A wet Bank Holiday

A generally cold,wet windy and miserable Bank Holiday weekend!  Aren't they all! A trip to Hilbre Monday showed little signs of promise early on and didn't improve. Highlights were a single Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear whilst two Arctic Skuas continued to harass the terns off shore - including the adult pale phase bird.

It was so cold I discovered a baby Polar Bear! Actually it was my 7 month old Granddaughter wrapped up warm for her first Hilbre trip all the way from Australia.

Most of the local warblers have disappeared with only the odd Chiffchaff and Common Whitethroat still lurking along the railway embankment near the house. Finch numbers are building up again with good numbers of Greenfinches and Chaffinches back in the garden. The best birds for me though have been the continued presence of a small flock of House Sparrows roosting in our hawthorn hedge and 4 more were ringed this weekend. Strangely enough the majority have been males.