herons hunted the shallows including a colour-ringed bird (presumably the one that has been seen around the islands for the last three years - its ring now faded - was ringed in Cheshire as a nestling several years ago).
Attention was 
drawn away from ornithology with a couple of sightings of Rabbit - even providing rare photographic opportunities (top 'in flight' and left nibbling on the Hilbre grass ... it seems that there may now be two of these rare Hilbre mammals. A Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly (below )was present in the paddocks where two juvenile Meadow Pipits were trapped and ringed.
A visit by West Kirby Primary School was lead by the Ranger Service (including a history tour of the island by Matt the Ranger and rock pooling) and the Bird Observatory was able to show them one of the juvenile Meadow Pipits trapped and ringed today.
(DB, SRW et al) [617-39] Photos by SRW
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
7th June 2011
A brisk south-easterly and cloud cover raised hopes again and observers arriving on the island at 7am were not disappointed with stunning views of a Hobby which flew down the east side between the islands and off south over Middle. Unfortunately the photographer couldn't keep up and only a 'record shot' (apologies!) was obtained as it promptly disappeared over the top of Middle.
Groups of Canada Geese and Greylags (8) were seen and a Swift flew over in front of approaching rain.
Another juvenile Meadow Pipit was ringed.
(DB, CJW et al) [615-39]
Monday, 6 June 2011
6th June 2011
Everything was back down to earth today as there was no sign of yesterday's Blyth's Reed Warbler. In fact, despite the hopeful light south-easterly breeze the previous evening, the wind had turned back to the west overnight and the island was decidedly cold and there was not a single grounded migrant.
Once again focus turned to the breeding birds and a single juvenile Meadow Pipit was caught and ringed. The Swallows were present around the North End and the male Pied Wagtail continued to feed the solitary fledged juvenile in Niffy Bay.
A single Little Egret landed in 'Egret Flash' to feed before the tide but other than that it was very quiet - as one normally expects at this time of year...!
[MGT et al] [614-39]
Once again focus turned to the breeding birds and a single juvenile Meadow Pipit was caught and ringed. The Swallows were present around the North End and the male Pied Wagtail continued to feed the solitary fledged juvenile in Niffy Bay.
A single Little Egret landed in 'Egret Flash' to feed before the tide but other than that it was very quiet - as one normally expects at this time of year...!
[MGT et al] [614-39]
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