My good friend Allan Conlin and his partner Paula were spending a week on holiday at the bird observatory on Hilbre Island.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilbre_Islands. Dianne and I decided to take an evening walk over to the islands for a few glasses of red wine, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stunning sunset along the North Wirral coast, weather permitting. We parked the car at West Kirby and began the two-mile walk to the islands.
Looking back towards West Kirby
Dianne approaching Hilbre Island
We soon reached the bird observatory, where Allan put me straight on to an adult Black tern he had found with the Sandwich and Common Terns. As we all sat talking outside the observatory, I picked up a Sedge warbler skulking around in the pittosporum.
A good number of Sandwich terns were off Hilbre
Hilbre bird observatory
Other birds of note whilst sat drinking a nice vintage were a Whimbrel that flew over calling and a Peregrine hunting over middle eye. Moving round to the front of the observatory, the sun started to set, and we were to witness a perfect end to a great evening.
This is the life,Allan and I enjoying a glass of wine
A great evening spent with good friends in wonderful surroundings, and well worth a visit if you've never been over to Hilbre before. For all the latest bird news on the islands, visit https://twitter.com/hilbrebirdobs?lang=en-gb
