Hilbre Bird Observatory
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Get latest news from Bird Observatory on Hilbre Islands established in 1957, run by volunteers and accredited to BOC in 2008.
Hilbre Bird Observatory
1d ago
Weather: SW force 3, WSW 3 in afternoon
A single Fieldfare was around for most of the morning but other than that and a Chaffinch there was little on the island, so it was surprising that a Merlin turned up and was about for a while, mostly on the west side. Two Skylarks flew through. On the sea was a Guillemot and a Great Crested Grebe and on the shore 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron and 3 Eiders, while the Kestrel was airbourne around the island. A good count was made of 414 Brent Geese, most along the edge of the Swash. Around the edge of the incoming tide were 530 She ..read more
Hilbre Bird Observatory
3d ago
Weather: WSW force 3 W 3 by noon,, rain showers
There was just a Chaffinch logged again today as extra to the normal winter residents and visitors in the gardens and paddocks (8 Wrens, 6 Blackbirds, 6 Robins, 4 Song Thrushes and 3 Rock Pipits). There were 480 Shelduck between the shore and the islands, while 8 Wigeon floated up gutter with the morning tide, and a male and 2 female Red-breasted Mergansers flew west passed north end. Two Eider, 300 Brent and 25 Common Scoter completed the wildfowl for the day. Apart from the Scoter a single Great Crested Grebe ..read more
Hilbre Bird Observatory
3d ago
Weather: W force 3, SSW 4 in afternoon
As expected with the westerly, passerine movement stopped but compensation was more on the sea than of late, including a Bottle-nosed Dolphin to the west of the north end. The sea provided other interesting sights in an hours watch including 84 Guillemott flying west, mostly as singles, also 4 Razorbills, 9 Red-throated Divers, 7 Gannets, 9 Kittiwakes, 180 Common Scoter and 12 Great Crested Grebes. At the same time 9 Wigeon were in the lagoon and were later joined by 3 more. Two hundred Brent included a bird colour ringed on Anglesey in 2019 ..read more
Hilbre Bird Observatory
1w ago
Weather: E force 3
Yet another great White Egret, this time out at sea struggling against the wind and landing on the east hoyle briefly before continuing along the Wirral north shore.
There were quite a few small migrants again with 3 Skylarks moving also east, a small passage of Meadow Pipits, 14 Starlings, 7 Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch, 18 Linnets and 3 Siskin. It was pleasing to see a Chiffchaff that seemed to exhibit some eastern influence.
Brent were counted at 220, also 2 female eider, also on the sea a Great Crested Grebe and a Guillemot and shore wise ..read more
Hilbre Bird Observatory
1w ago
Weather: SE force 2/3
A few good birds this morning and some decent visible migration. The day started well with a Merlin on Little Eye,
A Snipe was put up from the reef and upon arrival on the main island there was a brief sighting of Barn Owl again, possibly the same bird as a week ago.
Our second record this autumn of Great White Egret was then spotted flying west towards Wales.
Six Bar-tailed Godwit roosted on Middle and our first returning Purple Sandpiper that is probably here for the winter was at the North End.
Other waders included 6 Golden Pl ..read more
Hilbre Bird Observatory
1w ago
Weather: WSW force 3, W2 at midday and SSW 1 late afternoon
Our seventh Yellow-browed Warbler of the year was heard in the Obs garden then seen briefly before disappearing at 945am. An hour later it appeared again in the Obs garden mist net and became the sixth to be ringed on the islands this autumn.
No sooner had it been released a Sparrowhawk had also found it’s way into the mist net. The second to be ringed this autumn, this bird was a juvenile male.
Earlier a different Sparrowhawk was found in the east gardens, it's unusual to have 2 in a ..read more
Hilbre Bird Observatory
1w ago
Weather: WSW force 5/6 SW 5 in afternoon
A passage of 68 or Meadow Pipits were evident with some landing on the island,
while some finches were also recorded in transit including 11 Goldfinches and 4 Siskins flying over, as were 2 Skylarks. A pair of Wigeon landed in the gutter on the incoming tide. Resident Wildfowl today were 273 Brent and 3 female Eider. A Raven was later seen over Middle and earlier a flock of 16 Carrion Crows were logged as they flew over the main island.
Good numbers of waders roosted the tide including 8,000 Oystercatchers,  ..read more
Hilbre Bird Observatory
1w ago
Weather: SE force 5 rain. In the afternoon 7/8, then 9/10 later, with gusts of force 11 early evening.
Our brave observer stayed the tide and faced the storm force winds later on. A Peregrine was about early but no Kestrel ventured over today in the blustery conditions. Local passerines kept low but 2 chaffinch were recorded, one seen coming in off the sea. The sea got rougher as the morning progressed, sightings were a Red-throated Diver, 2 Guillemots, 70 Common Scoter and a Shag. In Niffy Bay 42 Redshank and 116 Turnstone roosted,
with 60 Ringed Pl ..read more
Hilbre Bird Observatory
2w ago
Weather: SE force 3 rain later in the afternoon
Yet another owl to delight Hilbre observers, this time a Short-eared owl flew east to west across the island towards the Great Orme pursued by irate Oystercatchers which had spent some time looking for places to roost at the very high tide.
They had also been disturbed by the rescue of people stranded on Middle and the ridge to the south during the big high tide. There were more migrants again today, perhaps fewer than yesterday. Meadow Pipits numbered 90, Skylarks 8 and finches featured again with 63 Linnets, 10 Goldfin ..read more
Hilbre Bird Observatory
2w ago
Weather: SSW force 3/4 clear overhead
The most excitement today did not happen until late afternoon when a Barn Owl was found in the Old Obs and then was found again a little later in Niffy bay.
Barn Owl is very rare at Hilbre, there have been only single figures in the history of the bird obs. After the Tawny Owl of a couple of weeks ago, it is tempting to suggest the high numbers of voles at the moment have had an effect. When the bird returned to the old obs garden, good photos were obtained as it went dark.
Five Redwing were heard pre-dawn and 120 later i ..read more