Fun in the Sun

Last weekend was particularly cold, with three nights of frost that did not thaw out during the daytime. We were then blessed with some really good sunshine. A cold sunny day always has me excited to get outside and see what's about. 

It was a hat, snood, and gloves type of day, but that also means that the birds and wildlife are all actively seeking out food, which can make it easier to see some of the more shy species. 

It was a lovely morning, which seems to have been followed by a week of rain, with more to come this weekend. Oh well, not much I can do about it, but look back at what's out there with these pictures.

Coal Tit

Jay. Not a bird that is easily brought down from the safety of the trees.

Mallards in flight.

This pair were braving the ice on Redesmere. It was about 60% covered, which did push some of the birds like Goldeneye, Goosander and Pochard a bit closer to me than normal.

Pochard

Cormorant over two Tufted ducks.

Astbury Mere - Shag

 I was already out with the camera at the weekend when I saw that a juvenile European Shag had shown up inland at a lake in Cheshire, only half an hour from me. So I made my way down to Astbury Mere in Congleton in the warm sunshine. After a wait of nearly an hour it revealed itself right beneath me. It must have been out of the water and drying it's wings out of sight beneath the grassy bank. It soon made it's way out into the open water to fish, and boy did it fish. It was constantly diving and eating. A great bird.

Here is the larger cousin, the Cormorant, that I had seen the previous day at Pennington Flash.

Cormorant

At West Kirby marine lake there are always plenty of waders around and usually roosting. I came across a Cormorant though that was particularly sleepy. I wasn't sure if it had just come in from a long flight and was exhausted, or was just generally tired. I don't normally see these asleep. They're usually fishing or standing wings aloft to dry.
Still, it gave me a chance to view this sleeping beauty.

Titchwell

The beach at Titchwell is often just too far away for my little legs to muster the energy. When I do bite the bullet though and follow the path the whole way from the car park it is quite often well worth it. My problem is that I stop (a lot) on the way and look for other things, and it can take me a good while to get there. Then I'm thinking about heading back.
Anyway, on this particular day I was pleased to see some Bar-tailed Godwits on the shore line. A year tick for me.

The bird in flight showing its barred rather than black tail feathers.

One of the obvious differences from the Black-tailed Godwit is the upturned bill. Slight curvature can be seen on this bird.

Brent Geese in flight. Always a safe bet at Titchwell.

A Cormorant taking a breather.

And in flight shortly afterwards.

A Lapwing enjoying the mud in the sunshine.

Hollingworth Lake

I had a couple of hours spare last weekend and went for a walk around Hollingworth lake in Rochdale. The weather has been truly dreadful of late, so I was just glad to get out without a howling wind or heavy rain. 

It was a leisurely stroll and not a great deal on the water, but enjoyable all the same as the sun began to set. 

I can't wait for Spring and some potentially drier, less windy spells of weather. Not a guarantee in this part of the world though.

Coot

A Cormorant in with some Lapwings.

A distant Kingfisher watching a Great Crested Grebe. 

Carsington Water

While I had the bit between my teeth on Sunday, I carried on from Macclesfield towards Derbyshire and Carsington Water. It's somewhere I've visited a few times now and somewhere I really like. Although usually busy, I feel like it's just me and nature, and the birds in particular.
Stopping at Sheepwash car park, I was hoping to catch up with some Bullfinches and Tree Sparrows that are quite common around the bird tables situated here. But it was a bit later in the day than I'd seen them before and people were picnicking close by. How rude?
So I ventured on down to the Sheepwash hide. To my delight I was the only person in there. Looking out I could see two Common Sandpipers nice and close scurrying along the shore line, and also two Grey Heron patrolling. Cormorants were sunning themselves close by but not a lot else was going on, so I moved round to the Paul Stanley hide. Plenty more of the common species here. With plenty of Coots, Tufted ducks, Gadwall, Lapwings, Great Crested Grebes and one Common Tern. Long grass made it difficult to get any decent shots, so I moved out to a feeder near the hide. I didn't have to wait long before a tatty looking Nuthatch appeared. I always enjoy seeing these birds.

View from the Sheepwash hide

One of the two busy Common Sandpipers.

 

Cormorants, doing what Cormorants do.

A juvenile Great Tit taking a peak

 

A tatty looking Nuthatch.

Hoylake

When I left home it was cold and bright with not a cloud in the sky. As I headed West out to the Wirral, I could see the cloud on the horizon. Fingers were crossed that it wouldn't empty on me at any point. I arrived at Hoylake just as a little drizzle started, but nothing to put me off. I donned my boots and headed off to the shore line, which was a little further than it first looked. Still, I could see waders whisking around in flocks and continued. I passed a group of Shelduck then a few Ringed Plover stopped by. There were lots of Oystercatchers and Dunlin skimming around.
As I was walking towards the Lifeboat ramp a bird of prey spooked everything. At first I couldn't quite see what it was as it skimmed low over the sand, but then it landed. A Peregrine Falcon, sat on the beach, some 40 yards away. Absolutely superb.

You can just make out the rainbow that was sat over the building in the centre.

Hundreds of Cormorants were constantly on the move.

Dunlin and Oystercatchers.

Oystercatchers on the move.

As the tide comes in, the birds keep getting moved on.

One of three Grey Plovers that did a low fly past over me.

A welcome visitor. A Peregrine Falcon that spooked nearly everything.

Woodford

Glorious weather at last. After so many grey or damp days, the sun and warmth have arrived. I've been on the local patch recently. There's not really been anything spectacular to report but it's just been nice to see birds moving around in good light. There have also been some Brown Hares around. It's usually just rabbits, so it's always good to see something different.

Cormorant

Lapwing

Dunnock

Wren in full song

Curlew on the golf course

Now, this little fellow thought I wouldn't see him if he lay as flat as possible in an open field just 10 metres away from me. Well I've got news for you Mr Brown Hare. I saw you, and saw you run away when you thought I wasn't looking. Busted!