30th April 2011

Eight Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff were ringed this morning during a fresh easterly wind which later strenghened and killed any migration. The sea was good considering the wind direction with an Arctic Skua the highlight but also featuring 77 Sandwich Terns, 21 Common Terns, 2 Gannets, a Red-throated Diver and 3 Common Scoter. Six Swallows and 2 Wheatears were noted, then in the afternoon right on cue the first 2 Swifts of the year were over the island.

The moth trap revealed a Netted Pug (right), another scarce species for the island which was 'twitched' from the mainland by a member interested in photographing the moths ! Also obtained was a superb photograph of one of the Whimbrels around the rocks (above). Ringed :- 8 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff.(BSB,JE,PGR,CDT,PT,NDW,SRW) [358-35] photos BSB

29th April 2011

Quiet again today, cold at first and a good breeze from the north east, but later the wind dropped light, the direction swung right around the compass to end up from the north west, the sun came out and the day became warm. Not much to show for all the mornings effort, just a single Wheatear and a single Willow Warbler plus a few Goldfinches to be found. Swallows continue to pass in small numbers although House Martins have been very scarce so far this spring and we still await the first Swift of the year. Five Gannets sat on the sea and 35 Sandwich Terns dived for food, with no other significant sea birds noted. Our old friends the 2 Greylags flew back and forth across the shore to the west of the islands, there are still a few hundred Dunlin flocking on the shore and 5 Little Egrets were noted on the ebb tide. After the 22 Whimbrel some days ago, surprisingly we now seem to be have only on about 5 birds at the moment.
With more time on our hands than usual the overnight moth trap became one of the days highlights, and when examined it produced amongst others the fairly common Angle Shades (above right) and a Pale Pinion (above left), a moth that is rare at Hilbre and indeed has not been recorded here since 1970.
The conservation area next to the obs was a splendid splash of colour today with Bluebells benefiting from the clearance of bracken this last few years (right).
Ringed :- 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren.
(CJ,CDT,PT,NDW,CJW,SRW,TGW) [349-35] photos SRW

28th April 2011

A very similar morning to yesterday with the addition of at least 5 Willow Warblers in the paddocks at dawn. Still no Wheatears and only a few Goldfinches, a single White Wagtail and passing Swallows that could be classed as migrants. Many Dunlin were flocking as the tide flooded, competing for resting places with 5 Whimbrel on the whaleback and other exposed rocks (above).A sea watch produced 3 Gannets, 32 Sandwich Terns, 400 + Common Scoter out by the wind farm and the male again close to the island. Ringed:- 5 Willow Warblers. (BSB,DB,JE,CJ,CDT,PT,NDW,SRW) [347-35] photo CJ

27th April 2011

A very quiet morning on the island with no warblers, no Wheatears and no finches apart from the breeding linnets and 2 visiting Greenfinches and a single Goldfinch up to 10:00hrs. A White Wagtail (left) came down on the rocks at the north end and a few Swallows starting passing in better numbers than recently and more are expected as the day warms up. An unusual number of Dunlin for this time of year gathered in wheeling flocks west of middle as the tide flooded, and estimated 3,000 all told, while 6 Whimbrel (right) were also about the islands. Another species in large flocks were about 1,000 Common Scoter seen distantly out by the north Hoyle wind farm, closer in was the single male Scoter (left) that has been hanging around for a week or so; the only other notable birds on the sea were 14 Sandwich Terns. Three Peregrines were logged, 2 of which seemed to be associating together in the air. Seven Little Egrets fed on the tide edge, more than has been present this year, and 4 Canada Geese were also on the shore early in the day. Ringed:- 1 Linnet
(DB,CJ,CDT,PT,NDW,SRW,TGW) [342-35] photos CJ

26th April 2011

The wind dropped overnight then picked up from just north of east, not ideal and so it proved. The only migrants on the island during the early morning stint were a single Wheatear and a few Swallows over. The two Little Egrets pranced about in tidal pools by Middle Eye and there were a few Whimbrel scattered amongst the rocks around the islands. Slight drizzle mid morning raised hopes but observers were still mildly surprised to find a Gropper in the SK trap at 11.15hrs; one of the 'yellow morph' variety (see left and right above).

Other natural history news - the Rabbit was seen again on Easter Sunday (no it's not a wind up about the Easter Bunny!) and a dead Pipistrelle Bat was found today (see right).

Ringed: Linnet and Gropper

[CLW, SRW (plus CJW (f), GIW,TGW )] [341-35]

25th April 2011

The North Westerly airflow continued overnight and first thing this morning, but observers staying on the island were not to be put off and the arrival and capture of single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler (see left respectively), the former singing, lifted the spirits.




However, things were fairly quiet again until midday when an Osprey (above right) was spotted from the Obs garden flying east over the island and off towards Red Rocks. It then circled inland before drifting south over the Wirral.

Passage waders continued to appear around the islands with 3 Whimbrel (see above left), 500 Dunlin and 25 Ringed Plover noted. The two Little Egrets were again dancing in the gutter following the tide out this morning and then following the tide back in this afternoon. The summer resident Shelduck were in good voice this morning and as usual displayed from various prominent points on the island (see right).

Ringed: Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Linnet

[JE, CLW, SRW (CJW (f), GIW, TGW)] [339-35] Photos JE (Shelduck and phylloscs) & SRW (Osprey and Whimbrel)

24th April 2011

A beautiful sunny day but no phylloscopus warblers arrived in the north westerly airflow although there were a few Wheatears still moving. The only large warblers were a couple of Sedge Warblers, one or both of which could have been the birds present from yesterday and a Whitethroat which avoided capture.

Two Canada Geese (below) and a Greylag (left) were seen again and this time alighted just below the Obs by the gutter.











Two Little Egrets were feeding in the gutter after the late afternoon tide (above left).

Ringed: 2 Wheatears and 1 Linnet.

[DB, ESCA, CLW,TGW,CJW(f),GIW,SRW] [336-35] Photos SRW

23rd April 2011

The wind swung to the north west in the night with some rain showers, and as could have been predicted migration was much reduced this morning. The Willow Warbler count was just 4 with a single Chiffchaff but nevertheless there were a few quality birds to be found, namely 2 Sedge Warblers and a Whitethroat. Tree Pipits continue to impress (10 seen or heard) and the 3rd ringed this year (right) reflects the relative abundance of their passage this spring, while only 1 Yellow Wagtail was logged today. The only Wheatear found this morning was sitting contentedly on a log in the wildlife garden, but Swallows continued to come through in small numbers.


If the warblers declined in numbers due to the new wind direction then the big winner was undoubtably Whimbrel with no less than 22 around the islands (left). The wandering pair of Greylags and a Canada Goose appeared in various parts of the island chain early in the day.


Ringed:- 2 Sedge Warblers (below), 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat (right), 1 Tree Pipit.










(JE,CJ,KM+1,CLW,TGW,CJW,GIW,CJW,SRW) [333-35] photos CJ