Hilbre 11th July 2025

A leisurely start to my latest visit to Hilbre as the intention was to stay over the tide and try snd catch some more Rock Pipits to add to our colour ringing project. At low tide they tend to feed further out on the exposed rocks and mud foraging among the seaweed whilst at high tide they get forced to feed on the island itself making them easier to catch.

On arrival the first thing I noticed was the huge number of Six-spot Burnet moths nectaring on thistles and  Birds-foot trefoil. 

The warm weather was certainly bringing the butterflies out with a total of 8 species recorded during the day including a good number of stunning Common Blues.

Other flowering plants included the delicate Harebell - commonly known as 'Witches Thimbles of 'Fairy Bells' and Common Centaury.

Harebell

Common Centaury

With the tide advancing and the island cut off by water it was time to try to catch some Rock Pipits.  I caught three birds but one was a retrap from two weeks ago. The second was one of this this years young but it was the third that was the  most interesting. Ringed as a juvenile in July 2020 it was subsequently recaptured in August 2020 but not seen since. We'd been seeing a metal ringed bird without  colour ring sporadically over the breeding season and this appears to be that bird.

CBV one of this years young Rock Pipits

CBX an adult previously ringed with a metal BTO ring in 2020

Coupled with field sightings of three more colour ringed birds this all adds to the data we are collecting on this species. A good number of juveniles were also seen and some of the adults are collecting food so I suspect they may be on their 2nd or 3rd broods.

A real surprise was catching a very juvenile Wheatear. I can't recall seeing one in such juvenile plumage on Hilbre and it must have fledged fairly recently and close to the island.

Another successful but blisteringly hot day on the island!