The Wirral

A day trip to the Wirral is always a good day out and more often than not packed full of birds. The Dee Estuary is one of the most important sites in the UK for wetland and shorebirds. Large swathes of marsh and wetland attracts many different species and lots in good numbers. From Pink Footed Geese to raptors and waders. There's plenty to see, and even more so on a sunny day. I took a day off work last week to coincide with some good weather and I made the most of it, visiting many familiar spots along the Wirral coast.

One favourite to see in the winter time is the Hen Harrier. The viewpoint of the marsh gives many miles to see from left to right and out in front. There could be many birds out there undetected while you scan the whole length. So picking out this ring-tailed Hen Harrier was a real treat. It was quite distant but a real joy to watch through the scope. These are no more than record shots, but a nice reminder of the day.

Hen Harrier

Another bird that appears annually on this part of the coast is the Snow Bunting. This one has been plying its trade in the sand dunes. A great little bird to see.

Snow Bunting

 

Happy New Year

Happy New Birding Year to you all. Thank you once again for all your comments. They do mean so much, and remind me that people are actually looking and enjoying the posts I put on here. I hope to bring you lots more this year.

I started the year off nice and early. Well as early as the sun would allow. It's the worst thing about the winter months for me. I much prefer to be out at 5am and get a good few hours in before the world wakes up. Hey ho, roll on Summer. There were some really good birds around too, and lots of them quite local. That said, I headed to the Wirral to give the new year list a real boost. I started at Shotwick to tick a fairly long staying Long-tailed Duck. It's usually a bird I have to make a special effort for each year, so thought I'd get it out of the way early. 

I found it fairly quickly, on what was quite a substantial bit of water. On my way back to the car, I was escorted by a pair of Stonechats. Cracking little birds, and always a joy to see them.

Stonechat

The Long-tailed Duck on the right, with a Tufted Duck on the left. It kept it's distance, so no more than a record shot.

I headed up to Wallasey where there were reports of 5 Snow Buntings on the beach and dunes. When I arrived it was absolutely manic with people on the beach. I thought there was no way they'd still be around, but these were the most tolerant birds ever. They just took off and later a few feet away each time they were disturbed. Gloomy light by this time unfortunately, so the shots are not too good.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

An early morning visit to Rhyl on the North Wales coast had me searching the beach for a pair of elusive Snow Buntings. They had been reported here for some time and often overwinter here. Finding them though was not easy. Watching the stones for anything that moved in the early morning gloom was difficult, and not helped by how well camouflaged they are amongst the pebbles.
After 20 minutes or so I caught sight of some movement, and there they were. They are really confiding birds and by perching myself on a rock, they carried on their business and came towards me. So many photographers don't use any field craft, but patience and good positioning means you never need to spook your birds and they in turn feel comfortable with you, which allows you to get your shots.

The male is darker, with the colouring almost black as opposed to the brown of the female.

Male on the left.

 

 

Snow Bunting - Norfolk

One of my lifer birds on my Norfolk trip was the Snow Bunting. I'd made numerous trips up to Winter Hill on the Horwich Moors to try and catch a glimpse of one of these birds. Weather conditions were always against me. Whether it was fog, rain or falling ice, I always drew a blank. So when I managed to catch up with these lovely little birds in Norfolk at the end of January, I was absolutely delighted. Once again using the car as a hide, I managed some ok shots. Not great, but pleased to get something of a bird that had proved to be rather elusive for me.

Not a great shot but it looks like the Snow Bunting and Turnstone are having a nice little chat.