Early spring on Hilbre

Since my return from Thailand I've managed to visit Hilbre on a number of occasions,. Initially helping with the repair of the Heligoland traps but more recently to carry out census and ringing activities as summer migrants start appearing.

Above and below. New posts, cross beams and mesh being installed on 'the heli'

Repairs to west side of 'Newton'

Newton ramp to catching box was in a bad state of repair

New marine ply ramp installed

Hilbre Bird Observatory is largely self funded and the repairs to both the Observatory building and the heligoland traps falls to a small group of people. Funds aren't limitless so we were pleased to be able to apply for and receive a grant from the British Birds Charitable Trust (see here) for materials to repair the traps as they are a vital part of our infrastructure and need a lot of TLC after the winter storms. With Chris and his mate working on repairing the wood burning stove and chimney stack in the Obs building we're getting the place shipshape for a good spring! 

Starling 

Dunnock

Goldcrest

Chiffchaff

Some of the winter visitors such as Brent Geese, Common Scoter, Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone are still  present when the first summer migrants start arriving.

Male and female Common Scoter

Male Scaup - this beautiful duck hung around West Kirby marine Lake and Hilbre for quite a few weeks.

A real surprise was catching a Meadow Pipit with ring number Z619571. Assuming it was either a very old bird or a control I checked the ring number on line using the BTO's DemON database and found it was ringed by Chris, on Hilbre, on the 28th May 2018

It appears that it might be a new longevity record for Meadow Pipit as the previous oldest one recored by the BTO is 7 years, 9 months and 10 days. This bird is 7 years, 10 months and 1 day when I retrapped it on 1st April. We need confirmation from the BTO.

Spring is also characterised on Hilbre with a passage of White Wagtails whilst the first Wheatear of the spring is widely anticiapted.

White Wagtail

Female Northern Wheatear

Male Northern Wheatear

Another early spring highlight was finding this colour ringed Stonechat. Tom spotted it as we were driving beside Middle Eye but it disappeared before we could get photos'. Steve was already on Middle Ey so we rang him to tell him and exited the vehicle to help look for it. Luckily it was relocated and it turned out it was ringed on the Isle of May in 2025. A good indications as to where our regular spring passage of Stonechats may come from.

After being missing most of the winter our breeding Rock Pipits are returning and its nice to see a number of the previously colour ringed birds returning. CAI is the oldest bird seen so far this year having been ringed in 2023. However, the oldest Rock Pipit was first ringed in 2020 but only colour ringed in July 2025. CBX seems to breed on Middle Eye and was seen and photographed at the end of MArch this year.