Snow, Sleet, Rain, Hail, Gales. a brilliant day on the coast.

With impending bad weather forecast for the weekend, it was decided to get the birding bus out of mothballs and go for it. Shropshire nice and mild, Cheshire snow hard and thick and New Brighton producing all of it over two days on the beach.

A brief spell of sunshine

And a sneaky Purple Sandpiper

It was not rough much!

Struggling with the wind.

Oops! caught of balance.

A brief respite.

 

But not for long.

A sharp get away!

 

Nearly got caught by this big wave.

A quick run for it as the water went away.

Took these shanks ages to get through the viewfinder..

 Lying on the sand was by far the best way of getting close, apart from uncontrolled bloomin dogs and owners, they were getting very confiding. until, yep another darned controlled hound..

more next time.

Paul

A Little catcher upperer!

With work preventing me from getting down to the Clee to see this little stunner, I waited for my day off, a whole week, for the "must do" trip. it was bright but the wind brought the temperature well down to hats and gloves.On arrival it had not been seen, but thankfully up she popped and gave many some brilliant views.

On a very windy day

Feed me!

 It was very confiding as if expecting a few tidbits from those present with the odd call. It was time for some lunch at the local chippy and a run to the Priorslee Flash for the Tundra Bean Goose. Which, stayed firmly ensconced on the island, out of sight. However the next morning saw the geese out for a paddle round the lake.

Tundra Bean Goose.

Spot the difference.

So I was very pleased to get yet another new one for the county in the bag. The scores on the doors are going very good, in fact the best since 2006, only 4 more for the double ton.


So who knows could I crack it before Christmas?

Paul

Yet Another nice county goody

Well what a nice Autumn this has turned out to be, nice weather and some very nice birds as well..The Red-necked Diver at Chelmarsh was so tempting to say the least so, went I did and show nicely it did!




Red-tthroated Diver Chelmarsh



Going fishing

Gone fishing.



One or two more to come, Well I thought so, but why bore you with endless Diver shots?? so thats your lot.

Paul

Darn Foriegners! and Fish

It was Sunday afternoon and I was looking forward to yet another reconnaissance around a local wood, once work was done for the day. So at last, freedom and off. an hour into the search the phone rings, the Great grey Shrike had morphed into a Mega for the county and photos were in order to confirm or otherwise the ID. Some how I still managed to arrive after Jim who had sped from nottingham!!

Sunday evening the light had gone by the time I arrived so It was to be Monday! which then turned into hope it stays til tuesday ,,, yay! and a few of what was got at extreme range are as follows.

It only just missed the prey item which suddenly just dropped out of the way.

Nice big wing patch and bar.

Upper and lower wing now visible and lores..

I did mention fish,, although there is no such thing if you believe the latest scientific news!! Annihooo! it was just by chance that I was told by Dawn, that the Salmon run was on at the wier in Shrewsbury, A thing I had wanted to see and photograph for years, but somehow missed but this time, with supreme guidence I arrived and they were there and leaping..

Trying to guess where they were going to appear proved a real tease. needless to say more deleted than kept..

Effort and motion wow!

And boy did they wriggle once airborne..

I suppose I will get round to a full edit at some stage but tomorrow it is once again Shrike day and carpark duty..

See you soon..
Paul

A hunting she will go ! "Her be blimmin good her be"

It was high time I got out and about and the promise of a lovely Grey Phalarope at a local ish! scrape got me of off my fat bits. But I was not expecting what was to present it self for a photo shoot. As you will see..



You think  I don't know your there?



No cavities here me dear!



Ayup! was on over there?



At least my paws are cool, yuk mud!




Right into stealth mode..



 The following shots were censored to protect the Rabbits anonymity! I could not see the action.



But breakfast was got pretty rapid.



Just a nice pose..



"AH! your still there then?



Mmmm! really fancy one of them quaky chicken things.



Darn mud!





OH well here we go.



  



At least the kids kept out of sight.



She dropped the kill off in the reeds and was again across the water for another go, did not see her again.

OH! nearly forgot! the Grey Phalarope, nice bird and my second in the county so I am chuffed.

Drippy beak got a cold?

 And finally a Ruff at Venus Pools,, or more like Venus Puddle!! it is so low. desperately need some rain over the next few months.. Sorry about the light it was to say the least up and down like the undergarments of a ! well you know...

See you soon

Paul

VP plus some catch ups..

Hearing of a Spotted Redshank at VP, and not remembering the last one to drop in It was a no brainer.. and shortly after arriving joined the other observers in the north hide. The conditions are very much favouring the drop in waders at the moment, and I was not let down, with Green sandpiper, Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, Ruff, Dunlin and a very nice juvenile Spotted Redshank. Whoohooo!..

Juvenile Spotted Redshank

A few Pine nuts to go.

Male Siskin

Coal Tits were performing nicely

There were not a  lot of the finch family missing.

And a couple of Kites I missed from the previous blog..

So another two year ticks in the box in one end of season chase around..
more on the next excursion I hope..

Paul

A few bits and pieces!!

It feels like an absolute age since I sat here and got to put some images on the screen, Darn this work thing!!!
OK! So its a what and where thing really. On the occasion's i have got out it has been fairly limited so I decided to have a go at doing a bit of Moth stalking!!! switch on lamp and plonk in chair some stalking really..
So what sort of thing came around..

Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria

Ethmia dodecea

Orange Swift

A number of other images will follow in the next blog as soon as I can,, promise!!



Paul

The home made light trap. After an idea by Kate McKrae Talkwildlife.

A simple enough plastic kitchen ware stuff and a clip on light.. I suppose I will get around to identifying them later? Unless you know the ID ?

A couple of days over at Nant ye Arian watching the Kites being fed produced a few more shots for the month.. as follows.

The view from the trail out the back of Nant Arian

and the unusual White Kite..

One of the few Kites with no wing tags, in a near finished moult.

And on the walk out the back this lovely Yellow Stags horn was found.

There are several other shots to be done but another time perhaps..

Paul