My Blog - Jeff Clarke

Goosed on Hilbre

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All images unless otherwise stated © Jeff Clarke 2011

I spent the morning of 13th March leading my adult education group on a low tide walk to Hilbre Island. This is without doubt one of my favourite places in the North-West of England. I set off from home in rain but by the tine I reached West Kirby the cloud had broken and before we even reached Hilbre the sky was a scintillating azure blue. The air was crystal clear and the cool SW breeze gradually dissipated. We stopped at the superb Hilbre Island Bird Observatory; a chance to catch up with old friends and John Elliot gave the group a short talk about the observatory. We then made our way to the north end of the island and enjoyed stunning views of Light-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla hrota. Colour ringing shows that at least some of these birds originate from Arctic Canada.

Amongst the geese, picking through the barnacles, mussels and seaweed  was a fine selection of of rocky shore waders, including Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima and Turnstones Arenaria interpres. Everything looked dazzling in the perfectly lit conditions. A large number of birds were massed at the tidal edge on the Hoylake side of the channel that separated the island from the mainland and it was disappointing to see  an inconsiderate dog walking allowing 'Fido' to flush this flock.

By mid-day large numbers of walkers were reaching the islands and that was our cue to return to the mainland, though not before we enjoyed a fine drake Common Scoter Melanitta nigra close in to the island. We thanked the observatory regulars and on the return stopped to look at the freshly dead seal pup stranded on the sands. There are many Atlantic Grey Seals Halichoerus grypus around the Islands and I expected this to be one. Surprisingly it was a Common,or Harbour Seal Phoca vitulina. It had no signs of injury and it's demise is a bit of a mystery probably only solved by an autopsy.

Before I left for home I called in at Rivacre Valley Local Nature Reserve to check out the Wild Daffodils Narcissus pseudonarcissus, my timing was good and I took a few photos before departing.