Knot playing ball.

Usually when I come across Knot they are in large groups a long way off in the distance. It doesn't matter if they are actively feeding, roosting or being flushed in the air by a dog or raptor, they are always off in the distance. Some birds are difficult to approach and even more so when there is nothing to hide your form on a wide open beach. So I gave up trying to approach far off birds some time ago. It doesn't do the birds any good to be constantly shifted on when they could be resting or feeding.

When I arrived at Hoylake the tide had gone way out. I could see all sorts in the distance, but my luck was out and I saw what I could through the binoculars, made my notes and moved on. A few hundred yards past the Lifeboat house I could see a decent sized flock of waders really close to the sea wall. So I got out of the car to take a closer look. The flock were mainly Knot, so I was delighted I was able to get close whilst staying on the pavement and they were happy to carry on their business. Everyone was a winner.

Once again, the light was just perfect.

This shot is a bit blurry, but I've included it as the central bird had colour tagged legs. I have sent the details off to the relevant people and hopefully I will be able to come back with some more information on this particular bird. 

Redshank - Hoylake

The beach at Hoylake always holds many birds. It's a joy to wander along and watch the flocks of Dunlin and Sanderling flash against the sky, but then see hundreds or thousands of gulls and Oystercatchers sat on the muddy looking flats after the tide has retreated. Redshanks are usually in good numbers too, and here is one particular individual that was enjoying the gorgeous winter sunshine whilst looking for its food.

The wind turbines and the rows of gulls and waders in the distance

Turnstone and Oystercatchers

I went in search of Purple Sandpipers at New Brighton last week. I had no such luck though on this occasion, but I will return and I will find them.
The tide had gone out quite a distance by the time I arrived (which probably was the reason the Purple Sands weren't playing ball) but it left some rocks exposed along the beach and the Oystercatchers and Turnstones were having a wonderful time picking things over and generally rummaging around. Although it was windy the sun was out and it made for a very enjoyable day.

Do you have anything for me there please Mr Oystercatcher?



Redwing

I managed to get some decent views in good light of Redwing last weekend. There were dozens of them on the ground in one particular field. It seemed like the ground was alive with them. My previous sightings of them this winter had been long distance and in very bad light, so I was pleased to be able to enjoy them in all their colourful splendour.

Robins once again.

We had some lovely cold weather at the weekend. There was a hard frost but with that was a nice clear sunny day. The cold seemed to bring all the birds out too as they desperately searched for food. I'm seeing Robins everywhere at the moment and I just can't help point the camera at them. They make it so easy with their inquisitiveness. So apologies for once again showing these birds.

Some Gull Diggery

I must start by saying that I find identifying gull species very difficult. So many plumages for the same bird that are so similar to completely different gull species.
I've spent a long time looking through many books and also online, and I think I've nailed this particular gull down to be a juvenile first winter Herring Gull. I am more than willing to be shot down though. I never feel confident with these birds, but I am growing to appreciate them a lot more and dare I say it, enjoy watching them. It's great to scan a large group and pick one out that's slightly different and then try to decide what the devil it is.
Anyway, this bird was seen at New Brighton on the Wirral a few months back. Please advise if you believe this to be something completely different. I can handle the truth.

Juvenile first winter Herring Gull

Little Jenny Wren

For most of the year I find the Wren notoriously hard to spot. Usually in thick dense undergrowth, keeping out of harms way, whilst teasing me with its tick tick alarm call. Come the colder winter months though they are forced from their cover to forage more widely for food, or is just that there are less leaves on the trees and bushes? I'm not sure, but what I do know is that they give much better views when the days are cold. Such a loud song too for a very small bird.

Come on, turn round.

There's a good chap.

Blackbird

Blackbirds have been very conspicuous of late, and they've been taking advantage of the abundance of berries on our hedges and bushes. It seems that many migrate here from other parts of Europe, but I've yet to truly distinguish these from our own birds. It seems as though some of the migratory birds have a darker browner bill, whereas this one below quite clearly has a more yellow bill.

Plenty to eat here.

This male has Ring Ouzel like scalloping of brown edged black feathers.

Shelduck

Shelducks remind me of Norfolk and Snettisham in particular. This was where I first remember seeing hundreds of them on every piece of water I looked at one winter. Great looking birds and so very colourful. These shots were taken at Martin Mere this Autumn. Look what a difference the light makes to the colour. It's been a very frustrating Autumn/Winter this year. Just not enough light at the weekends for good pictures.

Here's to a brighter year ahead, and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you to all of you who visit my blog. I'll do my best to bring you some decent bird shots in the year to come.

 

A Robin at Christmas

I think the one bird that I and many associate with Christmas (apart from a Turkey) is the Robin. I've had plenty just recently outside my window and I've tried to capture them at numerous times in a nice Christmassy pose (if that makes sense). I'd failed miserably. Until Monday when I was off and looking for birds far more exciting. This little chap just appeared feet away from me, clearly checking me out to see what I was up to. So I just let him carry on his business and me mine and we enjoyed a good few minutes together. I think we were both happy. Me with my pictures and he was happy I was not causing any disturbance.
Merry Christmas Mr Robin and thanks for the pose.

 

 

Song Thrush

A day off today to finish my Christmas shopping went so well that it left me with a little time to pop down to my patch and see what was about. The answer was not an awful lot, well not out of the ordinary anyway. There were though some really super looking Song Thrushes hopping and skipping around one of the fields. A few Blackbirds and Robins, oh and I did see my first Redwing of the year and on my patch too. A goo day all round.

Some pleasant Pheasants

At Leighton Moss a few weeks back, I came across a very large group of very friendly or stupid Pheasants. It was really cold and they really didn't seem concerned by me at all. So I took advantage of this fact to get some close ups. If I'm honest, they were a little too close, but I shouldn't complain I suppose. These game birds usually scare the life out of me when I flush them (unintentionally) so it was nice to wander along the path with them

Treecreeper

It's been a while since I've seen a Treecreeper and I wasn't really looking for one when I was at Macclesfield Forest, but the cold seemed to have brought them out in abundance with at least 4 seen in a short space of time. I find that they're one of those birds that I just have to watch once I've spotted one. They're a little hypnotic the way they wind their way up the tree and then down again to the next one, while picking under the bark for food.

Just look at those long toes

Fieldfare

A lovely crisp cold morning and -5 showing on the thermometer. It was time to get myself back to Macclesfield Forest and the surrounding area. Lots of Goldcrests around the conifers and Blue Tits and Chaffinches flitting around. I managed to catch up with my first Fieldfares of this winter. I always look forward to our winter Thrushes arriving, and there were also plenty of Blackbirds around. Still waiting to see my first Redwing, but I'm sure it won't be long now before I catch up with one.