Another good day on Hilbre.

 A bit late posting this one as it was a couple of weeks ago  but another good day on Hilbre with two more Rock Pipits being added to the colour ringing project. We've already had sightings from members of the public who've photographed darvic ringed birds that enable us t identify them without the need to recapture them or get close enough to read the metal BTO ring number.

Rock Pipit CAF was ringed as a young bird on the 4th August and was seen on the island on the 12th. On the 13th it was photographed on the mainland at the lifeboat station and we thought that was it - post juvenile dispersion and its away to find its own territory. Imagine my surprise when I recaught it on Hilbre on the 14th August. It had finished with its travel though and was photographed at Meols on the 25th August. Quite some movements for a young bird.

I digress, the 15th August was a lovely if breezy day on the island and the sheltered paddocks held good numbers of butterflies including another Small Heath and several Common Blues.

There have been good numbers of grasshoppers in the paddocks and the local Meadow Pipits are making good use of this food supply and are still feeding second broods of young.

The Swallows have successfully raised a second brood and there are young birds from the first broods all around the buildings.

Adult Swallow

Juvenile Swallow

The juveniles can be recognised by their shorter tails and their yellow gape line. Its hard to comprehend that these small birds will soon be making their first trans-saharan migration to spend our winter in Africa.

Linnets seem to be fairly scarce at the moment after seemingly having had a good breeding season. Perhaps they've already departed to the saltmarsh on the mainland for the winter? There are still birds hanging around and feeding on the seed heads of thrift. They make use of the freshwater puddles after rain to bathe and drink from.

A recent feature of the avian fauna has been a regular female Kestrel hunting along the cliffs of the west side. She's been taking Meadow Pipit fledglings and also making a snack of the occasional grasshopper.

Autumn wader passage is well underway and some very smart Turnstone are currently feeding and roosting around the island. They really are smart looking birds in summer plumage.