Winter Visiting Swans

I love to see our winter Swans, and recently I was fortunate enough to see both Whooper Swans and Bewick's Swans together. This gave a nice size comparison, as The Bewick's are quite a bit smaller and also have a different pattern on their bills. They enjoy the fields and estuaries here in the North West, but are becoming more and more scarce, especially the Bewick's.

The majority of this group feeding were the larger Whooper Swans, with their longer necks, and only 3 Bewick's. 

Bewick's front left and Whoopers.

3 Bewick's at the front, with one grey juvenile.

This group of Whoopers had a few Cattle Egrets for company with them in this field.

A small group of Dunlin working the sands.

A Redshank doing what Redshanks do.

New Years Day (part 2)

Just a few miles down the road from Lunt Meadows, we moved on to Crosby Marine Lake for what had been a long staying Black-throated Diver. These are a bird I usually see at some distance out at sea and usually with the aid of a telescope. On this occasion, the inland marine lake meant the bird came considerably closer while it was doing it's laps. A bit of patience required, but it came very close a number of times, and what's more, the sun was in the right place too. A cracking looking bird, and one I was delighted both see, and get on my year list so early in January.

New Years Day (part 1)

 Happy New Year to you all!!

A new year and a new year list. I like to start the new year with a good effort on the first day, and see how many I can get on my list. It was an early start and still dark as I headed towards Merseyside. The forecast was good, with some actual sunshine and no rain for once. Lisa and I arrived at Lunt Meadows hoping to see the Green-winged Teal that had been resident for some weeks. That would be a really good one to get on the 2024 list. Before that though, we were so lucky to watch a Barn Owl float across the fields in the early sunshine. What a great start!

Just one loan Goldeneye dropped in, but it landed nice and close for good views.

The Green-winge Teal (on the left) spent most of it's time roosting on the bank, but gave good views of the tell tale white vertical stripe beneath it's shoulder.

On the water this time (top centre) with other Teal.

We moved on to Crosby Marine lake where there quite a number of bonus birds which were not on my radar for the day. This lone Oystercatcher gave a nice fly-by giving it's usual call.

There were a few Turnstones on the shore line of the marine lake. A bird that I'd not expected to see.

Merry Christmas!!

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my followers. I hope you all have a very restful and peaceful time. Thank you for all your comments and the time you take to view my images. It's nice to know that others enjoy them as much as I enjoy taking them.

I look forward to bringing you more blogs and ramblings in the new year. 

Is it Spring yet?

More good sunlight at Redesmere meant I could get some good views of the Goosander flock that had been around for a week or two. I do like watching these birds as they move along the waters edge often with their heads under the surface. The males have a lovely green head, while the females have a reddish head. They're one of the highlights of the Autumn/Winter months on the local rivers and lakes.

Female Goosander

Male on the right

A nice comparison of the male and female together.

A smart looking male.

In a wooded area, I hid myself away hoping to get some good views of the Jays and Nuthatches, but I was joined by this very good looking Great Spotted Woodpecker. It came down quite low and was doing some foraging on the bark of this branch.

Fun in the Sun

Last weekend was particularly cold, with three nights of frost that did not thaw out during the daytime. We were then blessed with some really good sunshine. A cold sunny day always has me excited to get outside and see what's about. 

It was a hat, snood, and gloves type of day, but that also means that the birds and wildlife are all actively seeking out food, which can make it easier to see some of the more shy species. 

It was a lovely morning, which seems to have been followed by a week of rain, with more to come this weekend. Oh well, not much I can do about it, but look back at what's out there with these pictures.

Coal Tit

Jay. Not a bird that is easily brought down from the safety of the trees.

Mallards in flight.

This pair were braving the ice on Redesmere. It was about 60% covered, which did push some of the birds like Goldeneye, Goosander and Pochard a bit closer to me than normal.

Pochard

Cormorant over two Tufted ducks.

Pied Flycatcher

The local Pied Flycatchers have done very well this year. In previous years I've struggled to find pairs, but I had no such issues this year. There were good numbers around the various sites and this bodes well for some good numbers fledging. It could have been the good warm dry weather that we had for around six weeks at just the right time in Spring. Fingers crossed that the first brood managed to get good amounts of food and left the nest healthy.

Cley

A visit to my parents recently saw a good opportunity to sea watch and also sit in the hides at Cley. It was pretty blustery to say the least while we were there and it did push the sea birds closer to the shore. The hides in the good morning light gave the opportunity to watch and photograph some of the raptors that were causing havoc amongst the waders and waterfowl.

A Marsh Harrier hunting over the reeds.

A Peregrine Falcon tormented the waders but was unsuccessful with each attempt.

Razorbills were in abundance along the coast, sprinkled with the odd Guillemot.

A rare sight for me, a Common Shrew. Ver quick and easy to miss, but this one ran across a road towards us before darting off into the safety of the grass.

Shag - Sale Water Park

I'd heard of a juvenile European Shag being present just 20 minutes down the road, and it was hard to resist the urge to go and have a look, especially as the rain had decided to stay away for a change. I've seen quite a few of these birds, but only once before at an inland location. This particular bird was at a water park and seemed to be enjoying watch the canoeists as the played some form of polo just feet away. At least it was kindly stood on a pontoon just feet from the path. This made for some good close shots. It was probably blown off course during one of the recent storms.

European Shag

Manx Shearwater - Salthouse

I had seen a Manx Shearwater just once before, and it was a very distant scope view way off the coast at Spurn. I was fortunate to watch 3 separate birds fairly close in to the beach at Salthouse near Cley in Norfolk recently. A great sea bird and fun to watch as it skims the surface of the water.

Unusual light here, as it was not long after sunrise.

In flight here with a Sandwich Tern