14th September 2026

 Weather: SW 4, 6/8 cloud, very good visibility, warm (18 degrees C)

A fairly quiet day at the Obs but waders were on the increase with 4,200 Black-tailed Godwit seen on the Salisbury sandbank before the tide flooded them off, presumably to Newton/Caldy to roost.

The Kestrel remained around the main island using the flag poles to look for prey.

Seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese were present and seven Shelduck came in off.

Two Red-throated Divers were on the sea as well as 28 Sandwich and 2 Little Terns.

28 Swallows came 'in off' and the first Grey Wagtail of the autumn flew over south.

It was an excellent day for insects around the island with butterflies and moths very much in evidence.

Several Rush Veneer's were found amongst the bracken.

Three Clouded Yellow and two Painted Lady butterfly were present mainly along the west side of the island and around the pond.

13th September 2026

 Weather: bright sunny day

A visit by visiting birder Paul Ralston produced a nice selection of birds but butterflies were much in evidence!

14 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were present along with a drake Eider loafing on the tide.

Sixteen Little Egrets and 2 Grey Heron were recorded.

The highlight of the day was 10 Clouded Yellow butterflies (surely a record count for the island).

10th September 2026

 Weather: SE 4/5   rain around noon

 Basically a quiet day but there were 2 Wheatears, a Willow Warbler, 3 White Wagtails, no Swallows but a House Martin (below) present.

 Three Robins were here, these are often migrants at Hilbre. This individual was caught for ringing.

 The best sighting of the day was a Sparrowhawk across the island.

 

 

The Brent peaked today at 32 birds. there were 2 Teal logged, 16 Sandwich Tern counted, 2 Grey Herons and a large count of 21 Little Egrets and a single Shag.

A male Common Scoter also showed well near to the island.

 

Waders noted during the day were 420 Curlew, 65 Bar-tailed Godwit, 45 Ringed Plover, 420 Curlew, 52 Turnstone and 48 Redshank.

Photos: SRW 

 

9th September 2026

 Weather: NW force 5

The question that was asked about Leach's Petrels still being on the sea this morning was answered with 7 more counted from Hilbre this morning.

A single Gannet was here, but later 2 Arctic Skuas showed up at Little Eye.

 

 

 

 

 

  The latest count of Brent saw that they had increased up to 32 birds,

 

  ......... with 2 Wigeon and a Shoveler as visitors. Also on the island were 4 Little Egrets,

 ...... a Peregrine , a Great Crested Grebe, a Whimbrel, 30 Ringed Plover, also many Turnstone and Redshank.

 

 Seven Swallows were about the island. A Wheatear was seen on the way off the island. A Small Tortoiseshell and 3 Clouded Yellows showed today.

 

 Photos AEH, SRW 

8th September 2026

 Weather: W force 6,  late afternoon WNW force 7 

 

 It was a strong westerly from dawn and in the evening it increased force 7 and veered to the west north west. That little bit of north in the wind was enough to send some of the Leach's Petrels that were undoubtedly in Liverpool Bay in towards Hilbre. The first was seen at 5pm and 11 more followed during the evening until dusk.

 

 

 

 

 Also recorded in the windy conditions were 14 Manx Shearwaters.

 

 

 Best of the rest was an Arctic Skua, a Guillemot and 125 Sandwich Terns went west. The 11 Brent Geese had not increased. Around and about were 12 Little Egrets, 2 Common Scoter and a Grey Heron.  Earlier in the day a couple of Swallows were here and 4 Robins on the island, while a male Peregrine hunted. Waders  featured 520 Curlew, 60 Turnstone, 60 Sanderling, 45 Redshank and 220 Bar-tailed Godwit.

 

 We shall see how many petrels etc. are here on the morning tide

Photos SRW 

7th September 2026

 Weather:  SW force 3/4

An afternoon visit discovered that there were now 11 pale-bellied Brent, and increase on the 9 that arrived yesterday. 

 Among the 300 or so Black-headed Gulls on the shore was a Mediterranean Gull in adult winter plumage.

A nice sighting were 1,200 Black-tailed Godwits flying from Salisbury bank towards  the Wirral shore

 

 

Bar-tailed Godwits were also recorded (45 today), also 35 Redshank, 50 Curlew and 20 Ringed Plover.

Twenty Common Scoter and 4 Shelduck were noted and just 9 Little Egrets, also Grey Heron and Kestrel. On the island were a Robin, a Blackbird, 2 Pied Wagtails, a Meadow Pipit and 6 Rock Pipits, this one feeding on the shore.

 A Wheatear that is here is the same as that seen for several days around the buildings.

 Butterflies are still about in numbers, particularly Clouded Yellow, there were 4 today

 

also a painted lady, Green-veined White (3), 

and a Comma.

Photos SRW