Spotted Flycatcher - Leasowe

One of the last of our summer migrants to arrive is the Spotted Flycatcher. I eagerly await these smart looking birds. I'm always wishing they'd turned up with the Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers, but it does mean that there is something else to look forward to. If only they were easy to find.
I know of a few spots, but even then it requires patience and some luck in catching them in flight. This is the main give away for me. Lots of other birds will flit about and dart across, or even hang up under the leaves. The Spotted Flycatcher though will often take a perch and then swoop up or out to catch a fly before returning to the same branch.
I searched in vain for an hour or so last Saturday night, but then returned to the same spot on Sunday morning and found one within minutes. I knew I was in the right spot, just needed to bide my time. Unfortunately now, the trees are in full leaf in most parts and so photographing these lovely birds is a bit trickier. Despite not many pictures, I enjoyed watching this particular bird for some time. I hope it won't be my last of the year.

Swallow

I had a lovely walk last weekend. The sun was shining and it was calm and warm. I was able to leave the jacket in the car and enjoy the delights of the Cheshire countryside. Lots of birds were busy feeding young and so making themselves obvious in flight and again on the ground.
The Swallows have not been back very long, but numbers are building up nicely and it's good to watch them gliding over the fields once again. Even better for me, is when they perch up on a cable or wire to allow me to take some pictures, and when the sun shines it's even better.

Pied Flycatcher

I'd seen a Pied Flycatcher a few weeks ago at Titchwell, but it was quite a quick glimpse and only one that confirmed what it was. I look forward to seeing them each year, but it requires a special trip out. Never a problem for me as it is on my favourite birdwatching patch. Gosh, what a bummer!
So, special trip made, and right on cue a pair were found. Took a bit of searching, but when found, I had a good amount of time spent with them. The male was in song quite a lot of the time by the nest site, and the female was busy gathering nesting material. Such good looking birds. So glad they make the trip from West Africa each year.

 The male Pied Flycatcher.

The slightly less colourful female, but a lovely looking bird all the same.

Along the river bank of the River Goyt there were a couple of pairs of Common Sandpipers. Not usually the most confiding bird, this pair were unaware of my presence as they gathered nesting material.

 

Fulmar - Sheringham

The cliff tops at Sheringham are a great place to look for birds. It could be Meadow Pipits, Stonechats or just recently Ring Ouzles. I like to look out to sea a lot of the time, scanning for anything out of the ordinary. I've seen all sorts, from Gannets to Red-throated Divers and Scoters.
Currently nesting in the rocks are are some Fulmars. I had tried for a few days to try and get some flight shots of them, but they always seemed to come out of nowhere at me and then off before I could get a focus on them.
These are the best I could manage, but watching them sore along the cliff tops was good consolation.

Once again, it came out of nowhere.