Just going for a paddle.

New Brighton beach was very calm when I visited a few weeks back. The tide had just gone out and the sun put in a nice long appearance too. It allowed me to take a wander along what is very nice sandy beach. There wasn't a great variety of birds but those that were there looked very nice indeed in the sunshine. They included this Oystercatcher and some juvenile gulls having a paddle. I'm not great with gulls at all, but I think I have a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a larger Great Black-backed Gull (on the left).

I think this is a 1st Winter Oystercatcher, as the white collar would indicate.

Great (left) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Please let me know if I am wrong)

Curlew - Titchwell

I'm fortunate to live in an area where Curlews frequent during the summer months. I love to hear their babbling call as I'm walking around. Quite a distinctive bird with that long curved bill to help it dig out its prey of worms and shrimps. It is Europes largest wading bird, and I look forward to them coming to my back yard once again next year. In the meantime I'll have to visit the coast to see some more like this one below at Titchwell in Norfolk

Wigeon

Martin Mere held plenty of Wigeon last week. A colourful medium sized duck. The numbers increase here in the winter as the birds move south from the colder areas of Scandinavia, Russia and Iceland.
They make a comical squeaking noise which puts a smile on my face while I'm sat in a hide.

A little bit windswept, or slept on it funny. Not sure which.

Must have heard me and wasn't happy. Oops

Northern Pintail

I think the Pintail is my favourite duck. I always look forward to their numbers swelling in the Autumn, with more birds coming to our waters. At Martin Mere last weekend there were plenty about and some of them look pretty spectacular. These pictures are all of the male, and a fine one at that.
Look out for them because they are around and they'll put a smile on your face.

He was a little tired after a hard day bobbing on the water.

Reed Bunting



A little bird that I used to see quite often on my patch in Woodford was the Reed Bunting. Often seen flitting up above the maize and hanging on for grim life as the wind blew its perch. I've not seen so many this year. Again, it could be that I've not been in the right places or maybe there is an underlying problem with their habitat. Either way, I'm going to make sure I keep a more vigilant eye open for them  in the coming months. They are a great little bird. Here's one having a good old feed on some seeds.

 

 A rather handsome looking male.

Whooper Swan - Martin Mere Wetland Centre

I've been waiting for a weekend with half decent weather to get along to Martin Mere in Lancashire. At this time of year the influx of geese and swans from other parts of the world has to be seen to be believed. Thousands of Pink-footed Geese make the trip here from colder climbs. Hundreds of Whooper Swans also arrive here, and these were what I specifically wanted to see.
I got lucky, as it was raining on my arrival, but not long after pitching up in the hide, the sun came out. It allowed me to get some decent shots of this really elegant looking bird. I may post some more pictures in the coming weeks, so apologies for that, but I love them.

The Dunnock

One of those little brown jobs seen regularly on my walks is the Dunnock. It's actually a bird that I like a lot. I came to appreciate it a lot more a few years back, when I had one visit my garden regularly. I say one, it could quite easily have been two, three or four different birds. Anyway, up until that point I'd not really paid too much attention to the Dunnock, but this one intrigued me. Usually found flitting and skulking in the undergrowth, it had made it's presence known to me. To start with I noticed the song. It was different to most. Not like the Wren or the Robin, but given in short bursts. It came with such regularity that it put a smile on my face just to hear it through the kitchen window.
So although it's not a very colourful bird it's one I have a soft spot for.

You'll have to excuse the annoying stick in the way.



Robin on the fence.

There has been a noticeable increase in the amount of Robins recently. Lots are in song now setting up there territories. The other day as I went for a walk it seemed as though there was one singing every 30 yards or so. I'm not complaining. It's a lovely song to hear.

Where's that worm?

More common, but not forgotten

My visit to the Wirral was very nice and there are always good birds around, but I never neglect the more common species on show that can often get overlooked. These were seen in a mixture of places such as marsh and coast. Here are just a few of them.

Common Redshank in flight.

Common Snipe.

Carrion Crow

Common Gull.



Coot

Female Teal

The Deer Rut

I spent a couple of glorious hours on Sunday afternoon in Tattton Park, Cheshire. It's only a few miles from my home but is somewhere that gets visited infrequently. I should really make more use of it. However, this year I have made it my aim to photograph the deer during the rut.
Right now the male stags are strutting around trying to look mean. The herd that I focused on had one particular beast that clearly fancies his chances this year of being top dog. He was bellowing and chasing other males off while schmoozing up to the females. I didn't manage to see any antler locking or fighting but maybe I'll be lucky enough in the coming weeks. Here are some pictures to whet the appetite.

More of a playful slap down here.

A healthy looking stag, but he was not looking to take charge.

This is your man. He was up for a fight with any other male and very loud. 

Not sure if everyone heard me, so I'll bellow again.

Bad hair day.

A very good looking stag. Could be a contender this year.

Curlew Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpipers seemed to be at most sites I visited when in Norfolk a month or so ago. In small groups of threes, fours or fives, they busied about there business probing the beds for food. Similar to the Dunlin, they can cause confusion, especially for me. What does help is when you get both together. Fortunately at Titchwell I did get both together and was able to sort out which was which quicker than normal. The Curlew Sand has a slightly more down-curved bill and a little less dumpy looking. These guys were stopping off on migration, as they don't stay here year round. Off to Africa for the winter. Now that sounds like a great idea.

Curlew Sandpiper

Dunlin on the left and Curlew Sandpiper on the right.