18th April 2010

The sky and beach were really red this morning (left) and it is tempting to blame the volcano for this as well as the dry taste in the mouth.

No real sign of migration just 4 Swallows, a Chiffchaff, and some Goldfinches, but good records were logged of a House Sparrow, no less than 21 Collared Doves, a Stock dove and a Canada Goose.

The breeding Shelduck have been counted at 40 birds, which is a sizable population for a small island. Four Whimbrel were seen around the shore.

Later, a Fulmar flew around the island buildings as if prospecting for a nesting site !

Ringed:- 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Wrens, 2 Meadow Pipits (right, this bird is a particularly dark looking individual with dark legs not unlike a Rock Pipit).

(DB+ESCA,JE) [116] photos JE

17th April 2010

Another quiet morning without any significant number of migrants (surely it will happen soon!), the only real improvement was the 6 Greenland Wheatears (left) mostly feeding along the west side ridge, 2 of which were trapped for ringing. A fair number of Lesser Redpolls passed overhead with a Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail ( the first record this year) and a few Goldfinches. Two Willow Warblers were the only new visitors to the trapping area in the paddocks. There was small trickle of hirundines up to 10.00hrs when 2 Sand Martins and 3 Swallows were logged.

The Velvet Scoters were not seen today and may have departed the area, unlike the Little Gulls (30 today) and the newly arrived Whimbrels which brought the total up to 5 birds.

Ringed:- 2 Greenland Wheatears, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Willow Warbler.

(CJ,PGR,PSW,SRW) [ 111 ] photo CJ

16th April 2010

Migration again was very light with the wind from the east and then swinging north and north west during the early morning. A few finches passed, a single Willow was the only warbler and there were only 2 Wheatears, although a Grasshopper Warbler produced the most excitement when found in the Tea bush to the north of the old obs garden. Grasshopper Warblers are often heard but not seen, but in this case it was seen but not heard although it was characteristically skulking and managed to evade capture.
Four Eiders (3 males) flew south off the west side early and later a single drake was between the island and Red Rocks (right).
Fourteen Swallows and 15 Sand Martins went through mostly after late morning when a Common Snipe also flew across the island.
Recent regulars on the sea were still showing including several Gannets, 65 Little Gulls and the 2 Velvet Scoters. The Brent seem to have finally all departed.
Ringed:- 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Redpoll.
(DB,CJ,THM+1,CJW,SRW) [ 107] photo CJ

15th April 2010

A Black-necked Grebe drifted down river passed Hilbre at 10.15hrs this morning, a less than annual visitor to the islands. Sixteen of the commoner Great Crested variety were on the sea early in the day along with 4 Teal, the 2 Velvet Scoters and the Little Gulls feeding off to the north west. Corvids were noticed early on moving west including a group of 18 Rooks and 2 parties of 8 and 10 Carrion Crows. At the same early hour a Merlin lifted from Little Eye and flew off to the north east.


Not much movement overhead with only a minimal numbers of finches, although 2 Goldfinches stopped to examine the feeder in the Newton trap (left) and received shining new rings at no charge.
The only Warbler was a single Willow that was also ringed but other good passerines were very scarce, just 3 Greenland Wheatears (above right) and a single White Wagtail.
Ringed:- 2 Goldfinches, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren.
(DB,JE,CJ,CJW) + SH [105] photos CJ

13th April 2010

With the weather almost identical to yesterday observers were surprised to find two Chiffchaffs in the trapping area first thing.

Another sunny start to the day, but the early tide meant a dash off before work leaving the island uncovered for the high tide period.

However, 3 Canada Geese, a single Snipe and the 2 Velvet Scoters also made the visit worthwhile and three Pale-bellied Brents flew in from the west.

[CJW et al] [101]

12th April 2010

With no birds arriving overnight (apart from a single Willow Warbler on Middle and a Wheatear on the main island), attention turned to the sea which was calm in the bright sunshine. By far the best bird of the day was a Puffin which flew east at 09.10hrs, but unfortunately did not pitch in to enable all to see it. For the first time in ages there were no Little Gulls to be seen, but the 2 Velvet Scoters did not let observers down. Five male Eiders including 2 adults drifted between the island and Red Rocks from where they were also seen (MGT). Logged during the sea watch were 7 Red-throated Divers, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 16 Gannets, 12 Guillemots, 10 Razorbills, 4 Sandwich Terns, and a flypast of 14 Bar-tailed Godwits and groups of 3 and 5 Stock doves.

Lesser Redpolls were heard over on 4 occasions, 4 White Wagtails were on the rocks at the north end and a Skylark (right) sang first over the south end and then the middle of the island - an event quite uncommon in recent years.

A Common Snipe was flushed from the north end this morning and again from the south end and west side later on. The Whimbrel (above) from yesterday still seemed to be the sole spring arrival so far.
There are still 5 Purple Sandpipers with the 130 or so Turnstones, but the Brent Geese have taken advantage of the fair weather and now appear to be down to just 3 birds (right).
Ringed ;_ 1 Meadow Pipit
(DB,MSC+2,CJ,KMc,CS,CJW) +RW [ 99] photos CJ

11th April 2010

The first Whimbrel of the year was found in the east gutter and was then seen on the whaleback later. Two Willow Warblers arrived early today but left promptly leaving behind a single Chiffchaff which was still present in the afternoon.
A Tree Sparrow finally gave itself up to the ringers and yet another Reed Bunting was added to the ringing totals with 2 more Lesser Redpolls and 2 new Dunnocks on the island making a total of 5 present this morning.
Hirundines had increased since yesterday with 19 Sand Martins and 9 Swallows going through. Other day migrants included 3 White Wagtails and a small number of finches.

A Short -eared Owl was watched distantly for some time over the West Kirby shore, while a Greylag Goose (right) spent some time around the island associating occasionally with the remaining Brent which are now down to 36 birds and seem ready for more to depart.
Thirty Little gulls and the 2 Velvet Scoters are still on the sea.
Ringed:- 2 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Dunnocks,1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Tree Sparrow.
(DB +ESCA,JE,CJ,SRW, TGW) [98] photo CJ

10th April 2010

A beautiful morning brought in birds new for this year:- 4 Sandwich Terns out to the west (and well overdue), 4 Greenland race Wheatears, and a singing newly arrived Grasshopper Warbler that as is often the case could not be found visually. As expected there were Willow Warblers (only 3), but Lesser Redpolls (above left) went through in numbers not normally seen until later in the month with no less than 9 being ringed today. Two Reed Buntings were down and a Tree Sparrow (above right) again evaded capture even though it is thought to be a different bird from yesterday. Nineteen Goldfinches and a Greenfinch completed the migrant seed eating species.

Five Sand Martins drifted through with 5 Swallows and a calling Tree Pipit, but 12 White Wagtails (left) preferred to stay for a short time.

A Wood Pigeon (right) and 5 Collared Doves made brief visits to the island.

Only 25 Little Gulls were showing today with the resident 2 Velvet Scoters, but little else on the very calm water. The Brent gathered in a close group of 54 possibly ready to depart north to the breeding grounds.

Ringed:- 9 Lesser Redpolls, 1 Willow Warbler (left, first ringed this year), 1 Wren, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting (right), 1 Linnet, 1 Greenland Wheatear (centre).

(CJ,PSW,SRW) [87] photos CJ