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hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Our blog of a great day on the islands is bang up to date with lots of photos including of highlights our first #YellowbrowedWarbler of the autumn, our first #GreatSpottedWoodpecker and 8 #Spoonbill of the year and more! hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/2026/10/4th-october-2026.html?m=1

hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com

4th October 2026

Weather: SE force 2 The weather looked good for us today and for once it was indeed good. Just after 7.00hrs a Yellow-browed Warbler from ...

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

With the weather very changeable @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social it’s been a little quiet, still plenty to find though! #ukbirding

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

It ended up a beautiful day @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social following early morning rain. Lots of waders about & 2 new Turnstone added to our long term colour marking scheme #birdbanding #birdringing

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Potentially a 1st for @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today with two Willow Emerald damselflies found by @steveonhilbre.bsky.social in one of the heligoland traps

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Big maintenance day @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today repairing heligoland traps thanks to @britishbirds.bsky.social charitable trust grant. Having brew & Steve finds a Leach’s Petrel from Obs balcony. Fortified by sausage, black pud & egg rolls by @hilbre.bsky.social Clouded Yellow as a bonus!

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Bonxie & Leach’s Petrels during the recent NW winds @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Some nice seawatching in September @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social highlights were of course good numbers of Leach’s Petrels, a few Manx Shearwaters, skua numbers were poor but a single Bonxie flew right over us at the North End, a Grey Phalarope whizzed by and a BlackGuillemot paid us a visit #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Such a privilege to see this #Cuckoo close up caught in one of our heligoland traps @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social for ringing under licence 😍 Then later watching it migrate off the island towards North Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #birdringing #UKBirding

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

A real surprise @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today. Definitely not on my bird radar this morning. The 15th Cuckoo ringed at the Obs caught in the SK heligoland. Only the 3rd in the last 40 years. A 2nd calendar year female #birdringing #birdbanding

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hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Our blog is up to date with lots of news and photos from Hilbre Islands LNR, click on the link to view: hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/?m=1

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hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Been loads in the mouth of the Dee estuary Jean over the last week … maybe heading your way soon 🙏👍

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hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Our blog for yesterday is uploaded with lots of photos of birds and other wildlife from Hilbre Islands LNR: hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/2026/04/18th-april-2026.html?m=1

Drake Common Scoter flying left with female Long-tailed Duck just below and behind

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Lovely to see a Long-tailed duck @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social and some fantastic Dunlin plumages as they move North #ukbirding

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Great to see Gannets passing again, not many Brent geese remaining now and the locals getting busy @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Couldn’t believe my eyes when this stunning Sardinian Warbler appeared in front of us @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social reward for all the efforts the team put in. A cracking Redstart was nice too. #ukbirding

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

As well as the Pinks heading North, Wheatears continued to move through @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social and a Sparrowhawk was escorted off the island! #ukbirding

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Thousands of Pink-footed geese headed North out of the Dee and over @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social (sound on) a few passerines around too. #ukbirding

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Retrapped this venerable old Meadow Pipit @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today. 1st ringed by @hilbre.bsky.social on 18/5/2018 making it nearly 8 years old #birdringing #birdbanding

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Female Northern Wheatear caught and ringed under licence @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning. A very worn 2nd calendar year bird #birdringing #birdbanding

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Migration continues @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Sunrise @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social. No new birds ringed and the early morning frost reminded us of the old saying ‘never cast a clout ‘till May is out’ A beautiful morning with Reed Bunting, alba Wags, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch & Siskin passing overhead

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Cracking male Wheatear @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning. Appeared after having a bath in the pond and flew onto Obs new chimney pot to inspect the workmanship before drying off on the roof

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Plenty of Rock Pipit activity @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social . Especially for @suffolkseawatcher.bsky.social! At least 3 unringed birds around paired up with colour ringed birds. CAI one of the 1st birds we ringed is back again after not feint seen since Sept 25

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

More maintenance on the heligoland traps @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today. A brisk F6 westerly made repairing the west side of the ‘Newton’ interesting! Internal baffles replaced on SK so we’re now ready for the new season

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Not just the team @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social getting on with spring maintenance, a nice Black Redstart near home too. #ukbirding

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Busy day @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social repairing one of Heligoland traps ready for the main migration. Birding time limited but did manage Scaup off N end. Probably the long staying bird at WK Marine Lake #cheshirebirding #ukbirding

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hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Our blog for another great early spring day on Hilbre Islands LNR is uploaded, click on the link to view: hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/2026/03/5th-march-2026.html?m=1

hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com

5th March 2026

Weather: SE force 5 with mist, later SE backing north 4 But the sun shone through later. The first Wheatear of the year, on this excepti...

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Unicorn @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today? No, it’s a Chiffchaff with a pollen horn. One of two ringed at the Obs today

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Coal Tits aren’t annual @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social but are most commonly seen in spring. These two were caught & ringed today

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Nice spring passage of Robins @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today. Probably 10-12 birds on the island & 6 ringed.

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Jonny @suffolkseawatcher.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Series 1 of #TheTwoJonnies podcast DONE! ♠️ We finish on a high with @philwoollen.bsky.social of @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social fame. A wide ranging chat including Hilbre, Thailand and Oz birding! Episode is up on all reputable podcast platforms NOW: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

podcasts.apple.com

The Two Jonnies Episode 18

Podcast Episode · The Two Jonnies Podcast · 4 March · 55m

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Great day @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today with @steveonhilbre.bsky.social. The run of Stonechats continues with 1 ringed & this colour ringed bird photographed on Middle Eye. Ringed in August 2026 on Mull!

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hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

A wonderful start to March on the islands the highlight today was this superb sub-adult male #HenHarrier that flew in off the sea and off west towards North Wales … more photos and news on our blog later hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/?m=1 photos 📸 by @alanhilbre71.bsky.social and @hilbre.bsky.social

Sub-adult male Hen Harrier migrating low over the sea at Hilbre Islands LNR

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

#ukbirding

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Spring was in full swing @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social with all the locals back in full voice, Stonechats buzzed around the paddock fences & waders fed as the tide moved them. Great to see a male Hen Harrier come in from the North before heading West, a sadly rare bird here now. #ukbirding

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Alan H @alanhilbre71.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Early start to get over for the tide @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social payed off with a fantastic imm male Hen Harrier that came in off the sea. Spring migration continues with 3 Stonechat, a pair each of Starling,Stock Dove & Woodpigeon. 13 Purple Sand roosting. #UKbirding

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Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

The winter regulars greeted me @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social in the cold & damp, we were rewarded after doing a few repairs with a couple of Porpoises off the North end headed into the estuary

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Nice to see some of our Rock Pipits back @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social with @steveonhilbre.bsky.social & starting to pair up. CAK ringed as adult in 2023, CAX ringed as juv in 2024 & CBN ringed as juv in 2025

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

At least 7 Stonechats @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social with @steveonhilbre.bsky.social today! Spring has officially begun. Skylark & Grey Wagtail over typically early spring birds & an increase in Robins around the island suggests they’ve started moving as well.

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Our 2nd earliest ever Chiffchaff caught & ringed @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today with @steveonhilbre.bsky.social. Earliest was 23/2/2019. Pollen horn & fat score suggest local movement rather than long distance. Contrast in greater coverts indicates 2nd calendar year bird #birdringing #birdbanding

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hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

With shock & great sadness we report the loss of Marc Eden, HiBO member & great friend. Marc was an Obs stalwart for over 40yrs & despite living away cont’d to visit Hilbre & the Dee until his untimely passing. Love & thoughts are with his wife Harriet at this difficult time 🙏❤️‍🩹

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hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Our first #YellowbrowedWarbler of the autumn was caught&ringed under licence this morning. Only our fourth ever September record but our second earliest … hopefully more to come #birdringing

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Always a joy to hear and see the first #YellowbrowedWarbler of the autumn and this morning’s bird was in the heligoland @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social our joint second earliest ever. Autumn has properly arrived this week 🍂💥 also at least 20 Chiffchaff on the island today and a smart male Stonechat too 😍

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Great day @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today. Quite a few birds moving overhead. A few birds ringed including this male Goldcrest and another Rock Pipit added to the colour ringing project and a few logged in the field.

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

A real surprise @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today when this very juvenile Wheatear was trapped & ringed. I don’t recall seeing one this young on the island before #birdringing #cheshirebirding #ukbirding

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

7 species of butterfly recorded @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today including a few stunning Common Blue #cheshirebutterflies #hilbrebirdobs

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

This Rock Pipit was ringed as a juv on 30.07.20 @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social by our chairman @hilbre.bsky.social. It was retrapped today, sexed as male in breeding condition & colour ringed. It was retrapped soon after it was originally ringed but not seen since #hilbrebirdobs #ukbirding #birdringing

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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

A beautiful sunny day @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social surrounded by the call of juv Sandwich Terns begging for food off parents. Lots of butterflies around and lots of Six-spot Burnett Moths nectaring on thistle flowers

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