There once was an ugly duckling...

and so again back in October 2012 I found myself 'sarf of the riva' (not at this time of night mate*) at Marshside near Southport in an attempt to practice and attempt to capture some bird flight images, check camera settings and all that.

Believe it or not, the sun was out at one stage before it turned murky as always and despite trampling the scrubland, no Goldcrests or anything other than a Robin showed itself.

More or less as I arrived something must have spooked the Pink-footed Geese as best part of 8,000 or so took to the air and landed out on the marsh/estuary foreshore. The sad thing about still photography is the fact it doesn't capture the duration of the flight and seems little point putting image after image of the birds in the air here and it also fails to capture the noise, both of the wingbeats and calling of the birds. Impressive.

After my previous post about Little Grebe on Newton Marsh, here at Marshside one was showing very well.

Despite all my efforts I managed one or two flight photos of some of the other locals, primarily Shoveler, Mallard and Teal. There were a great many Black-tailed Godwits, perhaps approaching 500 and all I have are some distant images. The Little Egret is almost guaranteed and it wasn't that long ago you were lucky to see one in the UK. So much we take for granted.

I've dropped a couple of images in of the locals... and again all this photography stuff is all well and good but I never knew, male Teal had a brown eye, male Shoveler a mucky yellow eye and a female Shoveler a chestnut brown eye – there aren't many books that go into that much detail, so while enjoying the photography, in the words of Vinnie Jones 'it's been educational' (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels).

The flocks of Canada Geese (seen but not shown) and Greylags,  I have seen at Newton Marsh and Fairhaven and environs and Marshside and the estuary is clearly a home for these mobile flocks of resident geese.

The sun set (again in the west) and the distant gas rig in Liverpool Bay was seen through the haze.

And finally, if I was an artist and I'm not, if someone said 'paint a field' you'd go for green – right? Yet there is but a single strip of green in the final image of the marsh and if someone had said use 'russet red' you'd think they were barmy. Funny what you see if you look.

* from all those days spent racing around London

surprising how the marsh soon hides 5,000 geese

Mallard, Teal and Shoveler.... more like it

now there's a question – why does a bird of the same species but different sexes have a different coloured iris? As in the case of the Shoveler shown here – I have no idea so any responses or comments appreciated.

Wheatears on the way back

Aye, well, ho hum... time the most valuable commodity we have has been passing me by without much to report. I have found myself on the 'promenade' at Preesall, at least I think it's Preesall, just east of Knott End and before Cocker's Dyke;  there have been a few Grey Plover on the foreshore and a number of Wheatears on the sea defence wall. It's amazing how easy it is to miss them. I've included a couple of images that, I hope demonstrate this ability to disappear into the background – you may want to look twice at a couple of the images. Catching two together in one image, is for me, unusual.

I like Wheatears and if you can be bothered I came across a very obliging individual above Tower Lodge in the Trough earlier in the year, I enjoyed the experience no end. I enjoyed this latest brief encounter (Celia Johnson wasn't around) and watching Wheatear behaviour, often fying ten feet or so so, always perching on a vantage point, the flash of a white rump, the interception of an unfortunate flying too close... backwards and forwards, often working the same patch of ground... but unusually this time, I couldn't get very close before they were off.

A late call at Newton Marsh and I spotted a flock of geese approaching from the eastern horizon, so far off I was able to park the car, get out and blend into the background as they approached. It turned out to be our old friends, 19 Greylags who flew directly overhead and disappeared over the western horizon. I've only included the image as I like the way the setting sun caught the underneath of their wings... a skein of geese taking a few minutes to fly overhead... a sign of times to come? Pinkfoot!

And perhaps finally, a Tortoiseshell. I think I'd mentioned in a previous post a lot of nice looking ones about and this picture, exactly as taken demonstrates that. Shame about 'the straw', bottom left and I may have to double-check the camera settings... I can't get over the colour saturation, but exactly as taken. Perhaps more on that later.

On the road again...

Don't chew on humbugs! Regular readers will know why... another trip to the dentist... in Southport! Still the sun was out. Sometimes my posts wont be about bird pics I'm afraid... sometimes the environment and composition is equally important to me.

Not much to report, so look at the pictures. Except there were three buzzards well high up over the estuary, well high, looked like common buzzard to me, but somebody had said there were three Marsh Harriers about.

I'm hopeless at the type and age of gulls!

I could adjust this, but I like it the way it is: Canada Geese and look carefully for two Greylags

I love the wide-open space and skies of the Ribble Estuary (and Mori cam bie bay)

Once upon a time, Little Egret were 'rare' up north, now they appear common as muck!

Knott End Turnstones

Another grey overcast winters day. Stretching my legs at Knott End I ended up at the jetty. It was blowing 'a whoolie' and a bit brass around the nether regions. The tide was in and not wanting to call out the Coastguard I didn't venture too close to the waters edge and moved slowly making sure of my footing with each step... too many past adventures thank you very much. Working my way back up to the esplanade a small flock of Turnstones decided to drop in. I must have created great amusement to others passers-by as I did slow motion impressions not wanting to disturb these lovely birds – a favourite of mine (but there are so many); the colours are so fab and when you see them in their natural environment – what great plumage. The tide turned and uncovered enough of the beach and pebbles for the birds to do as their name – Turn stone. With my photos and frossen to the core, it was time to go.  A flock of 58 Redshank were feeding in the receding water's edge.

On the way to Knott End a Kestrel and 2 Grey Heron at Carr Hill Common and on Pilling Moss, another pair of Kestrels, two Red-Legged Partridge. On the way home Goldeneye at Pilling and a small flock of Greylags at Eagland Hill.