Scenes from a cold Island!

Bitterly cold on Hilbre with icicles hanging off the cliffs on the east side. The garden is full of birds with my first Lesser Redpoll of the year scrapping with the bigger finches for a place on the feeders and at least 6 Blackbirds feeding on spilt seed. A female Blackcap is also a regular to the feeding station but its been to cold to put any nets up. Its so cold the local cats can't even scrape a hole to shit in the garden.

Wader numbers are on the increase with good numbers of Grey Plover, Sanderling and Dunlin being recorded o nthe East Hoyle Bank. Niffy Bay is the preferred roosting place on Hilbre at the moment and up to 20 Purple Sandpiper have been congregating on the wall below the Buoy Masters Store.

Times are tough and even the Carrion Crows can't always be bothered to fly to far when theres food to be had.

Up to 20 Goldeneye have been visiting West Kirby Marine Lake when not disturbed by windsurfers.

Finally, heres a couple from another bitterly cold day a couple of weeks back - at least it wasn't sleeting or raining!