18th April 2009

A Wheatear at Little Eye and a few Willow Warblers on Middle showed there had been a small movement through early after dawn, and so it proved on Hilbre as 20 Willow Warblers (above left) and 2 Chiffchaffs were noted during the morning but no larger warblers yet, these should come during the next couple of weeks. Eight Wheatears (above right) went through but did not stay to feed, perhaps discouraged by the reappearance of the Merlin on the west cliff.

A female Redstart (right) was in the Newton trap mid-morning and was the second for the island this spring, and 2 Goldfinches were caught out of 9 that went over, other finches flying by were 6 Siskin and 2 Lesser Redpolls. A total of 18 White Wagtails passed in small groups and a single Yellow Wagtail was heard late morning, while a visiting Skylark sang briefly to remind those present that they used to breed on the islands.

Whimbrel (below) are now starting to build in numbers, the latest individual seen at Little Eye adding to the two already present. No Sand or House Martins today, just Swallows passing in very small numbers.

Sandwich Terns continue to feed off the north end, 12 today with 2 Gannets and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers (right).

A dead Harbour Porpoise (below) was found lying on the 'whaleback', however a happier sight was when the warm sunshine brought out 2 Small Tortoiseshell and a Small White butterfly (below right).

Ringed today:-
6 Willow Warblers

2 Chiffchaffs

2 Goldfinches

1 Redstart

(FD,JE,CJ,PGR,DNW,CJW,SRW,PSW) photos CJ & PSW

17th April 2009

A very quiet start to the morning with virtually no visible migration and just a single Willow Warbler and 2 Lesser Redpolls to show for 3 hours searching the island although Swallows went over a few at a time numbering 42 by 10.00hrs.
The sea fared slightly better with 16 Gannets, 6 Sandwich terns, a Razorbill, a Fulmar and 150 Common Scoter in addition to the pair that have been keeping close company to the main island for some time now.
On the shore the single Brent still keeps its own company, but the freshly in Whimbrel from yesterday seems to have been joined by another.
Following heavy rain just before 11.00 hrs, 2 Willow Warblers and a pair of Blackcaps dropped in on the island as sometimes happens after a sudden downpour.

Ringed today :-
2 Blackcaps

(DB,CJ,et al)

16th April 2009

A dark and misty morning that looked promising but failed to produce the warblers of yesterday, though still came up with two new spring arrivals for this year. A fine second calender year male Redstart (left) was trapped and ringed and a Whimbrel called around the island to announce its arrival and showed well during its first sighting this spring for the obs members.

Just a single Willow Warbler in contrast to Red Rocks that had many more warblers, exactly the reverse of yesterday, strange is the mysteries of migration.

Swallows were counted at 121 after a good passage in the afternoon, with 2 House Martins, and 20 Goldfinches and a Siskin being the only finches apart from 40 Linnets, some of which may be the residents breeders.

Other migrants were 100 Meadow Pipits, 5 Wheatears and 3 White Wagtails (a lot fewer than yesterday). A Wood Pigeon and 2 Canada Geese were logged later in the day.

Twenty Gannets and 10 Sandwich Terns was a reasonable return for a low tide with an easterly wind.

A member walking off the island recognised a 'ringtail' harrier, probably Hen Harrier as it flew over the shore, across the marsh and then inland to the golf course.

Ringed today:-

1 Common Redstart (right)

1 Goldfinch

1 Willow Warbler (left)

The Redstart was aged by a moult limit in the greater coverts and the wear in the tail.

The Willow Warbler shows the long primary projection that can distinguish it from Chiffchaff in the field.

(DB,JE,) photos JE

Near miss

The easterly winds and drizzle earlier in the day produced this fine Red-rumped Swallow found at nearby Meols/Moreton by Obs member Allan Conlin at 6.20pm...it remained in the area until 7.45pm at least allowing many local birders and Obs members to see it.

15th April 2009

If the expected warblers failed to materialise yesterday, then they certainly did today and a lot else too, though not at first light but after the drizzle started again following overnight rain. A steady fall of 45 Willow Warblers trickled in right up to mid-day, while 27 White Wagtails (bottom right), some of which were down on the island, arrived during the morning in the damp easterly conditions.

At about 08.15hrs a splendid male Whinchat (above) was found sitting on the old obs fence, it was yet another migrant arriving way ahead of its time, and it spent most of the morning frustrating the ringers by sitting on the fence with a Wheatear looking at the mist net or perched on top of a potter trap and not being interested in the meal worms (below).

With the Whinchat came 6 Wheatears and plenty of other migrants including 150 Meadow Pipits, 2 Tree Pipits, 1 Yellow Wagtail, still a lot of finches (23 Goldfinch, 20 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin, 1 Greenfinch, and best of all a Brambling which unfortunately did not come to ground). A single House Sparrow however did manage to stay for a short period. Not a massive passage of hirundines but 20 Swallows, 12 Sand Martins and a single House Martin added further interest to the day. A good passage of 200 Gannets were noted off the north end.

At 10.30hrs 2 Ring Ouzels flew passed the obs window into the corner of the garden, then over the fence and off to Middle Eye. It was disappointing that they could not be subsequently re-located despite a thorough search of both islands, but nevertheless such is the nature and excitement of the spring passage.

Ringed today:-

21 Willow Warblers

1 Chiffchaff

1 Lesser Redpoll

(DB,CJ,CJW,et al) photos CJ

14th April 2009

With the weather suitable for migrants (southeasterly, cloud, early drizzle) observers expected many warblers today, however there was only single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, and it turned out to be another finch day especially before 0900hrs with 31 Lesser Redpolls (above), 30 Goldfinches, 12 Siskins, and 1 Chaffinch present. Two more Yellow Wagtails went through with 3 Pied and 2 White, and a few hirundines (3 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin).
At least one and probably two elusive Grasshopper Warblers evaded capture (as they often tend to do), and the only other birds of note apart from 3 Wheatears were a Wood Pigeon and a Sparrowhawk, both irregular visitors to Hilbre. The single Brent was still present but no sign of the Merlin.
Ringed today:-
2 Lesser Redpolls (right)
1 Chaffinch
1 Goldfinch
1 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
1 Wren
(DB,CJ,KMc,CJW et al) photos CJ

13th April 2009

A strong southeasterly with heavy mist brought some migrants after yesterdays almost birdless day. The main feature was a passage of 30 Siskin (above) of which 4 were trapped, and considering there have been only 7 trapped in the last 53 years that was quite a result ! One male came down in the obs garden and used the feeder (below). Other finches were in smaller numbers, 8 Goldfinches, 8 Lesser Redpoll (above right) and 1 Greenfinch.

Warblers were represented by 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs and a single Goldcrest but all had disappeared by mid-morning and only a few Pied/White Wagtails passed through.

A Yellow Wagtail flew south and was the first of the year although 3 Tree Pipits were not, the first being the exceptionally early individual on 19th March.

Not many other scarce birds seen, although the by now expected Merlin did put in an appearance, and the single Pale-bellied Brent seems to be alone as no others have been seen for some days now.

Ringed today:-
4 Siskins (above)
3 Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaffs (right)
1 Goldfinch

(MSC et al,JE,CJ,KMc,PTR,CJW,SRW,TGW) photos CJ and SRW

12th April 2009

Clear overnight then sunny and calm today but with a slight breeze mainly from the north did not help those hoping to see visible migration, indeed it was one of the quietest days recently with just 1 Chiffchaff and all other small migrants numbering 3 or less apart from 8 Swallows. The sea likewise did not inspire, and apart from numerous distant Scoters, some Great Crested Grebes, a few auks and divers, 4 Sandwich Terns were the highlight!

Two Sparrowhawks were towards Hoylake, the Merlin again showed briefly, and Peregrines (below right) were seen at the west hoyle bank and between the islands, where 3 Grey Herons fed, one interestingly showing a colour ring (above). Two Grey Lag Geese (below) flew close to the island.

The sun encouraged up to 9 Small Tortoiseshells (right) to fly, hopefully many more butterflies will show in the coming weeks.

Ringed today :- 1 Chiffchaff

(ESCA,DB,FD,CJ,KMc,SRW, TGW) Pergrine photo CJ, others SRW.