31st May 2015

Weather: NW force 3, rain early
Poor weather conditions this morning were not suitable for much birding, 2 Gannets and a single Manx Shearwater were the best that could be found in the short time available.
(AEH from over, PSW)

30th May 2015

Weather: NW force 4/5 decreasing, drizzle
The aftermath of a strong blow from the west resulted in records of 24 Gannets, 3 Guillemots, an immature Kittiwake and best of all, a Bonxie on the sea off the west side (right,AEH). Male Sparrowhawk and Peregrine were logged, 12 House Martins and 2 Pied Wagtails went through, and on the shore were 2 Little Egrets, 400 Dunlin, 100 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstones and 3 Whimbrel.
(AEH+JKH, from over)

29th May 2015

Weather: W force 5/6 later 7/8
A striong westerly produced sightings of 30 Gannets. Six Little Egrets were in the gutter and 7 Turnstones still remain around the rocks.
(AEH,+JKH,SRW)

28th May 2015

Weather: W force 6/7
The strong wind this morning meant a sea watch was the order of the day. Manx Shearwaters (10), and Gannets (95), were the main species battling the wind with a few terns also logged. Five House Martins passed through going west but little else could be classed as a migrant.

 In contrast to recent days there were more Ringed Plover to be seen than Dunlin (above), it may have been something to do with the state of the tide. The unringed Rock Pipit was at the north east corner of Middle.
Four Little Egrets today (right), that is about the average over the last few weeks.










(AEH)       photos AEH

27th May 2015

Thrift and Birds-foot trefoil are now in flower (CJ)

Weather: WNW force 3, dropping during the morning

Garden Tiger caterpillars are everywhere on the grassy paths (CJ)

Hilbre bird of the day was not seen from the island but from the marine lake in the form of an Osprey that flew west between Little Eye and Middle Eye at 11.55hrs (AEH). Late May or even June Ospreys are by no means unknown, although most pass through in April or early May. Things on the island were not as exciting with the continued westerly scotching hope of any late migrants. Three Goldfinches landed briefly and a few odd Swallows joined the locals as they passed and a Sand Martin came through at Midday, otherwise it was just the breeding birds on the island, including the pair of Blackbirds which had not been seen for a while, and the unringed Rock Pipit. Several parties of Shelduck flew west including one of 39 birds, and the Dunlin and Sanderlings continue around the island but in smaller numbers than of late. The morning was so cool that no butterflies ventured out and a single Common Darter at midday was the only other sighting. The high counts of Common Seals continued with a peak of 550 today.

Grey Plover with Dunlin (CJ)

Two of the several Sanderlings feeding at the north end (KMc)

(CJ,KMc+SD)

26th May 2015

Weather: NW 3-4, 6/8 cloud

When will the westerly airstream end? Those of us with positive outlooks are dreaming of that first American passerine on Hilbre - a sparrow seems the most likely (or perhaps better put as 'least outrageous') suggestion...

In the meantime the birding is slow.  The highlight this morning was not even seen - a calling Golden Plover was first noted at the North End before being heard from the Obs.

No migrants were noted in the trapping areas but the sea again had a moderate number of Gannets and Sandwich Terns.

Grey Seals on the West Hoyle sandbank increased again to c410 today as we head towards the peak months for these fantastic mammals in the mouth of the Dee estuary.

The temperature needs to rise a notch or two to put insects more on the agenda.

(SRW (from over), DB (pm))

25th May 2015

Weather: NW 3, 6/8 cloud sunny intervals

Birding took a back seat today for many reasons (only partly the weather)...

First up the three Queens met up in the mouth of the Mersey and all three were visible from the island albeit in the haze.

Next up it was the Red Arrows heading for the party over the Mersey (poor back of camera shot above).

Then came the dramatic rescue of a man who had ended up in the sea by rocks on the West Side just by Ladies Cave as the tide was rising.

The RNLI lifeguards, who had discovered the man, stayed in the water with him as he was in severe pain from injuries from his fall.

Both West Kirby and Hoylake lifeboats attended quickly and crew members were landed to provide casualty care and equipment.

A decision was made quickly to get him out of the water onto a level board and a joint effort of RNLI lifeguards, RNLI boat crew (with some assistance from the Obs Sec and Dr F Cox from the Cox's bungalow) he was put onto a stretcher and moved above the rising tide from where he was given further medical attention, blankets from the Obs were fetched and paramedics arrived and soon after the RAF sea-king helicopter arrived and airlifted the casualty from the rocks below Wheatear Hill.

A tremendous team effort by the brave men and women of the RNLI & RAF services.  A reminder to all how dangerous the islands can be and what a great job these people do.

We all hope that the casualty recovers and our thoughts are with him, his family and friends.

Footage from @RNLIHoylake can be seen here: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/watch-new-footage-rnli-teams-9333217

With the airlift videoed from inside the Obs (by CLW) as the top of the island had to be cleared to avoid the RAF sea-king's down draft:

http://youtu.be/Fi26_Az1Ulw

Back on the island birding had been quiet  with only 3 House Martins and a few Swallows to show on the migrant front and wader numbers were lower again than in recent days but everyone was distracted by the day's events.

A single Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly was in the West Side garden of Telegraph House and hundreds (probably thousands?) of Garden Tiger caterpillars still roamed particularly the South End of the island.

(SRW et al (from over))

24th May 2015

Weather: NW 3, 8/8 drizzle first thing, clearing later 

Drizzle soon after dawn did little to raise expectations considering the wind direction and temperature.  Similarly the poor visibilty did little to increase prospects of much and meant that observers could not even see the arrival of one of the three queens into the Mersey through the murk.

As always though there were still birds and wildlife to be seen around the islands and Little Egrets seemed oblivious to weather as the fished happily in the gutter dancing around.

Sandwich Terns and Gannets were much in evidence on the sea but without the sun yesterday's East Hoyle roost of the former only reached about 30 birds on the flood tide with none present on the ebb.

Waders had decreased in number from yesterday but there were still a few hundred Dunlin,  50+ Ringed Plover, 78 Sanderling and 2 Curlew.

Meanwhile the Peregrine sat menacingly on the sandbank as the tide dropped and was watched stopping at a Dunlin shortly after. 

The summer plumaged Razorbill was seen on the sea off the North End.

A single Whitethroat appeared along the Obs fenceline mid afternoon and was the only passerine migrant noted today.

 

(SRW et al (from over))