Hoylake Bird Observatory (1 Viewer)

[Jane Turner]

today has been remarkable for hirundine passage 150+ Swallows, 15 House Martins and 55 Sand Martins. A few Tree Pipits and Yellow Wags are going over with Redpolls. Wheatear and White Wagtails on the beach.

 

[Jane Turner]

A quiet day today - though have been working most of it. Just three Tree Pipits and a Yellow wagtail to report.

 

[Jane Turner]

I was out working most of today, but managed to record a nice male Whinchat before I left (new for year) and there were two Willow Warblers in the back garden when I came in. There was also a Redpoll over this morning and my first Chaffinch for a long time.

103 for the year

 

[Jane Turner]

There is a new Grasshopper Warbler singing in the garden today - my first in the back garden. Its in a small isolated bush - it has to be - by the stream, and I can't see it! While I was looking for it Blackcap and Whitethroat went through and there are some resident House Martins back at last. I can see a Whinchat down at Red Rocks... about time I had one on the front wall! My early morning dozing was punctuated by frequent whimbrel calls

 

[Jane Turner]

Bearing in mind we have a near gale blowing here I thought Gannet was a certainty... but no! Less expected, but new for the year were 8 Swifts.

That is 104 foir the year

 

[deeestuary]

About 5 gannets close in shore to Red Rocks yesterday afternoon as tide came in, could just make them out throught he mist.

www.deeestuary.co.uk

 

[Jane Turner]

Missed them Richard! Redstart and Whitethroat in the front garden this evening and about 60 White Wagtails on the beach.

Redpoll over this morning

 

[Jane Turner]

PLenty of Gannets out there toay - it feels more like September. Also my first Manxies.

106 for the year

 

[Jane Turner]

107 - yes I know I have been slacking on the updates! An Osprey eating a fish on the beach. It later flew south up the Dee and off towards Wales

 

[Jane Turner]

Here it is! Taken my Pete Williams and guarding its Flounder closely

 

[Jane Turner]

Can't help thinking I should have looked more today. Spotted Flycatcher in the back garden and a Sedge Warbler in the buckthorn

109 for the year

 

[Jane Turner]

110 up, a Garden Warbler, also a female Redstart which was so dirty underneath that I thought it was a Black Redstart at first. I saw another Osprey today too - over Liverpool

 

[Jane Turner]

Added Little Tern yesterday. There were quite a few waders; 30 Sandeling, 200 Dunlin and 75 Ringed Plover. An immature female Peregrine had a Dunlin for breakfast.

111 for they year.

 

[Jane Turner]

112 came in the form of a Hobby, which flew right over my head and not particularly high, when I was cutting the lawn. It was also an addition to the house list and long overdue! The 187th species I think.

 

[Jane Turner]

Its been a quiet few week - not much to report. The waders have gone now except for a lone Ringed Plover. There are a few Gannets at sea most days and there was a Sparrowhawk last week (never common here).

The Swifts have fledged and today autumn started - a Grey Wagtail flew over calling.

 

[Jane Turner]

Still not much to report, there are a few Curlew back now and another Grey Wagtail

 

[Jane Turner]

On Sunday (yessterday) a migrant Yellow Wagtail flew over. Nearly time to start getting serious again.

 

[Jane Turner]

113 - Storm Petrel I get the impression that there were a few out there today since I saw one on each of my three short sea watches. Also good numbers of Manx Shearwaters, 35 in a few minues. As yet no Sooty Tern!

 

[deeestuary]

They had 23 Storm Petrels off Hilbre yesterday, we think a record number. But I was wardening all morning at the Little Tern colony at Gronant (on the Weslh side of the Dee Estuary) and didn't see any! Loads of Gannets and quite a few Manxies though. BTW - thought for a minute you'd seen 113 'Stormies'!!!

Richard Smith

www.deeestuary.co.uk

 

[Rob Smallwood]

Jane,

Any "Stormies" today? - there don't seem to be any North-west reports so far.

I'm off so was thinking of a brief look this afternoon.