Juvenile Gannets - Salthouse

Standing on the beach at Salthouse on a windy October day is great for viewing passing sea birds. There were lots of Gannets passing at some distance, but some of the younger birds were trying their luck much closer in. These birds are large, but the plumage is really interesting as a juvenile. They look so dark compared to the adults, and it will take a few years before their plumage turns to that of the white adult birds.

A juvenile Gannet putting on a nice show for me from the shingle beach.

This is my favourite view of the bird. You can see the wing markings nice and clearly.

An adult bird taken at Bempton earlier in the year for comparison.

Cattle Egret

I'd not seen a Cattle Egret over the last two years, and they are always a bird that I have to make a special trip out to see. So when reports of one, and then two, turning up in a cattle field just 15 minutes down the road came through on the local Whatsapp group I had to make the after work dash.

Both were still in the field busy following the herd and picking off flies and insects as they moved. One appeared to have an injury, as it was hopping and flapping each time it moved. Hopefully it is ok and manages to heal itself. Great little birds to watch, and one that completed the set of Great White Egret, Little Egret and Cattle Egret for the year. 

High Tide at Hoylake

A couple of weeks ago I headed over to the Wirral coast to watch the waders moving during the high tide. I ended up at Hoylake where an hour before high tide the sea looked a good mile or more away. It moves quite quickly here and it was fun watching the birds shuffle closer together before taking flight to find a dry bit of sand. The usual suspects were in attendance, with Oystercatchers, Curlew, Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover and Knot all mingling together. At one point a Peregrine flew through which caused pandemonium. It left empty handed though.

A couple of Bar-tailed Godwits were a welcome addition to the day list, and as I don't go to the coast as often as I should they're a bird that I don't get to see all that often. With them were hundreds of Knot. Again a bird I'd not seen for a year or two, mainly due to me not visiting the areas they like to hang out. All in all though it was a very good few hours and reminded me I need to do this more often.

Bar-tailed Godwir on the left with a supporting cast of Knot.

Knot in flight

Single Knot

And more Knot

Lapwing Lane

It had been a while since I'd got out for a meaningful birdwatch, but I went to one of my favourite local haunts last weekend and had a really good couple of hours. The sun was out and it was a nice mild day. I didn't find anything unusual but there were plenty of the usual woodland suspects on show. 

A Kestrel was hovering over the lakeside vegetation for a good 10 minutes, and made a couple of unsuccessful swoops, but it allowed me to stand and admire the beauty of this majestic bird. Never underestimated by me, it's a really special bird.

Kestrel

The bridal path was packed full of birds and the constant calling of Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch and Treecreepers. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called, but soon took off once it saw me.

Long-tailed Tit

Nuthatch

Treecreeper