Red Grouse

Can't wait for the clocks to go back next weekend. I like to go out early, but that's difficult when it's only getting light at 7.30 on a clear day. Still, it was a cracking morning on Sunday. I've missed the Macclesfield area recently, having gone to some different places at the weekend. Birds were quite thin on the ground, but I got some fantastically close views of a pair of Red Grouse. I've always wanted to get close to them, but they are a rather shy bird. Having said that, these two birds seemed oblivious to me. I didn't have to move, as they came to within 5 metres of me. Unfortunately, they do tend to stick to long grassy areas, so some of these pics have grass in front of them, but they're the best I've got so far.

A stunning female, putting on a show.

The male, with lovely red eyebrows.

Sunny Days

Luck seems to have been on my side just recently. By that I mean that it has been pretty dry and bright at the weekends. It always makes birding so much more fun. The birds are easier to see and tend to show more. Add to that some nice cold weather and you have all the ingredients for some great birding and better photos.
Here are some pictures taken on my patch in Woodford last weekend when on my Winter Thrush survey.

The first Redwing sighting of the Autumn for me.

There were a good flock, but a little too far away to get decent shots.

Dunnock

Tree Sparrow

Robin

Reed Bunting

Redesmere

The light was fantastic at Redesmere on Wednesday. Everything looks so much better in the sunshine, and that goes for photos too. A lot of the work is already done for you. You just need some nice birds to be in the area. I managed to get both.

Great Crested Grebe, gave some very good views.

Tufted Ducks were relatively tame.

A young Mallard.

Hybrid Goose.

I popped to Redesmere, Cheshire, on my day off this week. Nothing really out of the ordinary there. Lots of the usual wildfowl and gulls. Geese numbers have been building steadily and today was no different. Greylags and Canada Geese were what was on offer today, and I even came across a hybrid of the two birds. When you scan hundreds of the same bird, it comes as quite a shock to see something slightly different.
Cross breeding between geese is not an uncommon thing but not the norm. Take a look at the two different types of geese below and then compare the hybrid.

These are the Canada Geese.

Greylag Geese.

Canada again.

And here is the hybrid. It seems to have the white cheek mark of the Canada Goose and lighter plumage than the Greylag, but is clearly a bit of both.

Here are some more Greylags just having fun.

There's always a real commotion when these guys come in to land

Where the birds were big and white.

One of the reasons I decided to got to the Wirral for the day was that there had been a Great White Egret seen over the previous few days. I've seen lots of Little Egrets but never the Great variety. I headed to Parkgate where it had been seen previously. When I arrived the heavens opened in biblical fashion. Hail stones so heavy that visibility was down just a few metres. I chose to stay in the car. When it finally stopped I drove along the front where I could see two Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. Then on the horizon (that was now a lot further away) up popped the Great White. Through the binoculars I could clearly see the yellow bill and it's size was unquestionable. A life time tick for me. Sorry about the quality of the shots, but these are my record shots. I hope to get better soon.

I ventured to Burton Mere and Inner Marsh Farm in the afternoon, where I came across my first Whooper Swans of the Autumn. 



Very majestic looking birds.

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.

Garden visitors

The cold mornings always attract more birds to the feeders and the garden in general. So I thought it would be rude not to take advantage of that, and took a few pictures of the birds that visit my garden.
Dunnocks are ground feeders along with Robins, although Robins seem to be getting more adventurous and are having a go at the feeders too.

The Dunnock

 

This Robin managed to grab itself a beetle in the grass.

This Great Tit spotted me while tucking into the sunflower hearts.