13th September 2017

Weather: WNW  force 7

A gale overnight meant that sea watch coverage was again required this morning. Leach's Petels were again passing but perhaps not in as many numbers as was expected, nevertheless 17 were logged, together with 5 Manx Sheatwaters, 3 Black Terns and a Fulmar.

More surprising and rare in a Hilbre context was a Ruff that arrived in to the north end, landed briefly and then continued west, also the Hobby that flew east by the island (photo below by Matt Thomas).

 Sandwich Terns were present again in large numbers, today at 440 with 50 Common Terns.   
A single Whimbrel is still about with 25 or so Curlew.

photos AEH

12th September 2017

Weather: WNW 4/5   vis 30 mls

The strong winds of the last day or so have encouraged birders to take to the coast of Wirral in search of sea birds. A short visit to Hilbre this morning produced 31 Leach's Petrel and a Fulmar, all before 08.15. An afternoon visit over the tide found the flow of  Leach's petrels had slowed to a total of 18, but the highlight of the sea watch was a group of 5 Black Terns passing close to the north end and a Black-Throated Diver flying to the west of the observers.

Others on the sea were 3 Arctic Skuas, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Gannets, 50 Great Crested Grebes, and 2 Kittiwakes. There are still many terns in the area, 175 Sandwich and 25 Common, also Common Scoter seem in good numbers with 600 estimated passing to and fro in the direction of the wind farms. On the way to the island a Great Crested Grebe was found exausted on the rocks by Middle and was taken into custody by obs members and kept warm and dry until the tide was high enough to release it at the north end.

photos PSW

11th September 2017

Weather: NW 6-7, poor vis

An early morning visit paid dividends for one observer with a single Leach's Petrel being the highlight of an ebb tide seawatch.

Three Manx Shearwaters were also noted as was a single Fulmar.  There were small numbers of terns including 70 Sandwich and 25 Common counted but the best was a Black Tern found by Little Eye battling it's way against the wind.

A visiting birder (@ColDav10) came on for the tide and had a superb seawatch which included a possible Wilon's Petrel, if accepted this will be not only the first record for Hilbre but for Cheshire and Wirral too, check out his blog here:  http://birdingsthelens.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/wilsons-and-leachs-petrels-hilbre-island.html?m=1

10th September 2017

Weather: SW force 2/3, backing SE 4 later

A small trickle of migrants this morning included 6 Goldcrests, 5 Pied and a Grey Wagtail, a few Swallows and a male Blackcap. Two Wigeon were unexpected and 2 Kestrels were on the island, also a Sparrowhawk flew over to the west. A Gannet was seen as were 2 Bar-tailed Godwits.

During the morning observers thought they heard a Greenshank and then found the bird in question with other waders including Redshank below the Obs so fired off a couple of record shots before all the birds took flight when they observed a square white rump, sadly it was never seen again.  Reviewing their photos later in the day they realised the bird in question also had yellow/orangey legs and they concluded that it was in fact a Greater Yellowlegs which, if accepted by BBRC, would not only be a first for Hilbre but a first for Cheshire & Wirral. When news came out later several observers returned to the island after the tide to search for it but it could not be found; consolation for one visitor was the first Leach's Petrel of the year.

Ringed: 1 Goldcrest, 1 Blackcap                   [ 475-32 ]

4th September 2017

Weather: SE force 2, mist at first, clearing as the wind turned west later.

Observers were full of expectations this morning with a south easterly and mist around the coast. The reality was less exciting with 3 Goldcrests, 2 Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff on the ground. A Song Thrush hung around the obs garden area this morning and became the first to be ringed this autumn.

A Merlin was flushed from the old obs garden and flew off towards the mainland, while at c1250hrs yet another Marsh Harrier passed through Hilbre, making the tally three for the autumn and four for the year, this time arriving at  Middle from the north west and departing to the south down the Dee via the east of Little Eye.

A Wheatear arrived at the north end briefly and a quiet sea produced only 2 Gannets and 6 Great Crested Grebes. No large numbers of waders or terns were around at the high tide apart from the 3,000 or so Oystercatchers. A count of 98 Shelduck was the most so far this autumn.

Ringed: 2 Goldcrests, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush.    [ 473-32 ]

photos SRW

3rd September 2017

Weather : SE 4/5 rain showers, feeling cool.

After a beautiful day yesterday an unpleasant feel out and about this morning. A Willow Warbler and a Goldcrest braved the conditions and made landfall on the island overnight, and later in the morning a Spotted Flycatcher was sheltering in the 'heli' trap. This is the third this autumn so far and a much appreciated visitor.

A Grey Wagtail called as it passed, while the pair of 'local' Pied Wagtails were again seen. A visit to the north end found an Arctic Skua flying east over the sea, and a  Guillemot close by observers.

Several Swallows and a Sand Martin were swooping low immediately over the slipway to find insects and a young Common Tern was on the rocks being fed by an attentive parent.

There were more Sandwich Terns about than yesterday, also a single Little Tern, early in the morning 12 Gannets were noted. There are still more than the usual number of Black-headed Gulls about the island, they seem to be finding plenty to feed on over the last week or so.
Ringed: 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher    [ 468-32 ]   
photos CJ, SRW and TGW

2nd September 2017

Weather: WSW 1-2, 3/8, moderate vis, switching SE by 10am

The day started nicely with single Grey Wagtails passing over both Middle and the main island.  There has been a small arrival of Robins with two new birds ringed, plus three Goldcrests on and a single Chiffchaff.

As the morning warmed up a single adult Mediterranean Gull was found off the West side feeding with the throng of Black-headed Gulls which were feeding on small fish.  A dolphin species was also briefly noted during this time but couldn't be identified.

At about 940am an explosive wagtail call was heard and immediately prompted the three members stood on the balcony to search the skies with one member remarking it sounded just like a Citrine.  All three heard the repeated rasping call and two members got onto a grey and white chunky wagtail as it flew over the Obs and off west (the theme of the day).  It was very similar in date to a previous potential Citrine (see http://hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/6th-september-2009.html?m=1) but that bird was never submitted; surely we will get one nailed one day sooner rather than later.  The closest we've come is one that undoubtedly flew over the recording area before landing on West Kirby/Red Rocks salt marsh (see http://hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/very-near-miss-ouch.html?m=1).

As things quietened off late morning a juvenile/female Marsh Harrier appeared gliding above the gutter from the North before turning west and heading over the island and the air raid shelter and you guessed it off west towards Wales.  This time not before  a record shot or two could be taken!

[466-32] Photos by SRW

1st September 2017

Weather:  NW force 2/3 good vis
Another Spotted Flycatcher (or the same bird as yesterday) was in the obs garden and adjacent paddock this afternoon, while 2 Goldcrests were the only other small migrants of note. In the evening a Bonxie gave a stunning view as it flew west close in passed the north end. A sea watch produced 10 Gannets, 40 Common Scoter and a juvenile Kittiwake. Redshank were showing in good numbers (250) and 5 Little Egrets were logged.
Some scenes from this evening below.

   photos CJW