Hilbre Island

It was quite an experience walking across the beach in the dark, towards the shadowy silhouette which was Little Eye, and then on to Middle and Hilbre itself. I arrived at Niffy Bay at 7:30am, and it was still pretty dark, yet even so I was convinced that yesterdays Red-flanked Bluetail had gone. The weather felt wrong, the wind had changed, it was cold and it had been clear overnight. Sure enough, the only passerine I could find was a Wheatear, and I then had to content myself with listening to tales about the bluetail from two obs members who joined me on the island a little later in the morning. All very interesting yet depressing stuff. I did however manage to see a Merlin and a Peregrine.