Hilbre Island 2nd April 2011

An eventful and exciting day. Eighteen of us set out from West Kirby, five of us made it to Hilbre Island and the rest ended up marooned on Middle Eye as the tide cut them off.

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Gazzilions of Wheatears, the Bird Observatory guys were kept busy ringing the phylloscopus Warblers that had hankered down on the island after the overnight rain. The best bird caught in one of the heliogoland traps was a Ring Ouzel!

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A moulting Merlin, hirundines – Swallows, Sand Martins & House Martin overhead, Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers, a Tree Pipit overhead, Gannets and a Sandwich Tern out at sea kept us busy. A Grey Seal hauled out at the north end of the island and a Common Frog kept my camera busy.

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Lots of marine life with Beadlet and Green Sea Anemones, Sand Gobies, Lugworms, Limpets, various Bivalves.

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All with the wonderful backdrop of the weathered and mottled bunter sandstone on the island.

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