Saturday, 22 August 2009

Hilbre Island

It was a glorious summers day, and a joy to be on the island.

Passerines were thin on the ground, with just a handful of Willow Warblers seen. At around 9am there was a small passage of Swallows, all heading south, low over the island. There are still about 400 Sandwich Terns in the area, but today most were roosting on the West Hoyle Bank. Around the island the Oystercatcher flock has grown considerably, but I saw (and heard) only one Whimbrel. Ringed Plover numbers have increased, to about 30 birds, and there were a similar number of Curlew.

Recent high tides have produced counts of up to 700 Manx Shearwaters, a few hundred Gannets and a few Skuas, but today I had to be off before the tide, so didn't see any sea birds.



Small Tortoiseshell on Purple-loostrife.


Oystercatchers


Large White on Purple-loostrife.

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