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.

A Little goes a long way...

I can't remember the first time I saw a Little Egret up north or at all, but that shows nothing other the state of my memory, but I don't think it was that long ago (when you get to my age... in the last ten years!), suffice to say I am sure I did a double-take and thought I was dreaming, I mean a relatively big white bird? Are you sure? 

In fact now I think about it, I think the very first time I saw one/them was on a business trip to Singapore but I wasn't in 'birding' mode at that time (96 degrees and 95% humidity!) and I was working, honest. UK populations seems to have begun about 1989, so not that long ago either in the bigger scheme of things.

Anyhooo, the point being is the Little Egret has become 'so common' that I/we don't give them a second look, turn up on the south coast of Morecambe Bay and 'oh hey, one, two, three Little Egrets... next? 

My visit to Knott End found me at Pressall Sands, nothing planned with a spare hour to spend and for once spent it following and watching these engaging birds. At first there were two and they were squabbling, or at least the dominant one was, over the same patch of salt marsh the tide not long receded. As always it was a horrible day with constant drizzle, no horizon, the sea disappearing into the sky. So here are some pics, really right on the edge as always, not close enough, and not enough light for them to be any good, but again a record of the bird and part of its activity.

"I thought I saw a twitcher'

I have to say it does make me laugh when the RSPB state the Little Egret is a bird of the south coast, (not unlike Avocets) albeit spreading into Wales and East Anglia and northward. Considering how many are at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve, you think they might update the website information.

There are not many places where you get down onto the shoreline at Pressall Sands. Having spent an hour watching and following this Little Egret, which is one thing I really do enjoy, watching a species going about doing its own thing especially when for me it is 'opportunistic', I managed to do that 'move without moving' thing, (like the SAS!) where anyone watching must wonder 'what is going on?'. Anyway I crept motionless into position for the advancing Little Egret, waiting patiently, a bit of cramp (age),  hidden in the sea wall rocks, camera set, on a monopod, in focus, much closer than these images, perfect ...

Press the shutter, these are going to be good... 

'card full'!