The Wirral

The sun came out and I made an early start on the Wirral. I was hoping to see my first Wheatear of the year, but that didn't prove to be successful. However, as always in this area, there was plenty to see and I went home happy. 

Starting at Burton Marsh, there were plenty of Egrets (Great White and Little) to see. A Marsh Harrier flew over and Chiffchaffs, Song Thrush, Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings provided a nice background chorus as I walked the path. There were still hundreds, if not thousands, of Pink-footed Geese out on the Marsh. Moving on to RSPB Burton Mere, I heard and then saw my first Willow Warbler of the year. Other firsts for 2026 included Spotted Redshanks and Med Gulls. All in all a very nice morning out in some very nice weather for a change.

Come with me on my walk here: 

Avocet

Black-tailed Godwit

Lapwing

Long-tailed Tit

Marsh Harrier

Mediterranean Gull (bottom centre) Common Gull to its left

Ruff

Water Vole

Willow Warbler

Marsh Harrier - Cley

Cley on the North Norfolk coast always has so much to offer. Even at times of the year where there doesn't seem to be too much about, something will pop up that makes the visit worthwhile or memorable. The Marsh Harriers are a regular fixture here now and you'd be unlucky not to see one while here. Sitting in Bishop's Hide I had some really good views of a pair quartering the reeds and water. With good morning light, this one glided straight towards me.

Marsh Harrier

 

Cley

A visit to my parents recently saw a good opportunity to sea watch and also sit in the hides at Cley. It was pretty blustery to say the least while we were there and it did push the sea birds closer to the shore. The hides in the good morning light gave the opportunity to watch and photograph some of the raptors that were causing havoc amongst the waders and waterfowl.

A Marsh Harrier hunting over the reeds.

A Peregrine Falcon tormented the waders but was unsuccessful with each attempt.

Razorbills were in abundance along the coast, sprinkled with the odd Guillemot.

A rare sight for me, a Common Shrew. Ver quick and easy to miss, but this one ran across a road towards us before darting off into the safety of the grass.

The Darkest Months

When I took these images earlier in the year I was a bit disappointed with them. The light was not great, but it was better than these images portray. Having said that, and now that we have returned to deepest darkest winter, I now like the look of them. This is how things look a lot of the time at the moment in the early morning gloom. The cloud is thick and the sun struggles to penetrate, meaning that a lot of the birds appear to be colourless or varying shades of grey. I'm happy with these now and they look quite atmospheric.

Great White Egret

Marsh Harrier

Mute Swan

Cley Marshes - East Bank

A walk along the East Bank at Cley is always a must for me when I'm in Norfolk. With my parents living so close to it I will usually do it several times during a stay. There is always something decent to see and through the different seasons you get a really good variety. The wintering geese have left for the time being, barring the Greylags and a few Canadas and Egyptian, but the summer migrants have arrived.

I was lucky to watch a Hobby fly over as it was catching insects. The warblers are in too, in the form or Sedge and Reed. The sound coming out of the reed bed is something to behold as the competition for space and territory takes a grip. I picked up the ping of a group of Bearded Tits. I always hope to see some when I'm here, but that is never an easy feat. Being in the right place at the right time, or good fortune is usually involved. This time they were working their way through the reeds close to the edge. The odd one would break cover and dive over the top of the reeds. A very good addition to the year list.

With Curlews, Lapwings, Redshank, a lone Spoonbill, Skylarks and the overflying Terns at the beach end it really was a great couple of hours spent here. Come the autumn time the waders will be back and the wintering wildfowl on the pools, which will make for a very different walk but still with a good amount of variety. It's a great place to watch birds and time go by.

Hobby

Little Egret

Marsh Harrier

   The Sedge Warbler is a real favourite of mine. I love the distinctive eye-stripe and it's song.

    The Bearded Tit never make it easy to see them, but maybe that's why it's such a thrill when you do.

Marsh Harrier

I spent some time at RSPB Titchwell a few weeks back. There was plenty of activity, as birds were busy pairing up and nest building. Others were patrolling territories and some were just looking for breakfast. On my walk along the meadow trail I was looking for a singing Cetti's Warbler when I could see the unmistakable shape of a Marh Harrier heading towards me across the reed bed. Then another went past carrying a rather large twig. I was lucky to get into a decent spot on the boardwalk to watch the pair patrolling the skies for a good ten minutes.
I've watched these birds before many times, but they would never come close enough for any decent shots. Thankfully the light was good and they wanted to play ball this day. What a bird?

A great looking male.

As I was watching the Marsh Harriers a small bird of prey put in a fly by appearance. Too small to be a Peregrine, Kestrel was my next thought, but colours weren't quite right. I ruled out Sparrowhawk. What I had in fact seen was a Merlin. The UK's smallest bird of prey and a real bonus for me on a great morning.

Merlin.

RSPB - Blacktoft Sands

Plans had been made for a full days birding outing. We went a little further afield than normal, but with full justification. Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve sits on the banks of the river Ouse at the start of the Humber estuary. It has been widely reported that there have been a pair of Montagu's Harriers on site for a while. Britain's rarest breeding bird of prey, and a real stunner at that. We were fortunate to see both the male and female in flight for some time. It wasn't close up and I didn't attempt any photography. It was just a joy to be able to watch it through the binoculars. Another lifer for me.

There were plenty of other birds on show too, with Spotted Redshanks, Ruff, Avocets and lots more. A great reserve that I can highly recommend and one that I'll be returning too.

This is not my image, but was taken by birder Dave Adamson. This is the male.

Little Egrets were in good numbers across all of the pools.

The Marsh Harriers were really active. I had the pleasure of watching several food passes between the males and females.

There were good numbers of Ruff in varying plumages. Here is one with a white head, and an Avocet and Teal for company.

Spotted Redshank. 

An Avocet coming in to land, with some of the many Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing behind.

Avocets in flight.