15th October 2021

 Weather: NE force 4, decreasing ESE 2  mostly sunny

A cold front passing south during the night brought in another influx of Brent, now counted as 241 plus 1 dark-bellied this morning. Among them was a colour ringed bird ringed in Iceland and first seen here in November 2016. With the large number of winter birds present it seemed odd when a late Wheatear was found perched on the fence around the top paddock.

Another summer visitor made a late appearance when a Swallow flew low in off the north end and south down the island. Skylarks came through in small but steady numbers totalling 38, and a couple of Grey Wagtails called as they passed, while 3 Pied Wagtails were down on the ground.  A small passage of Meadow Pipits also continued during the morning. Later 2 Reed Buntings were recorded and a Raven was south of Middle island. The very low tide today did not give rise to large gatherings of waders, although 200 Sanderling, 65 Redshank, and a 100 Curlew.

After double figures recently, only 7 Little Egrets today.

Sea birds included 35 Common Scoter, 20 Red-throated Divers (mostly in the afternoon), 2 Guillemots and 3 Great Crested Grebes and 3 Harbour Porpoises showed during the watch. The sunshine encouraged 2 Red Admirals to fly. The Barn Owl was out and about again last night as witnessed by those up before daybreak.

 Photo CJ, SRW

14th October 2021

 Weather: SSE force 3, W 5 in the afternoon

A front was clearly visible as it approached Hilbre this morning and probably helped with a little bird movement.

 

Seven Redwings were heard pre-dawn when the Barn Owl showed again and 2 Reed Buntings were on Middle first thing.

 

Three Snipe also flew over Middle Eye and 2 Wigeon were with the Brent in the west side of the lagoon between the islands on the early morning ebb tide.

Also on the ebb 2 Red-breasted Mergansers fed close in to the gutter before flyong off south, then another arrived but did the same. Bird of the day was a Great Spotted Woodpecker which arrived and even entered one of the traps but was seen off by one of the 2 the Kestrels present alighting on top of it. The middle of October is the prime time to find one of these scarce Hilbre birds on the island which average about one occurrence a year. Apart from the Redwings, 7 Skylarks flew through and 2 Goldcrests were in the paddocks, these were the sole migrants. Ravens were again seen today.

There were 153 Brent counted today, slightly less than yesterday, but the numbers will continue to creep up until Dec/Jan. Not otherwise mentioned so far were records of a red-throated Diver, 18 Common Scoter, 16 Little Egrets, a Peregrine and various waders, for example 64 Turnstone, 46 Redshank, both more than average lately, 3 Sanderling and a Bar-tailed Godwit. After dark 19 more Redwings were recorded calling as they migrated overhead. A Wren was ringed today.

 Photos SRW

13th October 2021

 Weather: WNW force 3   drizzle in the morning

A brief visit this morning found that the Brent made another leap in numbers to 162 pale and 1 dark-bellied which included a colour ringed bird seen here previously (TXRB).

With the main Brent Goose flock to the south west of Hilbre (on the tide edge and sandbank) this family group of two adults and three juveniles appeared to have just arrived at the North End.

A couple of Grey Herons have taken to spending time in the paddocks during the day at low tide and overnight. Presumably joining in the vole-fest with the Barn Owl and Kestrel!

 Two Ravens were noted again, presumably the same pair that has been recorded on several occasions recently.

Two Goldcrests were about the paddocks and gardens, but no other migrants showed themselves in the short time available. At least 350 Cormorants were around (6 were on the marine lake) and 320 Curlew counted, 50 Scoter on the sea, and 15 Little Egrets.

Photo SRW 

12th October 2021

 Weather: WNW force 4

A brief visit in threatening skies found a single female Goldcrest in the old obs garden which was later ringed.

The Brent Geese reached a high count of 117 birds including one dark-bellied form, also a huge number of  Cormorants (c 850) and Great Black-back Gulls (95) on the outer sandbanks or moving west. In contrast, due to the short visit low numbers of most species were logged, although there were 180 Curlew and 6 Little Egrets.

Photos SRW

11th October 2021

 Weather: NW force 3

Five Goldcrests were on the island but none made it onto the ringing sheet, there was also an extra influx of  Meadow Pipits, Robins, 4 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, and Wrens.

Five and then 3 more Skylarks flew east over the island. Two young Blackbirds born on the island this year were re-trapped, also a first year Robin. The Brent were scattered around the island and so difficult to count although an estimate on leaving the island on the flood tide was over a hundred pale-bellied and 1 dark-bellied.

 

A single Grey Heron and 7 Little Egrets made the list but waders recorded were few, 90 Curlew, 25 Turnstone, 11 Ringed Plover, 50 Dunlin and 8 Redshank. Apart from 120 Common Scoter, the Cormorants and the gulls, the only 'sea bird' was a juvenile Great Crested Grebe on the West Kirby marine lake.

 Photos JE

10th October 2021

Weather: NW force 3/4

Despite the northerly wind some migrants were on view with singles of Goldcrest, Wheatear, Chaffinch and Chiffchaff. present in the morning.

Four Skylarks flew through and a Golden Plover was logged again today following a number of records this month. The residents, although not always mentioned  are not forgotten; Robins, Wrens, Rock Pipits, Robins are all about as well as the more ubiquitous summer breeders, Meadow Pipits and Linnets.

The fresh northerly this morning blew in 6 Red-throated Divers and 3 Great Crested Grebes. Pink-footed Geese were arriving again with 125 overhead this morning. Early risers saw the Barn Owl performing today from 6.15 until 7.00 am. A visit in the afternoon found 3 more Goldcrests had arrived and 2 of them were caught for ringing. About 90 Brent and 6 Little Egrets were then around the islands. An unexpected Bonxie flew west over Middle Eye, putting up all the birds on the shore

 A Short-eared Owl was seen between Hilbre and West Kirby shore marsh, flying up river (thanks to Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens)

The evening was another beautiful sight as have so many recently.

Photos AEH, SRW

9th October 2021

Weather: ESE force 3 decreasing in afternoon with rain later.

The Barn Owl was again the star of the pre-dawn half-light, sitting on top of one of the heligoland traps.

A few Skylarks again flew through this morning while in the paddocks a Chiffchaff was present and a Goldcrest which was then ringed.

A large count of 31 Little Egrets was recorded, most of them from along the marsh edge after the tide. Amongst the waders 52 Turnstone and 38 Redshank were both higher numbers than of late, there were also 151 Curlew, 300 Dunlin, 4 Sanderling and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit. A scarcer wader here was a lone Lapwing. Brent numbers today totalled 73 and Shelduck 63.

 Photos SRW

8th October 2021

 Weather: SSE force 3, warm with sunny intervals

Just before dawn the Barn Owl was hunting at the south end of the island and the best photo yet was obtained as it sat on the fence around the top paddock

 A fairly quiet morning followed until it became alive with the finding of a Firecrest in the sycamores of 'heli' trap.

 

The bird here on 7th September was very elusive whereas this individual was seen actively feeding at times and favouring the tree in the east garden of Telegraph house in the afternoon.

 

The Firecrest had travelled alone, there were no Goldcrests about today, just a few extra Wrens and Robins and a few dozen Meadow Pipits passing through and with over 20 Skylarks and 3 Reed Buntings calling as they flew by. A Song Thrush which was caught and ringed was thought to be the first here this autumn. During a quiet period over the tide members guest Myra Brown sketched the view of Middle from the obs

It was the highest tide of the month 6,500 Oystercatchers covered Middle by midday and other waders logged were 26 Sanderling, 67 Ringed Plover, 350 Dunlin, 25 Turnstone, 6 Redshank, 3 Grey Plover and 4 Bar-tailed Godwit. Also on the shore were 12 Little Egrets and 4 Grey Herons. Ninety Brent were counted, a diver species, 35 Common Scoter and 58 Shelduck were seen while 2 Great Crested Grebes were below the obs at high tide with one in full summer plumage.

 

Photos AS, SRW