On Sunday I met up the MNA group for an early start on the
slipway at West Kirby for 09:15hrs and the small group then walked
over to Hilbre Island for a high tide stay-over, which took us about
3/4 hr to walk across the sands to the bird reserve.
While there we saw quite a few small migrating birds that
had stopped off for a rest and a quick feed. Also a few nosy Grey
seals were seen bobbing up and down around the island just keeping an eye
on us.
The volunteer bird recorder who had set caged traps around
the island had caught several small birds in them and brought them over in soft
white bags to show them to us. Pointing out the feather length differences
between a first year bird and an adult bird returning from Africa. He blew onto
the bird's chest feathers to separate them, for us to see how much yellow fat
was left through their thin skin after their long journey.
Among these birds were a small Gold Crest, a Wheatear, which
had stunning feather plumage.
We were allowed to watch him ringing, measuring, weighing
and recording the birds statistics into his log, which would then
be transferred onto a national computer data base. So that
the individual ring identification numbers can quickly be
accessed and can make a data comparison.
One that he had just caught in a mist net had flown all the
way from Africa ... which is just amazing when you come to think about it. As
these birds only weigh a few grams.
It was around 16:00hrs when the tide had receded
sufficiently enough for us to walk back across the sand to Hoylake.
The mist rolled in even thicker, so i just followed the
tracks in the wet sand of the vehicles that had driven to and from the island
after the tide had receded.
The visitors who were still on the island and those
returning to the mainland, got caught out by the mist, which was very
disorientating and had to call the RNLI life guard for help, who fortunately
was at hand and parked up on the island on his quad bike. He sounded his horn
so they could get a bearing on him and to follow him back to the mainland
...
As soon as i drove away from the coast and onto the M53
Wirral motorway to return back home. The sun was cracking the flags and had
been a warm summer's day by all accounts.
A lovely day was had by all, disregarding the sea mist but
seeing those lovely birds close up was a real treat.
Neil ............
