Wednesday 13 March 2013

13th March 2013

A quiet day on the island today with potential migrants held back by the cold northerly wind. The only passerine moving through was a Pied Wagtail although the male Stonechat remained at the southern end. Even the sea was quiet with just one Great Crested Grebe & 6 Scoter the sum total for the day. The were however large numbers of waders present with 10,000 Knot , 8,000 Oystercatcher, with one of the former species falling prey to a Peregrine early morning. However, only 4 Purple Sandpipers were found in the high tide roosts. 160 light-bellied Brent remain and 5 Wigeon were on the ebbing tide. The bird of the day was a first (or second) winter Iceland Gull which flew past an Obs member at Red Rocks (MGT+KD) toward Middle Hilbre late morning but unfortunately could not be relocated amongst the 4000 Herring Gulls roosting and loafing around the islands. An estimated 12,000 large gulls were on view after the tide.
(DB,CS)

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