15th February 2017

SE 4/5 vis 1 ml mist, high wind chill

Today the Brent Geese were counted at 237 and included the Canadian ringed bird clearly visible on the whaleback. Waders on the east hoyle were 138 Redshank, 186 Grey Plover, 31 Curlew, 84 Bar tailed Godwits, 60 Knot and 100+ Turnstone were about the island.

A pair of Red-breasted Merganser flew west past the north end, 4 Great Creasted Grebe and 400 Common Scoter were on the sea with 2 male Scaup and a male Teal close in at the north end.

Three swans were seen flying west between little eye and middle but visibility was too poor to identify them. 

When all the birds at the north end went up, no bird of prey could be seen, but when an observer sheltering from the wind behind the old obs fence decided to leave.... a Short-eared Owl flew up from the bracken, flying high out to sea.

13th February 2017

Weather: SE 3 vis 3 mls with fog

During a short pre tide visit a Sparrowhawk flew from the direction of West Kirby straight towards the obs, then down the west side of the island. It then came back the same way and landed in shrubbery in the mist net lane of the garden and was seen to be a juv. After this, a walk down to the north end produced a Peregrine on the west side. This bird circled the north end a couple of times then landed on the east hoyle. During the walk off a flock of c 2000 Knot were over the east hoyle tide edge and c 7500 Dunlin came north up the estuary towards Red Rocks marsh.

10th February 2017

Weather: NE force 2/3
A prolonged look at the sea found 3 Red-throated Divers, 550 Common Scoters and no less than 50 Great Crested Grebes in addition to the 3 Scaup. Oystercatchers were estimated at 8,200, Curlew numbered 240 with 68 Turnstones and 5 Purple Sandpipers amongst the smaller waders. On the island local birds included 5 Wrens, 4 Robins, a male Blackbird, a Dunnock and a Rock Pipit.

8th February 2017

Weather: N force 1/2, later SW 1      some mist
A calm day enabled sightings of 12 Great Crested Grebes, 72 Common Scoter and 4 Goldeneyes on the sea, along with the now regular 5 Scaup (3 males and 2 females). Six Skylarks were the only small bird movements over the islands, although 6 Wrens, 3 Robins, a Rock Pipit and a Meadow Pipit were visible residents. Waders counted included 4,000 Oystercatchers, 1,000 Dunlin, 400 Curlew, 200 Bar-tailed Godwits, 200 Redshank, 40 Grey Plover, 15 Sanderling and just a single Purple Sandpiper. A female Peregrine showed and 4 Little Egrets and 30 Shelduck were on the shore. At Red Rocks and just in the Hilbre recording area, 4 Common Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe and 4 Skylarks were seen.

6th February 2017

Weather: SE force 1/2 increasing during the morning, cold wind

Snow on the Carnydds as seen from Hilbre this morning (AEH)

Another record count of 306 Brent this morning following on from the 298 recorded on 14th January.

Brent Geese (AEH)

Two male and 2 female Scaup are still close to the island, also today 4 Wigeon swan close to the north east side, while 150 Common Scoter wheeled around in the mid-distance.

Scaup with Brent (CJ)

Wigeon (CJ)

Other observations were scarce with 140 Dunlin flying south, 5 Great Crested Grebes on the sea and 3 Linnets and 3 Robins.

5th February 2017

Weather: SW force 2

The dawn was spectacular this morning and it was a lovely day, sunny with hardly any wind. There were birds all-round the island, lots of Brent Geese (230) and waders, including c1,300 Dunlin leaving the estuary but not many on the island apart from a single Grey Plover and three Purple Sandpiper at the North End.

There were very few passerines around although a Wren was re-trapped which was 1 of 3 present and is the first bird processed here this year.

Also present were 2 Rock Pipits, a Blackbirds and 2 Robins,while on the sea were 5 Great Crested Grebes and a Common Scoter. A sign of the coming spring was the Snow Drops that were in flower in the new obs garden.

There was a juvenile seal on the west side at the bottom of the steps by the light that was apparently injured. The Coast Guard were there to rescue it. 

Meanwhile a sea-watch by visiting birder Elliot Montieth proved excellent with a single Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, 22 Great crested Grebe

80c Common Scoter and 4 Scaup (2m & 2f).

Three photos above @Elliot_Montieth (as shown) remainder JE

3rd February 2017

Weather: SE 3 vis 15mls

A very quiet day around the islands today with only 173 Brents counted.

Waders present included 134 Grey Plover, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, 120 Turnstone, 130 Redshank, 21 Curlew and 90 Dunlin.

On the sea were 54 Common Scoter, 60 Cormorants and the still present five Scaup.

The only birds on the island were 4 Wren, 3 Robin and 2 Carrion Crow.

1st February 2017

Weather: SE 2/3 vis 5 mls, mist

Birds of the day were a female and four male Red-breasted Mergansers displaying on the east side of the island, the five Scaup were still present and 48 Common Scoter plus 3 Great Crested Grebe were also on the sea.

Waders counted on the east hoyle included 83 Grey Plover, 210 Dunlin and 128 Redshank, a flock of c 2,000 Knot flew up the estuary and 2 Purple Sandpiper were counted with 24 Turnstone at the north end. The Oystercatcher roost was c4,500 and 90 Curlew were counted with them on middle eye.

A Peregrine flew low over the main island in pusuit of a Woodpigeon, a small flock of 9 Linnets also flew over and 2 Skylarks were heard callling.

A strange noise in Niffy bay was found to be a large male grey seal slapping its way over the rocks to the gutter then down to the sea, a considerable effort as the tide was at its lowest.