Blacktoft Sands RSPB Reserve

There was a very good supporting cast at Blacktoft where I saw the White-tailed Lapwing. Numbers weren't great, but the variety was. There was plenty of wildfowl, with Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallard in attendance. Snipe were plentiful, and I do love watching them. Even if they are resting and doing very little I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time studying them and their striking plumage. A couple of Spotted Redshank were good to see. A Great White Egret put in an appearance and got itself added to my year list. Oh and almost forgot, a Bluethroat. A rarity here and yet another lifer for me. A great day all round.

Spotted Redshank

Common Snipe

Great White Egret

The Goldfinch were busy feeding while I was sat in one of the hides.

A very distant Bluethroat that was flitting around a long way away at the base of the reeds.

Goldfinch

The call of the Goldfinch always take me back to my childhood. I have fond memories of gazing out of my bedroom window at the telephone lines, looking and listening to these birds. They were so different to the Sparrows and Starlings that I could identify back then. So colourful from front to back, and a song that was a lot more tuneful than either the House Sparrow or Starling.

Keeping safe in a bush at Martin Mere.

Lesser Redpoll

I've missed several opportunities this year to see Lesser Redpolls. These images were taken at Watergrove Reservoir in Rochdale. I was on the hunt for a Marsh Tit at the time, but was more than happy to see one of these pitch up at the feeders. It is a very small finch (as you can see below alongside the Goldfinch). A lot easier to see in the winter when the leaves are off the trees, or of course when one lands on a feeder in front of you.

Redpoll here on the right, with a Goldfinch.

 

 

Goldfinch

 I usually hear the Goldfinch before I see it. Usually in small flocks darting overhead, or sat on telephone wires. You can 't beat it when they come to feed in your garden though. This lovely specimen below was taken at Burton Mere RSPB reserve, where they make sure the feeders are full for all types of species. A nice sunny day helped to bring the shine out on the red face.

A Cold Winters Day

Back in the winter I spent a day in the hide of Charlie Owen in Glazebury, Cheshire. As cold as it was that day, the light was spot on. The birds were obliging and plentiful. Most were common garden or farmland birds, but it was fantastic day. I'm happy to revisit it here.

Blue Tit

Greenfinch

Nuthatch

Great Tit

Goldfinch

Please stop raining.

I thought I'd cheer myself up this week with some colourful birds that I've photographed recently. The weather has been horribly wet for what seems like an age, but is really more like days. It has stopped me going out though, and that makes me sad. I get cabin fever quite quickly and need my bird fix on a regular basis. This will keep me going for a day or two.

Male Bullfinch at Pennington Flash.

Goldfinch in frostier times.

A very handsome male Stonechat at Danebower.

A Willow Tit at Woolston Eyes.

I've tried for a long time to get a decent shot of the Willow Tit. I got lucky last week.

Down on the Farm

I had the pleasure of spending a good five hours in a private hide yesterday in Glazebury, Warrington. The hide is set up superbly, on farmland well away from humankind and is perfect for peaceful birding. It was a cold start with thick frost on the ground, but the sun was up first thing and soon moved into it's perfect position behind the hide. We were then treated to some fantastic bird action, with Tree Sparrows a plenty, Gold Green and Chaffinches, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Jay, Pheasant, Wren, Great Spotted Woodpecker and the star of the show for me, a male Sparrowhawk. Sure, these are not particularly uncommon birds, but the opportunity to photograph them at close quarters was where the excitement lay for me. Some of my best pictures are below, but to be honest I am so pleased with a lot of them that I may have to post more later. An amazing day.

I've waited a long time to get a decent shot of a Tree Sparrow. 

Nuthatch

Goldfinch

I love a Great Tit

A little Jenny Wren, as my Nan calls it.

My highlight of the day, a Sparrowhawk.