Hilbre Island - long may the south easterlies continue!

Another day of south easterlies saw me once again on Hilbre. By the time I reached Middle Eye at 6:30am I had already ticked off Tree Pipit, 4 Wheatears, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll, and it was looking very promising.

A few minutes later I arrived at the main island to find that a male Redstart had already been trapped, and just as I arrived, a Common "mealy" Redpoll flew into a mist net. A very scarce bird on Hilbre, this was the second in two days. Since the vast majority of "redpolls" fly straight over and avoid the nets, it makes you wonder how many Mealys are passing over.

Once again there was a reasonable fall of Willow Warblers, with about 20+ trapped, and good numbers of finches, swallows, White Wagtails and Wheatears (at least 25), and a second Redstart, this time a female.

A weather front passed over the island from the south at midday, bringing with it a small fall of Willow Warblers and a single Garden Warbler.

On the shore there were at least 10 Whimbrel, 300 Oystercatchers, and about 15 Turnstones, including a few spectacular males in summer plumage.

The sea watch was a little disappointing, with 30 Gannets and about 40 Sandwich Terns, but not a lot else.


Redstart female


Mealy Redpoll


Garden Warbler

Mealy Redpoll