3rd to 6th October 2011

A brief visit on 3rd found a Chiffchaff in the trapping area, an excellent count of 102 Bar-tailed Godwits and A female Shoveler (rare at hilbre) in the pool between the islands (DB). The 4th produced a late passage of Swallows (67) and House Martins (9), surprising for a westerly wind, a Merlin went through the gardens, others present included 2 Goldcrests, a Wheatear, 5 Goldfinches and a Pale-bellied Brent that flew in from the north west and slept on the east hoyle for 3 hours (DB). The Brent was still present on 5th when a westerly wind blew in a few sea birds, including 6 Gannets, 4 Kittiwakes and 8 Razorbills, while a Golden Plover flew south. The wind increased to force 8/9 on 6th and a dedicated sea watch was made and was rewarded with 2 Long-tailed Skuas, one juvenile and an adult complete with tails streamers, over 20 Arctic Skuas, also 4 Bonxies, 7 Manx Shearwaters, and 2 Leach's Petrels, plus all the regular species on the sea including 6 Red-throated Divers. Six Golden Plover flew south over the east hoyle bank (DB,CJW, et al)

2nd October 2011

In apparently ideal conditions for something to turn up in early October (mist, drizzle, south east wind) it is worth recording that the island was almost birdless today; no warblers of any description, no Wheatears, no Swallows, no wagtails, no thrushes and no finches other than the flock of Linnets, just a few Meadow Pipits passing through to represent the migrants. Six Pintail flew south off the west side and a excellent count of 96 Bar-tailed Godwits was made, otherwise the morning was mainly passed talking about which birds we hope for this October. Ringed :- Nil
(DB+ESCA,CJ,NDW,SRW,TGW)

1st October 2011

On the first day of the month typical October birds were in the trapping area at dawn; a Song Thrush (below), a Blackcap, and a little later a Reed Bunting (right). Hilbre has had a good passage of Chiffchaffs this autumn and 2 more were ringed today, together with a Goldcrest. One of the rarest Hilbre birds of the day was a Magpie that found its way into the 'heli', but unfortunately also thought nothing of flying out of the trap past the ringers outstretched arms. Three Golden Plovers were found on the shore between Little Eye and Middle, always a pleasing species to see at Hilbre. Meadow Pipits continued to pass through in some numbers, flying in off the sea and off south into the wind, very difficult to estimate the total numbers but certainly into the hundreds. Just a single Skylark and no Wheatears on the islands today, although 2 were reported by a visitor on the ridge south of Middle. Pied Wagtails were also evident although many fewer with at least 2 Grey Wagtails seen. A good count of 56 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the shore. Ringed:-2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap,1 Reed Bunting, 1 Goldcrest.(DB+ESCA,CJ,CJW,SRW,CLW,TGW,CJW(f),GIW,AW) [867-43] photos CJ

30th September 2011

The sun continues to shine and the migrants trickle in during the daytime as they did yesterday. Not quite so many Chiffchaffs, but a Garden Warbler at dawn and a female Blackcap during the morning was fine compensation. A steady passage of Meadow Pipits floated through throughout the day, finches were few but the first migrant finch of the autumn to be ringed was a Chaffinch (left) which was one of 2 passing through, also 2 Goldfinches hopefully fortelling a good passage of finches in the next few weeks. Other late autumn species present today included 2 Common Snipe between the islands early in the morning, a Wigeon, a Reed Bunting overhead, a Song Thrush and 2 Skylarks, while 4 Swallows were a reminder of summer (as was the weather). A Peregrine sat on the beach off the east Hoyle, and a Kestrel made a short visit to the island plunged into the nearly dry island pond and pulled out a large Short-tailed Field Vole (right). Twenty eight Sandwich Terns still remain, other sea birds logged were a few Guillemots and Great Crested Grebes and a Razorbill. After the lunacy of yesterday the inconsiderate behaviour of visitors today was confined to a kayak flushing the entire wader roost on Middle (left). Ringed:-4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Meadow Pipits,1 Goldcrest,1 Garden Warbler,1 Chaffinch,1 Blackcap, 1 Song Thrush. (DB,AAB,CJ,KMC,AS,NDW,AW, et al) [861-43] photos CJ

29th September 2011

The chairman was interviewed by representatives of radio 3 for a forthcoming programme about the Dee estuary (above), and showed the work of the observatory and the bird ringing while they enjoyed a cup of tea ! It was a beautiful day in the sunshine and as the wind dropped it became very warm indeed. Signs were not good after dawn when only a single Chiffchaff and a Wheatear seemed to be present but it was one of those days when birds trickled in throughout the day. Chiffchaffs reached 12 by the middle of the afternoon, meanwhile a female Blackcap arrived in the morning and later a new Blackbird and the only Goldcrest were found. The star migrant arrived in the afternoon when a Spotted Flycatcher was found in the Newton trap (above right). This must surely be one of the latest ever seen on Hilbre, and is certainly the latest of the over 180 of these birds ringed on the island over the last 54 years. Just as rare or even rarer on Hilbre is Blue Tit and we were privileged to see one arrive in the obs garden, land on a bush by the fence and immediately take off again to the south (left). Another scarce Hilbre bird was a Lapwing which was briefly by the east side soon after dawn but flew off to the east. Other birds on todays log were 6 Wheatears ( at least one of which has been present for 2 days), 6,000 oystercatchers, 3,000 Knot, 3 Wigeon, 7 Guillemots, 5 Razorbills, 6 Common Scoter, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Sandwich Terns, 8 Pied Wagtails, a Skylark and a Pergrine that gave a good show chasing the knot at the tide edge. The fine weather seemed to bring out the worst in the visitors to the estuary and the silly season was definitely in full swing today. Visitors were stranded on Middle, but thankfully did not disturb the wader roost, but that could not be said for the four people and 14 dogs ! that decided it was a good idea to stay the very high tide on Little Eye despite requests for them not to do so. Bad enough as this was, and it meant the waders had less roosting options, at least their lives were not in danger unlike the couple who stayed on bird rock and had to be rescued by the inshore lifeboat as the waves lapped about their feet (right). Thinking we had now seen everything, 2 canoeists disturbed the huge roost on Middle much to the annoyance of the obs members, and then to finish off the alarms a visitor decided to have a swim off the south of the main island as the tide ebbed and was lucky to be able to recover the south cove and not be taken out to sea. We are supposed to be here to record birds ! On a more sane note the boat showing the paying visitors around the area (left) did not disturb anything, but the representative present was fully aware of the drama going on all about. Back to the natural history, 4 Common Darter dragonflies were noted, along with 2 Migrant Hawkers (right, briefly detained for identification purposes), also a few Red Admiral butterflies graced the island. Ringed :- 8 Chiffchaffs,1 Goldcrest, 1 Wren, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 1 Spotted Flycatcher.(DB,AEH,CJ,KMc+1,CJW) [849-43] photos CJ

29th September 2011

Not quite the day hoped for, with no Goldcrests calling in the gardens and only 2 Chiffchaffs during the day but as always there was a few things of interest. The Wheatears again numbered 5 even if they were slow to arrive this morning, and passerine of the day was a skulking larger warbler that was eventually seen to be a Garden Warbler (above left). This has been a good year at Hilbre for Garden Warblers which have always been a scarce bird on the island. Ducks seen were 11 Pintail (top right) and 3 Wigeon (above) also 2 Eider flying past the north end at midday, but there was no sign of yesterdays early Brent Goose. A Sparrowhawk cruised round the middle of the island for a short period (above). There were not many other visitors to report, just a single Grey Wagtail, a Greenfinch and 4 Swallows. Waders packed the whole of Middle at the height of the 10 metre tide, especially pleasing was to see 2 Grey Plovers (right), only the odd sighting of this medium sized wader has occurred this autumn. Ringed:- 1 Wheatear, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Meadow Pipit. (DB,CJ,KMC,CJW, et al) [836-43] photos CJ

27th September 2011

With the wind back in the south east and the temperature rising hopes were high for more autumn migrants and possibly a rare bird this week. There were 5 late Wheatears (above), none of which were ringed, also 7 Goldcrests and 5 Chiffchaffs and a few other movers that did not stay including some Meadow Pipits, 7 Skylarks, 3 Grey Wagtails, a couple of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes and a single flock of 6 Swallows. One of the major news stories of today was the appearance of the first Brent Goose of the autumn on the east side which was later seen to fly away some distance, possibly not to return, tomorrow will tell. A Sparrowhawk scattered the waders roosting the very high tide on Middle, and was the only unexpected bird of the day. The sea in these calm conditions was quiet, just 8 Gannets, and 3 Guillemots (right), also not many Sandwich Terns remaining, 13 were counted. Ringed :- 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Dunnock, 1 Blackbird. (DB,CJ,KMc,CJW, et al ) [832-43] photos CJ

Best birds 16th to 26th September

16th Sept. 5 Goosander, 2 Teal and a Golden Plover. (DB,KMc, et al) 17th Sept. 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Greenshank (right, CJ), 4 Pintail. (DB+esca,ME,BT,FD,AEH,CJ,KMc,AO+PS,PSW,SRW) 18th Sept. An Osprey from the north east, over the obs veranda and off to the south west. 17 Barnacle Geese ! circled to the west of the island, over the island and off to Wales. (DB+ESCA,AEH,AO) 20th Sept. 3 Common Buzzards. (DB, et al) 24th Sept. 1 Garden warbler, 1 Blackcap (DB+ESCA,PSW,TGW,SRW)25th Sept. 6 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaffs,2 Greylag Geese, 3 Pintail (DB+ESCA,JE,PSW,CJW,RTW,EKW,NLW.RJW,SRW,