Hilbre Island

I was on the island for 7am today, hoping that the moderate westerly wind might produce a decent seawatch, despite the "low" high tide of just 6.87m. There were plenty of Gannets out on the horizon, and a two came very close past the north end, but the Manx Shearwaters were very distant, and even through the scope were just dots. Seabird of the day was a pale phase Arctic Skua which attacked a Sandwich Tern. Unfortunately I had already left the island when a Leach's Petrel was seen mid-morning.

On the island, it was a bit too windy to expect to see much in the way of passerines, but there were at least two Wheatears.

There was a decent amount of waders in the gutter adjacent to Middle Eye, and I found a sheltered geo and set myself up with the scope to watch them. There were at least 200 Dunlin, 100 Ringed Plover, 100 Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel and 50 Curlew. In the channel four 1st winter Little Terns were fishing.