Hilbre Island

It was a very different day today on Hilbre. Gone where the balmy blue skies of last week, and the flitting Goldcrests and Wheatears. Even Meadow Pipits were well down in number.Today was dominated by a cold, moderate to strong northerly wind, and small birds seemed almost completely absent. I stayed on for the tide, a full 6 hours on the island, with no shelter, no toilets, and certainly no coffee shop!

Most of what action there was, was out at sea. There has been a flock of around 6,000 Common Scoter at nearby Point of Ayr recently, so I expected to see a few, and wasn't disappointed, with 30 birds flying around and a few on the sea. Other highlights included 4 Red-throated Divers, a few Guillemots and 8 Gannets.

There were decent numbers of waders, with about 500 Oystercatchers on Middle Eye over the tide, and also about 100 Knot and 100 Curlew. Around the island there were about 100 Turnstones and 7 Purple Sandpipers. The Brent Goose flock still contained 70 birds.