Full day birding at RSPB Marshside, WWT Martin Mere and RSPB Burton Mere. Highlights included Water Pipit (photo), Garganey, Little Gull (photos) and this smart Ruff (transiting into breeding plumage).
Took a trip this afternoon to Anglesey to see four reported Tundra Bean Geese on the Alaw Estuary. Took a while and a bit of walking to tie them down, but it was well worth the effort.
Although I spent most of the day not seeing Water Pipits at Frodsham, the day was definitely not a wash-out. In fact it was more than rescued by a Little Gull on No. 6 Tank and then a cheeky Jack Snipe at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands - both year firsts.
Adult Mediterranean Gull and close-up Little Egret seen at RSPB Leighton Moss today.
Record shots of Common Crane at RSPB Burton Mere this morning.
Black-Necked Grebe at Woolston Eyes this morning.
Spent a really nice morning at Hilbre over high tide. Gannets, divers, gulls, grebes and ducks seen on the sea plus waders & geese on the shore. Photo highlights: Purple Sandpipers, Common Scoter and drake Greater Scaup.
Taiga Bean Goose seen today at Isombridge, Shropshire. Both a UK and World first; very pleased. Photo 1 shows Pink-Footed and Bean Geese together.
A day out at RSPB Marshside and WWT Martin Mere today. Managed to catch up with a distant and elusive Glossy Ibis for a year tick... Golden Plover, Black-Tailed Godwit, Ruff and Whooper Swan were the photographic highlights.
A finch day today at Llyn Brenig... Mr & Mrs Siskin, Chaffinch and Redpoll. The latter species has been hard to pin down this year so far hence the dodgy feeder shot - trouble was, it would only sit still when it was feeding its face!
Spotted Redshank at RSPB Burton Mere today. 157 for the year.
Another excellent incursion into North Wales. Started with both Grouse species at World's End (photographed), then on to Clocaenog for Crossbills (2) & Goshawks (3) and, finally, Llyn Brenig for this Willow Tit. It has been a good year for me so far with Willow Tits - such delicate little things.
Drake Goldeneye, one of my favourite ducks. This one sailed by just as the sun momentarily broke through the clouds. Who said that they are just black and white?
Wandered around RSPB Burton Mere today for a couple of hours. Green Woodpecker, Avocets & Great White Egret (all photographed) and Spoonbill were the Highlights. Also saw these Red-Legged Partridges on the way to the reserve.
Spent a really relaxing 3 hours sitting at the feeding station hide at Moore NR this afternoon. Female Brambling and Willow Tit were the highlights; also saw Ring-Necked Parakeet and a good variety of common woodland birds, including this acrobatic Blue Tit.
Either that or they are early returners Stuart.
Spending the weekend with Family & friends in Sussex with no.2 daughter. Went for a really nice wet & muddy 6 mile ramble today around the Knepp rewilding project near Horsham.
North Lancashire today at RSPB Leighton Moss and Cockerham. Marsh Tits, Treecreepers and Great White Egrets the pick of the former, and Greater White-Fronted Geese at the latter. A really enjoyable day with some good mates.
Male Sparrowhawk - visited the garden this morning, scattering all the birds on my feeders in the process.
A trip into North Wales today. Target birds: Bufflehead, Slavonian Grebe, Firecrest, Black Guillemot, Long-Tailed Duck & Yellow-Browed Warbler. The first 3 were no-shows, whilst the last 3 showed at distance. Gray Wagtail, Curlew & juvenile Shag, bonus photos.
It was Andy, and thank you 👍🏻
Back out around Lancashire for a second go at American Wigeon (2nd from right in photo 1), Willow Tit (photos 2 & 3) and Great-Tailed Grackle. Success!! Particularly pleased with the photo of the Grackle - the mother of all record shots 😂 @birderjack.bsky.social
It’s not always about the bird Jackie… sometimes the company more than makes up for a little disappointment 👍🏻
Out and about today. First stop, spent 2 hours not seeing the Speke Grackle and then 1.5 hours not seeing Willow Tit at Pennington Flash (took some snaps of these to pass the time). Back to Speke and another hour still not seeing the Grackle. Good day though. 😄 @birderjack.bsky.social
Out and about today... first stop, spent 2 hours not seeing the Speke Grackle and then 1.5 hours not seeing Willow Tit at Pennington Flash (took some snaps of these to pass the time). Back to Speke and another hour still not seeing the Grackle. Good day though 😄
Wallasey coastline today, filling up my year list. Saw a Mediterranean Gull on the Mersey and 100+ Bar-Tailed Godwits by the Coastguard Station. Also got the 2 resident Ring-Necked Parakeets at Vale Park.
Lancashire field trip today with. The
three target birds were: Bewick's Swan, American Wigeon and Ring-Necked Duck. Two out of three wasn't bad! Another excellent day.
Out with the dog around Wirral today... West Kirby and then Royden Park.
Out and about in North West Cheshire this morning. Corn Bunting and Cattle Egret photographed. Other highlights: Yellowhammers, Bullfinch and Grey Partridges.
Billy Nomates today, out and about in North Wales and Shropshire. Targeted, and managed to catch up with, Black Redstart at Rhyl, Snow Buntings at Gronant and Lesser Scaup on the Mere at Ellesmere. A lot of searching and a lot of walking! Very pleased 😁