24th November 2012

Fieldfare

male(right) and female(left) Goldfinch

Some thrushes on the island this morning arriving in a misty dawn and a light south easterly. About 10 Blackbirds, 5 Song Thrushes and 3 Redwings went through altough most had gone in the next hour. A Fieldfare was trapped in the 'Newton' heligoland, the first captured this year, and continuing the norm of about one per year on the ringing list. Late morning a flock of 130 Fieldfares were seen travelling east towards Red Rocks. A Goldcrest was also on early and another later in the morning, while 2 Skylarks made Middle island their home for an hour or two, and a total of 4 Starlings flew about the main island. A pair of Goldfinches were ringed later, giving ringers the opportunity of comparing male and female in the hand. Fifteen Purple Sandpipers were present, the most this winter, and a fairly calm sea enabled up to 25 Great Crested Grebes to be visible off the north end. Turnstones were counted at 170 birds.

Ringed :- 2 Blackbirds, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Goldfinches.     [ 1086-32 ]

(DB,CJ,NDW,PSW,SRW,TGW)      photos CJ

23rd November 2012

A surprise for the observer came when a very late Swallow flew low through the gardens this morning at 09.00hrs. Other small birds were scarce, 5 Skylarks and a Starling were the best logged. A more prolonged sea watch than usual at this time of year produced 8 Gannets travelling east, a Red-throated Diver and 5 Great Crested Grebes. The first ducks for a while came in the form of flocks of 6 and then 9 Wigeon, and a flock of 280 Sanderling was typical of the groups seen flying passed the north end in the last few weeks. Mammals were well represented today with sightings of 'Thumper' the rabbit, 2 Wood mice, and signs again of the presence of a Red Fox.
(DB,MGT)

21st November 2012

Very light winds today and 5 Siskins flying south were the most interesting passerines, also 2 Rock Pipits ringed here in previous years. The Brent were at another new high for the winter of 215 birds, and a good count of 350 Curlew was between Little Eye and the east hoyle. Evidence of a Red Fox on the island came in the form of some faeces found.
(DB)

20th November 2012

A visit by a second class of the Workers Education Association (Sale branch) today found all the usual specialities at Hilbre to interest the visitors:- over 200 Brent Geese, Purple Sandpipers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Great Crested Grebes etc. With no new passerines in the paddocks ringing could nor be demonstrated, however the process was explained and the day was fully appreciated by the visitors who especially enjoyed seeing a Common Seal close by Middle eye.
(DB,KMc+SD,Dave Steele)

18th November 2012

A sunny day for the visit to the island of the Salford University photographic society, and they much appreciated the good light for their pictures. Purple Sandpipers showed well and have increased to 12 birds, and the 2 colour ringed Turnstones are still to be seen. A new Song Thrush was on the island also a Blackcap in the bracken at the south end that refused to be captured for ringing.


Turnstone colour ringed at Hilbre



Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpipers

Ringed :- 1 Song Thrush            [ 1080-31 ]

(PSW, Scott Reid)       photos PSW

17th November 2012

A short visit logged records of 5 Blackbirds, a Redwing, 4 Starlings, a male Chaffinch and 250 Grey Plovers on the east hoyle.
(DB)

16th November 2012

Groups of 500 and 400 Starlings flew south, 8 Blackbirds were on the island with 4 Redwings and a Fieldfare also recorded, and finches including 12 Goldfinches and 3 Chaffinches.
Ringed ; -  2 Blackbirds.       [ 1079-31 ]
(CJW et al)

15th November 2012



Flock of Jackdaws

The weather looked promising this morning with a light south easterly and mist on the welsh coast, and indeed there were Blackbirds on the island first thing although about 7 went south soon after dawn leaving 6 or 7, some of which would be local birds and the rest new arrivals. One adult male in particular (above) had a wing length of 139 mm that suggested it could very well be of continental origin, birds from both Holland and Germany have previously been controlled at Hilbre at this time of year. A flock of 8 Lapwings and a group of 50 Starlings were logged early in the morning, other smaller parties of Starlings called in at regular intervals throughout the day, one individual escaped from a mist net which was most disappointing as we haven't ringed a Starling for a year or two. A Siskin went across Middle calling and was the only finch apart from 6 Linnets and a flock of 10 Goldfinches which arrived in the afternoon. Just 2 Skylarks were heard over the island and a single Rock Pipit at the north end. As the tide flooded 10 Wigeon flew north east and 2 Little Egrets were on the shore and then at around midday a flock of 23 Jackdaws flew south east towards West Kirby and later 2 Mute Swans flew between the islands and north east along the north Wirral shore. 

bathing Purple Sandpiper



Only 8 Purple Sandpipers could be found at high tide, but there may have been others roosting elsewhere. Among the waders today 160 + Sanderling crossed the north end in 3 flocks, also a flock of 350 by Little Eye, and as the big tide flooded 7,500 Dunlin and 120 Grey Plovers were noted while many Knot were again on the east hoyle sands on the ebb, and a single Common Snipe was on the ridge south of Middle after the tide. On the sea 11 Great Crested Grebes and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers were present and a single Red-throated Diver flew west.



Knot on the east hoyle sands





Great Crested Grebe

Ringed:- 5 Blackbirds, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Robin, 1 Wren.    [ 1077-31 ]
photos :- JE (Blackbird)  CJ (others)

(DB,JE,CJ,KMc+SD)