AN EVENING ON HILBRE ISLAND

My good friend Allan Conlin and his partner Paula were spending the week on holiday in the bird observatory on Hilbre Island https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilbre_Islands so me and Dianne arranged a evening walk over to the islands for a few glasses of red and hopefully catch a glimpse of the stunning sunset on the north wirral coast weather permitting.We parked the car up at West kirby and started the 2 mile walk over 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 in 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. 

 GOOD NUMBERS OF SANDWICH TERN WERE OFF HILBRE 

 HILBRE BIRD OBSERVATORY

Other birds of note whilst sat drinking a nice vintage was 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! ME AND ALLAN 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

NEW FERRY BUTTERFLY PARK

I visited a new butterfly park today with Dianne at New ferry on the Wirral.The site is owned by the Cheshire wildlife trust who have transformed the site over the years from some railway sidings just off Bebington railway station.For further information on the site http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/new-ferry-butterfly-park.

TWENTY SIX SPECIES OF BUTTERFLY HAVE BEEN RECORDED AT THE PARK

Anyway we had a good walk round and what a cracking little reserve they have established over the years and the volunteers were really friendly and helpful regarding what species of butterfly were around.

 COMMON FIELD GRASSHOPPER

 GATEKEEPER

 SMALL TORTOISESHELL

 COMMON BLUE

 BRIMSTONE

 SMALL SKIPPER

 SPECKLED WOOD

THE BUTTERFLY PARK

Other Moths I have seen this month have included:

 YELLOW TAIL MOTH

 BUFF TIP MOTH

 LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING MOTH

SMALL MAGPIE