Thursday 4 May 2017

4th May 2017

Weather: NE force 3, then ENE 5/6
A big surprise for members checking Middle Island on the way to Hilbre was a female Common Redstart sheltering on the west cliff from the gusty easterly wind (below,CJ ). This gave hope that migration may be better than anticipated this morning, but hopes were dashed on arrival and despite a Willow Warbler in the obs garden and 2 others in the paddocks, very little else was grounded.

Two thousand Herring Gulls had rested the early tide between and to the west of the islands, an unusually large number. During the morning 3 Sand Martins and 6 Swallows passed through and 2 Redpolls and 2 Siskins flew over but no Wheatears made it here today.
A Peregrine rested on the ridge south of Middle early on (below, CJ )and 5 Little Egrets and the lone remaining pale-bellied Brent Goose were on the shore.


There are still at least 2,000 Dunlin and 10 Whimbrel (bottom, AEH ) here also a fine summer plumage Bar-tailed Godwit (below, AEH ).



 Ringed: 1 Robin               [ 277-27 ]     

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