Morning Glory

Early mornings in Norfolk are great. If you can be out before the early dog walkers you can find some true gold. Much like these Golden Plover at rest with a few Lapwings. The sun was just starting to rise and the light was a nice orangey gold. I've said it many times, but this really is my favourite time of the day. When it's just me and nature, it feels like it belongs to me. Only I am seeing it at that time, and it feels special. Just need a few more of them to be bright like this, and not cloudy. Here are a few pictures of what I saw.

Golden Plover with a few Lapwings.

Grey Heron looking rather cold.

Grey Plover

Bar-tailed Godwits

Bar-tailed Godwit scouring the coast line

Black-tailed Godwit

Cemlyn Bay - Anglesey

I spent a full day in North Wales last weekend, stopping at sites from Llanddulas all the way out to Holyhead and South Stack. I did a bit of sea watching first from the shoreline of Llanddulas, where I quickly picked out a pair of Red-breasted Merganser followed by hundreds of Common Scoter. A Great Northern Diver went by too before I moved on.
I headed to Cemlyn Bay where I had been once before and was impressed by the birds on show. This time was no different, with lots seen that I wasn't really expecting.

A Whimbrel was the first bird I stumbled across. I'd been tipped off that there was one over wintering here, but wasn't really expecting to find it. Thankfully I did, although it didn't hang around long before moving off.

Golden Plovers were also a nice surprise. Always a very obliging bird but usually at some distance. I kept mine from this one out on the rocks.

It was soon joined by other waders, like this Oystercatcher.

A flock of 10 Purple Sandpipers were a real bonus.

Here's 7 of them together.

It took me a few glances through the binoculars at these, as I initially passed them off as Golden Plover, but they were just too pale. These are in fact Grey Plover, with one showing off the nice black underwing to confirm my doubting mind.

A pair of Dunlin at bottom left an Oystercatcher on the right of picture.

A very nice looking Ringed Plover was one of a few around.

Grey Plover

This Grey Plover was on the beach at Titchwell, on my last visit. Still in it's winter plumage, it was well camouflaged against the stony area it had chosen to rest up. A nice looking wader and one that is happy to not scurry around the sands avoiding waves, unlike the Sanderling and Dunlin that were nearby.
Can you see the two very well disguised Turnstones in the top picture? Superb camouflage.

Grey Plover - Titchwell

There were a dozen or so Grey Plover at Titchwell when I visited a few weeks ago. I like Plovers of all kinds, (Golden especially) so I was delighted to see the Greys on the tidal marsh. The sun was in the right position too for a change, which was a real bonus.

Nice mud covered beak and legs.

And he's off across the sludge.

Little Stint - Titchwell, Norfolk

One of my life time first birds seen in Norfolk was the Little Stint. At first it was seen with the aid of another kind birders scope, but a little later it was seen very close with the naked eye, and then my camera. A lovely little wading bird one that I won't forget in a hurry.

Also seen at Titchwell were a Ruff, Grey Plover and Common Redshank. Some pictures of these below.

Ruff

 

Grey Plover in lovely breeding plumage.

 

A Grey Plover as you would see outside of breeding season.

 

Common Redshank

 

 

Hoylake continued....

I've come to the conclusion that waders are my favourite type of bird. So many different varieties, but all subtly different. So, I've posted some more shots from Hoylake for you below.

Swirling flock of Knot and a rogue Black tailed Godwit.

The Black tailed Godwit (top) and Knot.

Redshanks. Of which there were hundreds.

Oystercatcher in flight, with some Shelduck in the distance.

Grey Plover (the larger bird, 4th from the left) with Dunlin and Redshank.

Ringed Plover.

Hoylake

When I left home it was cold and bright with not a cloud in the sky. As I headed West out to the Wirral, I could see the cloud on the horizon. Fingers were crossed that it wouldn't empty on me at any point. I arrived at Hoylake just as a little drizzle started, but nothing to put me off. I donned my boots and headed off to the shore line, which was a little further than it first looked. Still, I could see waders whisking around in flocks and continued. I passed a group of Shelduck then a few Ringed Plover stopped by. There were lots of Oystercatchers and Dunlin skimming around.
As I was walking towards the Lifeboat ramp a bird of prey spooked everything. At first I couldn't quite see what it was as it skimmed low over the sand, but then it landed. A Peregrine Falcon, sat on the beach, some 40 yards away. Absolutely superb.

You can just make out the rainbow that was sat over the building in the centre.

Hundreds of Cormorants were constantly on the move.

Dunlin and Oystercatchers.

Oystercatchers on the move.

As the tide comes in, the birds keep getting moved on.

One of three Grey Plovers that did a low fly past over me.

A welcome visitor. A Peregrine Falcon that spooked nearly everything.

Grey Plover

A trip to Elton Reservoir on Saturday for a Grey Plover proved very successful. Not a common species in the North West it is usually confined to the coast whilst wintering in this country. I found the bird working it's way along the shoreline looking for food. It would also regularly make it's way onto the grassy verges in it's search. Accompanying the Grey Plover were two Dunlin, which in comparison are a very small wader and also usually found on the coast. A good mornings birding for two lovely birds.

Grey Plover in winter plumage

Snow still on the ground. Roll on Spring.

The Dunlin. 

This shot shows the difference in size between the two. Dunlin being quite a lot smaller.