Hilbre Island

A long, exhausting, yet ultimately productive day started as I arrived at West Kirby at 6:00am ready for the 40 minute walk over to Hilbre. The forecast was for light south easterly winds, seemingly ideal for migration on the island.
The first migrant I saw was a Wheatear on Middle Eye during the walk across, but once on the main island things seemed a little slow, with just a couple of glimpses of Willow Warblers on the first walk around.
However things improved as the morning progressed, with three Yellow Wagtails, a decent passage of Swallows and a few House Martins recorded. Most pleasing of all, a Treecreeper was seen to come in off the sea and was initially seen on one of the stunted Sycamore trees, before heading off into a Heligoland trap to claim its prize of a shiny new ring! Treecreepers are rarities on the island, and this was a Hilbre tick for me.
Seawatching wasn't bad considering the conditions, with 3 Arctic Skuas, 40 Gannets, 10 Little Terns and lots of Sandiwch Terns seen. I left the island at about 12 noon.

Treecreeper in Hilbre forest (left) and in the hand (right).