Thursday 30 October 2008

30th October 2008


An excellent late autumn day with three species of geese seen including 89 Pale-bellied Brent, 151 Greylag and 90 Pink-footed and the first wild swans of the winter were seen when two Whoopers flew north between Hilbre and Red Rocks nursing home (see photo - apologies for poor record shot).


Sea-watching was productive with another (or the same?) Great Northern Diver noted, along with 13 Great Crested Grebes, c30 Common Scoter and 11 Scaup loafing on the sea during high tide.

The semi-resident Merlin was seen again several times, as was a Peregrine and male Kestrel.
Four large flocks of Starlings totaling 3,600 flew west in the afternoon.

However, the highlight of the day was a Black Redstart found on the Obs veranda and fence before moving to around the Ranger's house. Surprisingly it is our first Black Redstart in five years.

It ended up being caught in the Newton trap - the first to be ringed on Hilbre since 1993 and only the sixteenth ever to be ringed here.


Video
(DB, CJ, PGW & SRW) Photos by SRW;Video by CJ

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