27th September 2013

Grey Dagger caterpillar

Weather:- wind SE force 4, high cloud early, sun later
Despite scarce migrants piling in on the east coast of Britain, Hilbre couldn't even muster any of the commoner migrants in the trapping area this morning, and for the second day in succession there were no birds ringed which is quite unusual for these winds in the last part of September. A Merlin was present at first light and 2 Peregrines hunted the waders, while there were several duck sightings including flocks of 9, 5, 20, and 3 Wigeon, 15 and 1 Pintail, 7, 11, and 6 Shelduck and 3 Teal. Meadow Pipits continued to appear in off the sea though in slightly lesser numbers than yesterday, and as yesterday the only Wheatears (2) were on Middle island.The Rock Pipit was refound at the north end, but proved elusive as did 2 Grey Wagtails passing through. A large flock of about 60 Linnets roamed the islands, the only other finches were 2 Goldfinches. Waders seen today before the tide included 180 Redshank, 80 Turnstone, 60 Knot and a Grey Plover. A single Shag was noted along with the 350 or so Cormorants. Other creatures found were a Red Admiral butterfly, a Grey Dagger caterpillar and the resident rabbit.
(DB,JE,CJ,KMc,BT,CJW, et al)

26th September 2013

Weather: wind ESE force 3/4 cloudy, less mist and slightly cooler than of late
A very quiet morning considering the wind direction and time of year, the only real movement was amongst the Meadow Pipits with about 100 arriving in off the sea and passing through in small parties, also single Grey Wagtails moving over on 4 occasions and 5 Pied Wagtails and a Skylark doing the same. A Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were present, but the latter bore a ring from yesterday and the former may also have been here for a day or two. Wigeon were the only duck of the day with groups of 18, 3 and 8.

A Golden Plover flew south west across the island, as did a Common Snipe. Linnets moved about in a flock of 22 and a single Little Egret was in the gutter and todays count of Bar-tailed Godwits numbered 35. Two flocks of 30 and 40 Common Scoter flew distantly over the sea.
(DB,CJ,KMc,CJW, et al)

25th September 2013

Weather: wind WSW force 0/1 rain and drizzle with mist, clearing late morning, wind light and variable.
Variable wind direction made it uncertain what was going to happen this morning, and it was obviously not going to be as productive as yesterday from the start. Three Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest were in the paddocks with a few Robins and a Whitethroat which was probably the bird from 2 days ago. Meadow Pipits still past through in small numbers but there were only 6 Swallows seen. Two Pintail duck (the first of the autumn) flew south down the east side and 11 Teal were also logged, and a Common Snipe flew over towards the south west. Single Pied and Grey Wagtails flew through but declined to stay. At about 10.00hrs after some rain 3 Willow Warblers appeared as if by magic, they were most unexpected and late migrants for this species. A common Toad was an unusual find in the SK trap. We should mention (as we haven't bothered recently) that the rabbit is still being seen early morning on the island.
Ringed:- 3 Robins, 3 Wrens, 2 Dunnocks, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Goldcrest     [ 611-32 ]
(DB,CJ et al)

24th September 2013

Weather: wind SE force 4, mist early, later backing NE

A fine migration day with over 50 species logged by members from early morning to late afternoon. There was no large fall of migrants but a steady number to keep interest going throughout the day. Some of the first to arrive were 2 Blackcaps followed by a Spotted Flycatcher (the first ringed this year), at least 5 Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests. Another Spotted Flycatcher was found later about the gardens and posed well for photos (right) and video, see http://youtu.be/oDkf01plyjw. A Song Thrush on the ground was the first of the autumn, 2 Reed Buntings spent some time near the obs, and 2 Wheatears were on Middle but none on the main island, while the small passage of Robins continued today with 7 being ringed. Also impressive was the number of species merely passing through (or over), including 100+ Meadow Pipits, 57 Swallows, 6 House Martins, 5 Skylarks, 3 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Siskins, 1 Chaffinch,7 Grey Wagtails, 6 Pied Wagtails, 1 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 2 Snipe, 1 Golden Plover. Regular birds were not ignored and also featured on the log for the day:- 332 Curlew were on the east hoyle, 83 Sandwich Terns still remain, there were 7,000 Oystercatchers, 70 Turnstone and 65 Redshank but no sign of the 6 Brent present the other day.
A Kestrel (below right) that has been about the last few days was trapped and proved to be a female ringed previously by the Merseyside ringing group. It is several years since a Kestrel has been ringed at Hilbre.
 The juvenile Great Skua that was mentioned yesterday at Little Eye was still present intermittently in the same place. The pleasant weather brought out some insects on the island including 2 burying beetles, a Migrant hawker and Common Darter dragonfly, a Green Lacewing, (below) 7 Small White and 4 Red Admiral butterflies.
Ringed: 7 Robins, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Wrens, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush.    [ 601-32 ]

Teal

(DB,AEH,CJ,KMc,SRR+1,CJW+PLN, et al)

23rd September 2013

Weather:- wind SSE force 0/1 cloudy and mild

female Goldcrest

The westerlies have ended for the moment giving hope of some migrant passerines, today was just a trickle but a small fall of Robins in double figures was welcome, as was a Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff, also the first Goldcrest to be ringed this autumn (and only the fourth to be seen on the island  this autumn). Other firsts of the autumn were a Rock Pipit at the north end, and a Merlin on the east of side of Middle as the tide flooded which flew off towards Wales. A small passage of Meadow Pipits, a pair of Skylarks that landed briefly on the island and a flyover Reed Bunting completed the morning migration scene. Bird of the day was a Great Skua that was found mid-morning devouring a carcass of a Cormorant on Little Eye, it is probably the bird seen intermittently over the last few days. It seemed reluctant to leave its meal even when approached enabling members cameras to be deployed (see also short video at http://youtu.be/vE93XMIbLO0).  From the main island could be seen 55 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Little Egret in the east gutter. 

Bonxie

Bonxie

Bonxie

 Ringed;- 5 Robins, 2 Wrens, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Meadow Pipit,
[ 578-31 ]
(DB,CJ, et al)              photos CJ

22nd September 2013

Weather:- wind W force 3
Little migration this morning, just a few dozen Meadow Pipits, 8 Robins, 3 Swallows, 3 House Martins and a Skylark down on the island. The big surprise was of a Bonxie passing south down the east side of the island at low water, a species usually associated with sea watching in heavy seas at this time of year.A Little Egret was on the shore and a Chiffchaff remained having been ringed on a previous day.
(DB+ESCA)

21st September 2013

Weather:- wind SSE then WNW force 2
The wind has fallen light so no windblown sea birds were expected nor seen, however 19 Red-throated Divers was a very large count and 400 Common Scoters were also of note. Best birds seen were 2 Golden Plovers flying south west and best of a female Pochard, a scarce bird at Hilbre. About 50 Meadow Pipits and 19 swallows passed through while 40 House Martins were seen over the east hoyle bank. Not many other small migrants present apart from 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Grey Wagtails. For the record some counts from the log were as follows:- 25 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Sanderling, 2 Wigeon, 3 Little Egrets, and 6 Brent Geese.
Ringed:- 3 Robins, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Meadow Pipit.         [ 567-31 ]
(DB,AAB,GB+Jill,JE,SRW)

20th September 2013

Weather;- wind NW force 4 with some drizzle, wind becoming light later
There was still some left over from the gales even today and 8 Leach's Petrels, 5 Skuas including 2 Arctics and a Little Gull were highlights of the sea watch which also included 7 Red-throated Divers, 23 Great Crested Grebes, 77 Common Scoter and 5 Kittiwakes. Winter birds noticed today were 6 Brent Geese and a Purple Sandpiper whilst 2 Wigeon flew west and 27 Shelduck were counted. A single Goldcrest was on the island and 3 Little Egrets on the shore.
Ringed :- 1 Robin       [ 562-31 ]
(CS+Rob Bithell and Dave Sullivan, et al )