10th October 2012

Chiffchaff

A completely different day to yesterday with practically no visible migration, and although the wind was still in the south east the morning felt cold under the overcast sky. A Chiffchaff appeared in the old obs garden and 2 Goldcrests also turned up to be ringed despite neither being previously seen or heard. A single Chaffinch was the only other grounded migrant. Birds of the day were 5 Golden Plover that flew south west initially accompanied by 2 Wigeon. Six Skylarks were heard over the shore, a late Whimbrel was seen and 2 Rock Pipits were on Middle. For the third day running a Merlin flew down the west side ( the same bird ?). One of the 2 Little Egrets seen today was colour ringed, it was also present yesterday afternoon and attempts will be made to find out the ringing details, it may be from a welsh colony some of which are known to have been ringed.

Ringed :- 2 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Meadow Pipit.          [ 1010 - 31 ]

(JE,AEH,CJ,KMc,NDW,et al)     photo  JE

9th October 2012

male Lesser Redpoll

 The sky was clear last night but there was quite a lot of mist around the coasts and despite only 7 birds being ringed today visible migration in the south-east breeze was happening most of the morning.

House Sparrow

 Passerines over included 120 Meadow Pipits, 4 Skylarks, 6 Lesser Redpolls, 9 House Sparrows 2 Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, 8 Pied and a Grey Wagtail, while 2 Collared Doves flew around for a few minutes. Two of the House Sparrows and a male Redpoll dropped in to the obs garden, the Redpoll staying to be ringed. On the ground about 5 Goldcrests, 2 Chaffinches, a Reed Bunting and later a single Chiffchaff stayed to feed in the paddocks, but there were only 3 Blackbirds present and also fewer Robins than yesterday. 

Pink-footed geese



 A feature of the morning was the appearance of a number of corvids floating over the island, firstly a group of 7 Crows, then another group of 9 Crows, and then a large party of 50 Jackdaws (scarce at Hilbre) accompanied by a few more crows, all joined together and drifted south east towards the mainland. Two Jackdaws later landed briefly on the mast.

Wigeon

Not to be outdone wildfowl was also well represented by 6 Wigeon on the sea and a flock of 12 others flying north, while 3 Teal stayed some time on the tide edge on the east side. A skein of 49 Pink-footed geese flew north-east over the island towards the Lancashire mosslands, while the Hilbre Brent are still at a high level, 145 were counted today.

Pale-bellied Brent, including a colour ringed bird

Goldcrest

As yesterday a Merlin flew across the north end and down the west side. Two Rock Pipits were seen on the main island, 4 Little Egrets were on the shore and 6 Great-crested Grebes on the sea.

Ringed:- 3 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Robin, 1 Wren      [ 1006-31 ]

 (CJ et al)           photos CJ etc.



    



 

8th October 2012

Reed Bunting

Reed Bunting

Things looked more hopeful with the wind back in the east and a period of drizzle soon after dawn, and so it proved with about 10 Blackbirds, 5 Goldcrests, a Chaffinch and a Reed Bunting on the ground. The Reed Bunting hung around all morning before being trapped and ringed. Overhead 2 Siskins were heard and small parties of Starlings inspected the island, a single Skylark came in low and another 5 flew over in a group. Robins seemed everywhere but there were probably only 8 or so showing conspicuously as Robins do. 

Merlin

A Merlin flew low over the sea on the west side, a regular autumn/winter visitor, a Common Snipe was noted briefly to the east of the island and a Rock Pipit at the north end.

Starlings

The Brent are so many now that they are becoming difficult to count especially when scattered in many places but the flock of Knot was down to a few dozen today. Three Little Egrets were again off the east side.

Ringed:- 3 Goldcrests, 2 Blackbirds, 2 Wrens, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Robin, 1 Meadow Pipit.   [ 999-31 ]

 (CJ et al)       photos  CJ

7th October 2012

Goldcrest

With the wind going around to the north east and falling light, there was a small amount of movement today in the very pleasant continuous sunshine. The Brents (above) were counted at 148, an amazing total so early in the autumn as the peak in usually in January, surely a record will be reached this winter. A Sparrowhawk flew about the island after dawn, possibly the same individual that did the same thing on Thursday, then 3 House Sparrows were found in the bushes in the obs garden and later 3 Greenfinches were attracted to the garden feeders. Four Goldfinches were also logged and a flock of 60 Linnets which were certainly not all island breeding birds. Other late autumn species included a Grey Wagtail down on the ground, 15 Starlings and 6 Skylark fly-overs. Several Goldcrests called in the bushes and there were more than usual Robins and Wrens indicating a small passage through the island. Three Little Egrets were feeding in the east gutter with a good number of 110 Redshanks and 11 Bar-tailed Godwits. 'Thumper' the Rabbit again broke cover briefly early in the day. 

 Ringed:- 3 Goldcrests, 2 Wrens, 1 Robin         [ 989-30 ]

 (DB+ESCA,JE,CJ)      photos  CJ

5th October 2012

A very brief visit in a strong westerly with little expectation found a single Goldcrest still on the island, also seen were a Rock Pipit, 250 Knot, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Little Egret. At 11.00hrs a Raven flew up the ridge south of Middle mobbed by Crows followed a few seconds later by another Raven (right).

(JE,CJ, et al)        photo   CJ

4th October 2012

Although the wind was still in the west there were 8 Goldcrests on the ground today, and  movements of  40, 15 and 10 Meadow Pipits through on passage, also 11 Goldfinches. On the shore were 20 Sanderling and a flock of 130 Bar-tailed Godwits flying north east. A Sparrowhawk flew between Red Rocks and hilbre and continued west of the islands.
(DB)

2nd October 2012

One of the largest ever flocks of Goldfinches at Hilbre was between Middle and Little Eye today when 68 were counted flying by. The regular movement of Cormorants at dawn produced 573 birds going out to sea to feed this morning. A single Goldcrest was on the island but there were 2 Rock Pipits and a Whimbrel.
(DB)

1st October 2012

With the wind dropping overnight observers were slightly more optimistic than recently, but rain during the night and the wind still just west of south meant that migrants were hard to find.

However, a Chiffchaff was new in and a late Yellow Wagtail was seen along with a small passage of Meadow Pipits, a couple of Alba Wagtails and a few Goldfinches one of which was trapped and ringed (left).

As the tide flooded 52 Pale-bellied Brents were counted between the islands (all adults and none with colour-rings - presumably there were more elsewhere?) A call from the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens at West Kirby beach at high tide resolved the issue as at least 92 Brents appeared just off Little Eye (counted from the Obs).

A Sandwich Tern called and flew past the Obs just before high tide and a Whimbrel was heard amongst numerous other waders mainly roosting on the undisturbed Middle Eye.

A Rock Pipit remained elusive around the main island. Hirundines moved through as the tide reached its peak with 12 Swallows and 3 House Martins seen.

Ringed:- 1 Goldfinch [ 983-30 ]
(DB et al)