6th March 2026

 Weather:  N3 with drizzle, brighter later NW 2 by afternoon

 

The elusive Great Tit  spent much of yesterday and today deep in Blackthorn, and only revealed itself properly when it appeared in the Obs garden this afternoon for a brief soirée after the rainy weather broke.

 

A phonecall at 14.25hrs from Tim Kinch at Hoylake (east of lifeboat station) that a Marsh Harrier was heading high our way, it took some finding though as it went west south of Middle Eye.

 

The female Eider was around the islands and 2 a pair of Goosanders were in the lagoon between Middle and the main island.

 

A counts of the Brent only reached 145 plus 1 dark bellied bird, there were 8 Shelduck seen and 380 Common Scoter on the sea. Small migrants were naturally scarcer today in the northerly inclement weather although 2 Starlings rested on the 'motus' mast. Two Goldcrests were here, and a Dunnock was in the obs garden. The usual few Blackbirds and Robins were on the ground. Single Little Egret and Grey Heron were present and a Peregrine was seen carrying its prey. Waders included 200 Knot, 40 Dunlin, 92 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plover, 120 Sanderling, 62 Redshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Much neglected, some gulls counts were 12 Great-black  backs, 2 Lessers, 25 Commons, 120 Black heads and 950 Herrings.

 On interest is fact that the drake Scaup was seen again today on WKML

 Photos SRW
 

5th March 2026

 Weather: SE force 5 with mist, later SE backing north 4 

 But the sun shone through later.

The first Wheatear of the year, on this exceptionally early date, indeed the second earliest ever for us, was found this morning by Matt Thomas at the north end of the island just before 10.00hrs.

 It was a fine male, and was later trapped for ringing.

 

 

  Just the one Stonechat today, another male and also trapped.

 Around the gardens and paddocks were at least 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 got ringed,

 

 and 6 Goldcrests, 3 of which became ringed including this male.

Finches featured again today with 6 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinch and 2 Siskin, and Pied and 3 Grey Wagtail came through with at least 90 Meadow Pipits. The scarcest inhabitant of the island paddocks and garden area however, a Great Tit, was in the obs garden, but failing to gain a ring. Other early March migrants did not let us down, including 32 Jackdaws,

   a single Starling.

  and a single Woodpigeon.

 A male Scaup appeared with the Common Scoter and the female Eider loafing off the north end then off shell bay later - at this stage we don’t know if it’s the male from WKML - that was still present yesterday but we've had no reports there today (as yet).

 

  No Egrets today and only a single Grey Heron about looking forward to its next meal.

Waders recorded today were 120 Sanderling, 32 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 68 Redshank and 6 Purple Sandpipers.

Ringed:  1 Wheatear, 1 Stonechat, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin.

Photos: SRW , Matt Thomas

4th March 2026

 Weather: SSE force 5

Lovely morning on the island - the highlight was a colour ringed Stonechat that was ringed on Mull last year. It was first seen on seaweed south of Middle before being relocated on Middle Eye were it stayed with 2 others. 

 

There were 5 around the islands but this bird is exceptional for us in that it is a long distant migrant from Scotland. It was ringed on 22nd August 2025 by Moray Souter on the island of Mull (see below).

 

 This is the first re-sighting of the 26 Stonechats ringed on Mull during 2025. Another of the Stonechats at Hilbre today were caught for ringing.

 A typical mix of birds included a couple of Coal Tits (scarce here). which became ringed after being first heard near the Newton trap but were then later caught in the SK. 

  

Some less scarce arrivals in the brisk cool south easterly but in impressive numbers and variety here were 15 Robins, 15 Pied Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail, 50 Meadow Pipits, 25 Skylarks, 2 Starlings, and quite a few finches including 24 Linnets (potential breeders), 5 Chaffinches, 3 Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, 2 Siskins and later on 2 Reed Buntings. 

 

Three Chiffchaffs were down on the island, one was caught for ringing. 

 Corvids seen included 19 Jackdaws and a Rook, also 12 Woodpigeons made the list.

 

More predictable visitors were the female Eider and 5 Pink-footed Geese which arrived later

 . A Dark-bellied bird was amongst the 280 pale-bellied Brent Geese.

 There was nothing particularly notable among the waders and sea birds at the high tide. A Merlin was the only raptor seen today. A nice day round for early March … maybe just missing a wheatear but it’s still early for us!

 Ringing: 7 Robins, 2 Coal Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Stonechat.

Photos SRW, PSW 

1st March 2026

Weather: SE force 3,  force 4/5 by noon 

 

 

 

The mornings are getting lighter now and there were many more signs of spring today, the highlight being the arrival of an immature Hen Harrier to the island. It was spotted coming in from the north and flew between Middle and hilbre before tracking west towards Wales.  Hen Harriers sightings have been very scarce this winter in the lower part of the   estuary where they are normally seen, so this was quite a surprise to the observers.

 

It felt very spring like on the island first thing, Meadow and Rock Pipits displayed, Linnets were in full voice and Stonchats buzzed around the fences,

 

 

  

 even a pair of Woodpigeons displayed over the paddocks!

Other early migrants arriving were 2 Stock Doves, 2 Pied and a Grey Wagtail, also 2 Starlings. Waders about included 2,000 Oystercatchers, 56 Curlew, 120 Redshank, 100 Turnstone and 13 Purple Sandpipers. 

 

 .........also 3 Sanderling, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 4,000 Knot and 20 Dunlin.

Sea birds included 136 Common Scoter and 8 Great Crested Grebes. There were 250 Brent and 10 Shelduck. A single Grey Heron was recorded, it was on top of the island.

 The Daffodils brightened up the island in the sunshine.

 

 Photos AEH, CJW