Sanderling - Hoylake

Waders are my thing. You know where they will be (most of the time). There are no twigs, branches, foliage or fences in the way (if you are on the beach). Plus if you wait patiently they will eventually head towards you. 

This is exactly what happened when I went looking for Sanderling at Hoylake on the Wirral. I realised that I had not ticked these off for my year list and they are one of my favourite waders. They are great fun to watch as they scurry around the shoreline that appears to be chasing them. Definitely not the biggest of birds, but a real joy to see at any time. In good sunlight, it's even better. 

Guillemots on the Farnes

I don't get to see Guillemots very often. Mainly because I don't live near the coastal areas where they can be found. It usually requires a special trip out. As I knew that I'd be going to the Farne Islands I put off any earlier trips. 

They're a very smart looking sea bird and they are in very good numbers on the Farnes. They make quite a noise too. They have a lovely chocolate brown top half and white below. The occasional Bridled Guillemot can be found. These have a white eye ring and a white line extending behind the eye. They look like they are wearing spectacles.

Bridled Guillemot (right)

Bring on the Winter Weather

A look back to some colder winter mornings, well more of a look forward to what is to come. Some of the better birding mornings are spent when there is a cold frost on the ground. The birds are forced out to feed and take more risks, which allows more opportunities to get shots of them. So as much as I am not looking forward to the cold wet windy weather, I am looking forward to some cold blue sky days, when I can sit in five layers of clothes in a hide and take myself away.

Blue Tit

Chaffinch

Willow Tit

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egrets have become a regular summer visitor to the Wirral in the last two or three years, and last year they were confirmed as breeding at an RSPB reserve there. I have made several visits to see them, as they are not at all common and I always assume it may be my last chance to see them.
They are a smaller than the more common Little Egret, and do spend a lot of their time around livestock and cattle.
These pictures were taken last year, and although not great, are a good record of it in it's nesting environment. (Taken at some distance so as not to disturb the birds.)

Kittiwake - Farne Islands

Along with the Common Gull, the Kittiwake is my favourite gull. There's something quite alluring about it. It might be the black eyes or the black legs or the sharp yellow bill, I'm not sure. Put them all together though and you have a pretty good looking gull. It probably helps that I don't get to see them every day too. There were plenty on the Farnes and it was great to watch them for some time

Goyt Valley

This is a look back to the Spring when there was a lot of activity in the Goyt Valley. One of my favourite places to visit at this time. So much going on and so much to see. It is quite the opposite in the autumn and winter when it can be very bleak and devoid of anything. It's still a lovely place to walk though.
This particular evening there were a few bits and bobs around. The usual Canada Geese were calling from the bank side of Errwood Reservoir and the odd Red Grouse could be heard every so often.

Song Thrush on the dry stone wall.

A Tree Pipit in its usual lofty position.

A Willow Warbler in amongst the fresh new leaves

Bearded Tit

I was watching a Sedge Warbler recently along the boardwalk at Cley, when I heard the unmistakable call of a Bearded Tit. It didn't take long for me to locate it and I quickly got my camera onto it. It's never easy to focus on a small camouflaged bird in the reeds, but this is what I managed. I was just glad to see it really. More often than not I will only hear them in the reeds, so to see a nice male like this was a real bonus.

Pesky reeds! 

Farne Island Puffins

A long overdue post from me on my Farne Island trip. I was holding back some Puffin shots until I'd looked at them all, but I still haven't found the time, so I could wait no more. Here are just a few from my visit back in June.

Such a charismatic bird, full of charm and wonder. I could watch them all day, and I did pretty much.
I won't say too much more, but let the pictures do the talking for me. (Definitely more pictures in the near future of these wonderful birds)

Cuckoo

I was sitting in a hide at Druridge Pools in Northumberland scanning forlornly for a Glossy Ibis when out of the blue, flying low from left to right of the hide went a Cuckoo. The shock of it made me say the name out loud whilst pointing towards it. It landed on a fence post just yards from the hide. I managed one decent shot of it, but I was more than happy with the result. A bird that I heat most years but don't always get to see. This was by far my closest and best view of it. 

They are already back across the Sahara dessert for their summer holidays. Hopefully I will get to see one again next Spring. 

The Glossy Ibis had relocated and not yet been found. I hung around in the hide for a bit just seeing what I could see, when I spotted a Snipe well hunkered down. So tricky to spot from a distance, near on impossible without binoculars.

RSPB Geltsdale

RSPB Geltsdale near Carlisle held such a variety of wildlife that I am already looking forward to a visit again next year.
On leaving the car I could see Hares running in the fields. As they had not seen me, I took some time just to observe from a distance.

Enjoying the early morning sunshine.

Meadow Pipits were plentiful and they were constantly hopping onto the dry stone walls. It felt like they were keeping me company as I went on my walk.

 From the viewing screen there was a lot of activity, with birds constantly flitting around the trees and shrubs. It was difficult to pin them down sometimes as to what they were.

 This Reed Bunting showed itself briefly through the branches.

This Sedge Warbler was busy feeding young and can be seen here with some grubs in it's bill.

The more distant and more common view of the Sedge Warbler.

Whinchat - RSPB Geltsdale

I stopped at RSPB Geltsdale on my way to the Farnes. It's somewhere I had been to before and I enjoyed my early morning walk here once again. A bird on my list to see this weekend was the Whinchat. They breed here, and in good numbers but I missed them last time, so I was determined have a proper look round this time.
I was enjoying myself so much, with lots going on that I'd forgotten about looking for these. So I was quite surprised when one popped up in front of me. The distinctive supercilium over the eye gave away Whinchat to me.
I think I spent a goof half an hour watching a pair here. They were busy collecting insects for some young not too far away. A great start to the day.

Female Whinchat

The male

These were both ringed. I contacted RSPB Geltsdale and they confirmed that they have an active ringing program on site. Hopefully they will be able to give me a little more information on these birds soon.

Stonechat

A few weeks ago I took a long weekend break to the Farne Islands (more about what I saw there in future posts). I planned my route up so that I could make several stops along the way to see various birds and to break the journey up. So rather than following the quickest route I took the scenic route. This involved driving up through the Lake District to Carlisle, and then East through Northumberland, almost following Hadrian's Wall.
One area that I stopped at looked very good for Stonechat, and I was quickly rewarded with a family of them.

The male keeping a close eye on me.

One of the juveniles, looking very healthy.

I do like these birds a lot. Really enjoy watching them.