Best birds 16th to 26th September

16th Sept. 5 Goosander, 2 Teal and a Golden Plover. (DB,KMc, et al) 17th Sept. 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Greenshank (right, CJ), 4 Pintail. (DB+esca,ME,BT,FD,AEH,CJ,KMc,AO+PS,PSW,SRW) 18th Sept. An Osprey from the north east, over the obs veranda and off to the south west. 17 Barnacle Geese ! circled to the west of the island, over the island and off to Wales. (DB+ESCA,AEH,AO) 20th Sept. 3 Common Buzzards. (DB, et al) 24th Sept. 1 Garden warbler, 1 Blackcap (DB+ESCA,PSW,TGW,SRW)25th Sept. 6 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaffs,2 Greylag Geese, 3 Pintail (DB+ESCA,JE,PSW,CJW,RTW,EKW,NLW.RJW,SRW,

15th September 2011

After the winds this week an Indian summer arrived, just for the day! light breezes and warm sunshine encouraged movements of Meadow Pipits (about 400) and a small passage of Robins, with other typical autumn migrants including 3 Grey Wagtails, 9 Skylarks, 2 White Wagtails and the more usual fare of 10 Swallows, 3 Wheatears, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Whitethroat (above left), 1 Willow Warbler and 3 Goldcrests. Star passerine of the day was a Lapland Bunting flying south between the islands at 09.45hrs. and calling, another large influx this year of these birds would be most welcome. Another Golden Plover (or the same as yesterday) was seen and a brief visit by a Purple Sandpiper to the north end was most fortunate to be noticed as it immediately flew off towards Wales. The Rock Pipit trapped yesterday was caught again (above right), this time at the opposite end of the island, both places seen to be suitable feeding territory for these birds. A Sparrowhawk flew west and never returned to the island (right). The sight of the 'Queen Mary' passing the island came as a diversion for the observers today (left). The most outstanding sight among the waders was the flock of 2,000 or so Knot that wheeled about the islands especially when a Peregrine took some interest, the other waders were in numbers similar to earlier in the week but 7 Whimbrel was a definite increase, and the 2 Greenshank seen separately on the shore before the tide was noteworthy. The sea was very calm but as expected there were leftovers from the gales to be seen if searched for, 2 Bonxies ( right, both came close to the island), 2 Arctic Skuas, 12 Gannets and 12 Guillemots, together with the less wind blown Great Crested Grebes (80) and 8 Red-throated Divers. Ringed:- 6 Robins, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff. (DB,AEH,CJ,KMc, et al) [794-43] photos CJ

14th September 2011

With the wind continuing strong from the west but easing later, sea watching was still to the fore, resulting in similar sea birds but in lower numbers than yesterday. Two Great Skuas and 6 Arctic Skuas were logged with 10 Leach's Petrels and 3 Manx Shearwaters. Gannets were down to 40, Great Crested Grebes 10, Kittiwakes 2, and a single Red-throated Diver, but new on the sea today were 2 Fulmars, a species not seen this week, and indeed seems almost rare at Hilbre this last few years. A couple of late Willow Warblers were on the island, a Goldcrest, a Wheatear and a Rock Pipit that was trapped at the south end and ringed. The sole Whimbrel is still on the shore, while Dunlin made a comeback to 150 from zero yesterday, and 2,500 Knot were seen, also 25 Bar-tailed Godwits. Two juvenile Shags still showed on the water close to the island. Ringed:- 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Rock Pipit.
(DB,KMc) [785-43]

Death of a Dunlin

This stunning photograph of a Peregrine having just 'hit' a Dunlin was taken by Obs member Brian Tollitt off the North End of Hilbre on 4th September 2011 - it is one of a sequence which has now been added to the blog for that date. Click on the photograph above to enlarge this superb image (warning - not for the squeamish!)

13th September 2011

Evening Update:

By the end of the day in addition to the Pomarine seen earlier, Arctic Skuas were totalled at 26 including 5 dark phase, with 4 Great Skuas, 35 Manx Shearwaters, 15 Leach's petrels and a Storm Petrel. Other sea sightings today were 120 Gannets, 20 Kittiwakes, 15 Common Scoter, 20 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Red-throated Divers, also 3 Razorbills and a Little Tern. It is hard to understand how the sea could be so much more prolific than yesterday with the wind being somewhat less strong and almost exactly from the same direction. Such is the unpredictability of birding at Hilbre. On the shore were 42 Bar-tailed Godwits, a good count of 20 Redshank, 13 Sanderling and 550 Knot, and intriguingly amongst the 5,000 or so Oystercatchers was one sporting a new looking ring on the left leg, surely the bird rescued and released on 18th August (see blog for that date). A Golden Plover flew from the direction of Niffy bay across the top of the island and off to the south west, a nice record of this scarce Hilbre bird. Three juvenile Shags were present and a Peregrine stood on the east hoyle as they often do. Terns were counted at about 150 Sandwich and 25 Common, not forgetting the Little Tern mentioned earlier. Considering the westerly airstream 5 birds ringed was a fine total;- a Blackcap in the morning followed by a Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff at noon, and then 2 Robins later. Linnets were in good numbers, with a count of 64 birds while a single Wheatear and 11 Swallows battled the gale to reach Hilbre. All in all, a memorable September day.

Mid morning update:

A Pomarine Skua was reported to the Obs early morning and by 1030am three Leach's Petrels were seen passing the North End (from the Obs garden) along with 10 Manx Shearwaters.

More news to follow....

(DB,KMc) + Mark Feltham, Matt Thomas [783-42]

12th September 2011

A strong south westerly strengthened as the day went on reaching force 9 in the afternoon, despite which the west hoyle wind farm seemed to be not operating to take advantage. Observers however took advantage of the sea watching opportunities and although being stranded in the sea watching hide for 3 hours because of the wind and spray, managed to record 20 Gannets, 2 Bonxies, 4 Arctic Skuas (including 2 pale phase), a single Common Scoter, 250 Sandwich terns and 40 Common Terns ( an increase in numbers compared to yesterday). Manx Shearwaters were again much scarcer than expected with just 2 seen. Passerines kept their head down in the conditions and only a few Meadow Pipits were up and about, but later a Willow Warbler was found in the paddocks and a Robin was ringed. (KMc +1) [778-42]

11th September 2011

The wind increased considerably from the south west during the morning until it was strong enough to encourage observers to spend some time watching the sea. A Bonxie spent a good part of the high tide foraging the area viewed from the north end (above), even trying to steal food from birds as large as Gannets and Cormorants. Arctic Skuas were plentiful, at least 15 seen, but none of the rarer skuas could be identified, nor were there any sightings of petrels etc. Other seabirds logged included 40 Gannets, 25 Common Scoter, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 15 Guillemots, 6 Razorbills, 200 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns and just a single Manx Shearwater. Earlier in the day before attention turned to the sea, a few migrants were found, namely 6 House Martins, 8 Swallows, 4 Chiffchaffs, and a female Blackcap (right), with a Wheatear arriving in the afternoon. A single Whimbrel seems to be the lone individual still around the shore, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits (above) fed on the east side but small waders were extremely scarce around the islands today. Ringed:- 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Meadow Pipit. (CJ,KMc,DCT,PT,NDW,PSW,SRW) + plus cawos members [777-42] photos PSW,& CJ(Blackcap)

9th September 2011

A mild southerly airstream dropped in 5 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler this morning but no larger warblers and just a single Wheatear. A Mute Swan flew across Little Eye on its way to Wales at 07.30 (above left), other notable sightings were scarce until 2 Curlew Sandpipers saw out the tide with the Turnstones on the sandstone blocks east of the slipway (left and above). Increased numbers amongst some species were counted today as we head towards late autumn and winter, including over 400 Cormorants, 340 Curlews, 22 Bar-tailed Godwits, also 68 Shelduck, the most yet this autumn plus another 9 flying north. Notable singles on the log were a Grey Wagtail, a Razorbill, a Rock Pipit at the north end, and an adult and juvenile Shag (right) which have been scarce this year.Ringed:- 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Greenland Wheatear. (DB,AAB,CJ,KMc,DCT,PT,NDW) [770-42] photos CJ
Further brief details from earlier this week appear below