5th November 2026

 Weather:  E force 3

The Glossy Ibis of yesterday is apparently still in the marsh at Hoylake this afternoon - so near and yet so far.

 Meanwhile at Hilbre.....

 

 It was not a bad day, with lots of activity to report. A massive count of 536 pale and a single dark-bellied Brent may well be a record count of all time. 

 

 Some on the sea, others on the 'whaleback'

 

 

Shelduck came in at 225 birds with 3 thousand Common Scoter out to sea while 3 Teal were more local visitors at east hoyle bay, and 3 Wigeon came south to the island.

 

 

 Also out to sea were 9 Red-throated Divers, 3 adult Gannets, 16 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Guillemots. A winter movement flock of 29 Lapwings was interesting and nice to see as they flew between Middle and Little Eye. 

 

 .......  while several Meadow Pipits and 5 Starlings were moving.

  The Kestrel was here, also a juvenile Merlin appeared and showed well.

 

 

 

 

Good numbers of waders included 8,500 Oystercatchers, 2,000 Knot, 485 Curlew, 450 Dunlin, 110 Redshank, 120 Sanderling, 60 Grey Plover, 40 Ringed Plover, 65 Turnstone and 2 Purple Sandpipers, and a couple of dozen Bar-tailed Godwits. 

 

 

 There were 11 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons. A Raven was here and of course the now seemingly resident Stonechat. 

Photos ; SRW 

4th November 2026

 Weather:  NE force 3/4

 Following the surprise discovery of a Glossy Ibis hanging around the marsh just off Hoylake, a midday visit was made to Hilbre.

 

  

 

With perseverance and a Telescope it was seen in flight at Hoylake from the obs at Hilbre, (bird photos taken at Hoylake) 

  

This bird is a first for Hilbre, although appearances in Britain have increased in recent years. More familiar a bird on the island was the Stonechat that has been here for some time.

Other birds logged today were a Raven on the beach, 285 Brent, 42 Shelduck, a female Common Scoter, 2 Guillemots, 8 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 6,500 Oystercatchers, 25 Ringed and 35 Grey Plover, 240 Curlew, 38 Sanderling and residents 6 Rock Pipits, 4 Meadow Pipits, 4 Blackbirds and 3 Robins.

Photos : SRW

3rd November 2026

 Weather: NE force 4

 

 Apart from the dramatic skies a mid-morning visit found little to write home about, It was a colder day than the temperature showed and the results were like a winters day birding. A single Skylark was the only 'migrant' recorded. One highlight was a count of 338 Brent which included many juveniles.

 

  

 ......... and there were 65 Common Scoter seen along with 2 Guillemots. Both Kestrel and a young Peregrine made the list. 

  

Waders noted were 270 Curlew (225 south of Little Eye), 65 Turnstone, 95 Redshank and 125 Ringed Plover seen on the way off the island. 

  

 Regulars on the island were 6 Rock Pipits, 2 Meadow Pipits, 2 Blackbirds, a Linnet and a Robin.

 Photos: SRW

 

31st October 2026

 Weather:  ESE force 5,   SE 4/5 by mid morning  

 A very foggy start with a strong south easterly wind did not bring too much unfortunately. Winter thrushes etc. dominated this morning with 12 Blackbirds, 2 Redwings, 5 Fieldfares, a Song Thrush, 2 Brambling and a Reed Bunting, also 3 Chaffinches. There was also a small trickle through of Meadow Pipits. Ten Pink-footed Geese passed over. Counted were 27 Wigeon and 3 Teal, while more regular birds 140 Brent, 7 Shelduck and 20 Common Scoter showed. The male Stonechat was still here. A list of waders included 220 Redshank, 4,000 Dunlin, 600 Knot, 40 Grey Plover,  1 Ringed Plover and a single Bar-tailed Godwit.

Ringed: 2 Blackbirds

30th October 2026

 Weather: ESE force 4/5,  mist around the estuary

A misty day with the wind still ESE was expected to be at least as productive as yesterday, but there was considerably less about. A single Brambling came down briefly in the Obs garden early morning. Also pre-dawn 55 Pink-footed Geese left the estuary, more were heard calling later but could not be found in the mist for a count. Brent Geese were counted at 280 but again it's likely many more were around the islands.

A flock of 46 Linnet had roosted in the Blackthorn overnight, there was just a single Skylark today but a small number of different finches moved through (3 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch and 2 Goldfinch) also 14 Meadow Pipits, some of which (without rings) may have been on the move.

 

 

 The only bird moving in numbers today were Starlings with groups through the morning totalling 227.

 A Chiffchaff was in the paddocks. 

 
Counts from the sea included a Red-throated Diver, 4 Great Crested Grebes and 75 Common Scoters, and wader numbers were good: 5,500 Dunlin, 200 Curlew, 96 Redshank, 49 Grey Plover, 50 Turnstone and a single Purple Sandpiper. There were 2 Grey Herons and a Little Egret. 

Photos AS

29th October 2026

 Weather : ESE force 1, later SE 3

 A good passage of Skylarks again, 50 in total passing through all morning. Also overhead were 29 Pink-footed Geese. A Stonechat was on middle, it was ringed and will be the one that was ringed here on Tuesday. A Magpie was around during the morning. 

 A wide selection of  finches very much featured during the day with a flock of 9 Greenfinch which moved around the island for a while, also 3 Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 4 Siskin, 2 Redpolls, and in addition 22 Linnets roamed the island. A Reed Bunting let itself be known to observers. A single Purple Sandpiper was here, while other waders included 15 Grey and 10 Ringed Plover, 73 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2,000 Dunlin and 400 Knot. On the sea 770 Common Scoter were mostly in the air out towards the wind farms, apart from a few around the islands.

Four Gannets and 11 Guillemots were recorded on the sea.  As the tide made, a commotion by the 2 local Crows drew attention to a Buzzard approaching middle, where it landed for a while. Visits to Hilbre by buzzards are surprisingly rare.

 

 

  Eight Little Egrets, a Kestrel and a Grey Heron were also on the log today.

 Photos AS

 

 

 

 

27th October 2026

 Weather:    SSW / SW force 5-6 gusting 8  , Dry with good visibility

 The combination of a high tide and winds meant the usual roosting spots for waders were either underwater or lashed by salt spray.

  

Many waders roosted on top of Hilbre or on Lion Rock in Niffy Bay - including several Knot but no wintering presence of Purple Sandpipers yet.

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

Unexpectedly, given the conditions, there was some evidence of passerine migration with several Starlings being grounded.

 .....and a flock of 20 Chaffinches that roosted in the obs garden. What was presumed to be the same Stonechat seen yesterday was caught and ringed in the obs garden.  

 

   Some Redwings also came to ground.

 As usual most of the Common Scoter were way out to sea but a few came close to us.

 The Kestrel was still here..

 

 

 

 Photos; AEH, PSW