Dipper - Greater Manchester

I've enjoyed watching a pair of Dippers recently on the River Roch in Heywood. They have been in the area for some time, but I've noticed them more regularly in recent months. I'm pretty sure that they bred last year, but didn't spend enough time watching them to confirm.
A week ago I heard one of them in song as it sat atop a large stone in the river. They have a very melodic song but it is quite tricky to hear over the sound of rushing water. Fingers crossed they are gearing up for some breeding, and if they do, I hope to be on hand with the camera.

Most likely to be looking a Cadisfly larvae.

It's not all doom and gloom.

A walk around a local lake recently showed signs of an impending Spring. The Coots were very feisty and chasing rivals away and even sometimes off the lake. The Grey Herons were setting up nest sites and some actually on the nests. Great Crested Grebes were seen to do their courtship displays. All very exciting for me, as it reminds me that these short dark days won't be forever and that Spring will come again and so will the sunshine.

Coot

Great Crested Grebe

Shorelark - Holkham

The beach at Holkham on the north Norfolk coast holds very good numbers of Shorelark (also known as the Horned Lark) at this time of year. I made a special visit to see some, some weeks back and was very pleased with what I found. This was the first time I've seen these birds, and as with every hunt for a life tick, it was a bit stressful and tense trying to find them in a vast area.
They didn't help me by being in amongst some vegetation and generally staying out of sight, but then I clocked them and all was well again.
I spent a good 30 minutes just watching them from a safe distance and taking pictures as and when they popped their heads up. They didn't do anything fancy, like give me a nice flight shot or even emerge from the vegetation, but I still enjoyed them all the same. A great little bird and one I hope to catch up with again soon, now that I know where to find them.