11th July 2015

Weather: NW force 4
There was little time for birding today as the obs AGM took place on the island, however some Swifts went through, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Little Egrets and 4 Grey Herons were noted. Overnight a fine moth catch took place with 44 species identified by our moth and insect specialist. The most numerous moth was the Garden Tiger with 85 examples, not surprising considering the massive number of these caterpillers on the islands in the last few months.
(BSB,DB+ESCA,AAB,GB,AMC,FD,RAE,ME,JE,MJG,AEH,CJ,PGR,AS,CS,MT,NDW,CJW,SRW,PSW,AW)

Garden Tigers (CJ)

The moth list this morning (CJ)

10th July 2015

Weather: SE force 2/3

Mediterranean Gull  (AMC)

There were still 2 Mediterranean Gulls around the islands today. Sea birds noted were 2 Gannets, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Guillemot and 120 Sandwich Terns with 25 Common Terns. Three Whimbrel were present amongst the other waders including 10 Bar-tailed Godwits, 60 Dunlin, 10 Redshank, 1 Knot and 1 Grey Plover. Swifts again feature with 19 birds passing through today.
(DB,AMC,KMc+SD,later GB) 

8th July 2015

An interesting observation from the east hoyle today was of a male Peregrine on a Black-tailed Godwit kill, 35 other Black-tailed Godwits were also seen.
(DB)

6th July 2015

Weather: SSE force 1/2
A brief visit noted butterflies including a Small White, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Red Admiral.
(DB)

4th July 2015

Weather: WSW force 2
Twelve Swifts and a Sand Martin passed through, a Little Tern and a Kittiwake were noted on the sea. Buff-tip moths and a Hummingbird Hawk Moth were present, also Garden Tiger and Silver Y. The juvenile Robin showed itself.
(PSW)

3rd July 2015

Weather: SSE force 2/3
A Red Fox was out on the rocks to the eastern side of the island early this morning, it has been known for some time that a Fox has been present. A Southern Hawker dragonfly flew around the obs garden for a time. Over 40 Swifts went through today continuing the good counts of these birds lately. The west hoyle bank held an estimated 4,000 Herring Gulls, 180 Sandwich Terns, while Black-headed Gulls numbered about 350 with many juveniles, and 6 Redshanks were about the island. A Mediterranean Gull was again seen on the flood tide.
(DB,CJW)

2nd July 2015

Weather: SE force 2
A Jack Snipe flew in from the Middle Eye direction and then went east over towards the RL golf course, this is a rare bird for Hilbre. The first Grey Wagtail of the autumn also arrived on the flood tide and flew off to the south east. No less than 3 Mediterranean Gulls were between Little Eye and the marine lake as the tide approached. A single Swift and 8 Swallows were noted. Amongst the insects today were 2 Hummingbird Hawk Moths, and a painted Lady. The first Centuary of the year was flowering today. Forty Sandwich Terns rested on the esat hoyle as the tide flooded.
(DB), plus Richard Smith at Marine lake

1st July 2015

Weather: SE force 5, dropping to 2/3
A large passage of about 300 Swifts went through this morning, quite unusual for Hilbre, also a House Martin, 6 Swallows and a Skylark. Insects also arrived in numbers with 80 Red Admirals, 25 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Painted Ladies, 1 Common Blue, a Meadow Brown, a Gatekeeper and a Hummingbird Hawk Moth. An adult Mediterranean Gull was just east of Middle Eye. Eight Gannets were on the sea, and 35 Sandwich and 120 Common Terns were present. Following the first Hilbre orchid for many years last summer, 2 spikes of Common Spotted Orchid was found today in one of the paddocks. Juvenile birds of Blackbird, Dunnock and Robin were in evidence.
(DB,AEH,CJW)