Roding Valley Meadows

A weekend at my parents in Essex always gives me the opportunity to visit one of my favourite places and somewhere that I spent a lot of time when growing up. Roding Valley Meadows in Loughton is a 160 acre nature reserve that follows the river Roding for a mile and a half from Debden to Buckhurst Hill. There's always lots to see. This weekend I managed a Little Egret, Ring-necked Parakeets, Green Woodpeckers, Common Gulls, Fieldfares, Redwings and lots of the usual stuff. Kingfishers are pretty regular along with Herons and plenty of raptors. Always a joy to have a wander round.

Little Egret on the river Roding

Common Gulls

Common Gull in flight

Ring-necked Parakeet, that seem to be spreading. You usually hear them before you see them.

Now, I am no fan of squirrels, but this one looked quite cute with the sun on it's back. 

Etherow Park

A nice couple of hours spent at Etherow Park in Stockport this morning. Cold, crisp and sunny. Perfect conditions. A great site, if a little too busy later in the day, hence me getting there at first light. I managed to see a few Dippers on the river Goyt and a good twenty plus Mandarin ducks. I made my way to the hide and was soon joined by a very friendly Robin that was intent on joining me in the hide. So I took advantage and took some really nice shots. A Kingfisher went past me on four occasions, but never stopped close enough for a good shot. Lots of Nuthatch around and a flock of Siskins. Teal, Tufted Ducks, Cormorants and even more Mandarins. Lots of drumming from the Woodpeckers and then one put in an appearance next to the hide. A good mornings birding.

Blue Tit

Nuthatch

Mandarin Duck

This cheeky little Robin came and joined me in the hide with a look that said, "What are you doing here?"

Tatton Mere

I'd heard of several Redhead Smew in the vacinity last weekend, and then I heard that one had found it's way to Tatton Mere in the grounds of Tatton Park. I made my way over in the afternoon and with the help of two birders located it at the morth end of the mere. It was very flighty but kept drifting back to the same area so it was just a case of waiting. I did wait and wait, but it was just getting darker and it just would not come near enough. A dog jumped in and made it fly a long way from me and I called it a day. Here is my best shot, followed by one taken of a captive Smew at Martin Mere last year.

Smew in flight (after harassment from a dog)

Smew  

 Very dodgy light, too far away and too shaky, but there it is.

Smew (captive) taken at Martin Mere

Pochard at Tatton Mere

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.

The Robin

As winter seems to have well and truly arrived now, I thought I would take the opportunity to showcase the Robin.

Quite often seen as the classic Christmas card bird, but seen in most gardens all year round. There is something very appealing about seeing a Robin on a cold sunny day, or even better, in the snow. I took these shots on a very sunny, cold and frosty morning, which seemed to enhance the orange breast feathers. They are quite territorial and seem to spend a lot time and energy seeing off other birds from their patch, but probably most people’s favourite (or at least most recognisable) garden bird.

Sandbach Flashes

I took another trip to Sandbach yesterday, hoping for better light to picture the Glossy Ibis. I failed on both counts. No sunlight and no Ibis. Still, the temperature was well below zero and birds around the feeding station and adjoining fields were plentiful. Lots of Redwings, Tree Sparrows, and the usaual farmland birds. Also lots of Wigeon, Shellduck, Gulls, Lapwings and Canada Geese. Just a few for you below.

Redwing

Great Tit, looking rather pleased with his nut.

Shelduck

Sandbach Flashes

I spent a couple of hours yesterday at Sandbach Flashes in Cheshire to see the Glossy Ibis that has been present for  a couple of weeks. At first there was no sign but then it flew up from the rivers edge and across into view. Unfortunately, it was a little out of range for my lens, plus it was very overcast. So what I got were some very poor record shots. I also got to see my first Iceland Gull, along with Black-tailed Godwits, Tree Sparrow, Wigeon, Cormorants, Sparrowhawk and many more. Hopefully I will get back at a later date, with better light for a better shot.

Glossy Ibis (not so glossy in this light)

Wigeon

Black-tailed Godwits

Pennington Flash

A nice cold and bright forecast meant I was out before sunrise, and off to Pennington Flash to see what was on offer. You can never fail here, at one of the North West's finest birding sites. Such a mix of habitat opens up so many possibilities. I registered over 30 different species this morning. Nothing really out of the ordinary, but it's just a joy to be out with nature at that time of the morning. One thing that did catch my eye, were the Goldeneye going through their courtship display. Most unusal, and I found myself fixated with three males trying to woo two females. They didn't seem that interested but that didn't deter the males. Maybe they needed their beer goggles.

Goldeneye (not 007)

A Pennington favourite (and my Mum's favourite too)

A Stock Dove

Early morning from the Tom Edmonson hide

Looney Tunes

An early visit to Castleshaw Reservoir, Oldham, on Christmas Eve meant I managed to see a Great Northern Diver (also known as a Great Northern Loon) for only the second time. My first encounter was back in the spring of 2010 at Carsington Waters in Derbyshire. On that occasion there were both an adult and a juvenile, but sadly they stayed well out into the distance, and the use of the scope was crucial. This time, I was much luckier as the bird came to within 15 feet or so of the dam wall where I was standing in wait with the camera. The largest of our UK divers had been on the reservoir for a couple of weeks when I visited. Unfortunately the light was not that great, so the shots aren’t the best, but at least the rain held off while I was there, unlike the arctic wind which nearly cut me in two.

The Great Northern Diver

The humble Tree Sparrow

Having waited so long to get any half decent shots of Tree Sparrows, I thought I would share some more with you. These were all from my time in Glazebury last weekend. This little chaps population has declined so much in recent years that it is on the RSPB red list. Sometimes referred to as Mutton Chops because of the black marking on the cheeks. Smaller than a House Sparrow and somewhat more nervous. It seems that the slightest movement of anything sends these birds to the nearest hedge or tree. To be fair to them, having witnessed Sparrowhawks going into the bushes for a kill, it's no surprise.
They may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like them and the fact that they make it difficult for you to watch them close up only adds to the attraction for me.

Look at those chops

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.

Stockport Dippers

A bird that I like to think of as a bit dumpy but very elegant, is the Dipper. Living close to the Goyt Valley in Stockport provides me with ample opportunity to see these wonderful little birds, and they never fail to intrigue me. Watching them fly kamikaze into the river in search of food is quite an amazing sight. Dippers can then hold their own in some very fast flowing water, holding their heads out of the water every now and again for breath. Probably the most well known characteristic though is the link with it’s name and it’s ability to dip or bob. This is something that a lot of river birds do, such as the Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. No one is quite sure why they do this, (and I am sure there is a reason) it’s just something for us to enjoy.

In typical pose

You look that way, and I'll look this.....

Into the breach he goes.