The Wirral

The Wirral is an amazing place for bird watchers, as I think I have said many times before. It offers something every month of the year. Spring brings the usual migrant species, but it is also a great place for almost guaranteeing certain species that are not easy to find once they disperse throughout the country. Whinchat is one of those and I love being able to find one and even better if you can get a few shots of it.

Reed Warbler

A male Stonechat with a small caterpillar in it's bill.

A distant but very welcome Whinchat.

Norfolk

My last few visits to the Norfolk coast have turned up some recurring birds. The Purple Sandpiper I have looked out for especially on the rocks at Sheringham, but the Common Gull and Common Redshank don't require as much effort. There are plenty around most of the year.

The Common Gull was very obliging for flight shots.

The Purple Sandpiper has been a constant presence for the last 4 months for me.

Two of the four birds present taking a snooze.

A Common Redshank in flight at Cley marshes.

Common Redstart

While I was trawling the trails in the Goyt Valley looking for migrants it appeared that all the action was happening just a few feet from where I had parked the car. When we returned to the car, with only Pied Flycatcher of any real note on our list, I spotted a Common Redstart flitting around the low trees. It was one of my target birds and I was delighted to find it. Another started singing not far away, and I'm not sure if I saw a second one, or if it was this same bird playing tricks on me. Either way it was great to be watching this species again. It's a big part of my year to find these birds. I love them!

As was the way on this day, nothing sat up nicely without any branches in front of it.

Black-necked Grebe

I usually make a special trip to Woolston Eyes near Warrington each Spring to see the Black-necked Grebes. Fantastic little birds, that when in their breeding plumage are something you must see. Not a great deal bigger than the Little Grebe and they spend a lot of their time diving and underwater. So not the easiest bird to find our watch. Well worth the trip though for a few views like this.