Hilbre maintnenance work

With the migration season almost over for Hilbre, apart from the winter thrushes, its time to undertake some maintenance work on the heligolands. Clearing the lanes and cutting back the bushes is essential as left to grow to tall the birds don't get funnelled into the traps and the roofs suffer damage as the branches push their way through the wire netting.

Arriving at dawn in a beautiful sunrise we caught a few Blackbirds before setting about the task of getting scratched and pricked by the overgrown blackthorn and brambles.

We finished just in time and as the Chairman cooked up the bacon sandwiches the rain came rolling in.

Brent Geese numbers have built up to 77 with a single Dark-bellied amongst the Pale-bellied. There was a bit of overhead movement with Grey Wagtails, Skylark and a few finches being logged on the day sheet.