Out n' about

A quick selection of images from out and about, if you need any details let me know.

Gadwall, Newton Marsh

one of three, I think, well I know two are a pair and this male I think is a juvenile that
has been following mum and dad about as again three Gadwall were seen last year too

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Preston Docks

as above

my local residents!

one of five I have seen over the last few months; as well as the well known ones

Garden visitor (but not my garden), I liked the irridesence

Rook in the garden

three of eight juveniles Mute Swans I came across

'Ducks' but not as we know it

While at Stanley Park chasing the Great Crested Grebes... 'nuff said

... sometimes it is all too easy to lose perspective!
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Hmmmnnnn, that's something coming from me
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how woooollll....

More like it

(two posts in ONE day!)

My trip to Knott End on a high tide turned out to be almost a complete waste of time; I saw virtually nowt – a Red Breasted Merganser going east but too far out to photograph. As a consequence I popped down to the ferry to see if the Black Redstart was about or anything was in the estuary – fat chance! However my knowledge of Gulls is non-existent and my foray only demonstrates my complete ignorance. I think somebody had perhaps been 'chip throwing', either way a few Gulls were in front of the car park so I thought I might take some reference photos that may come in useful in years to come (are you sure?).  I also saw it as an opportunity to practice flight photography – again a complete waste of time (much to learn), out of about 50 images I think these three are the only ones in focus; they do nevertheless demonstrate the variation in plumage in the various ages.

So desperate was I that I decided to call in further down the coast; I wont say exactly where due to the time of year and the sensitivity of a schedule 1 bird – the Barn Owl. (Send me a private message if you wish and I'll let you know). It did however take me completely by surprise. You can't have too many photos of Barn Owls so here are a few more. Not great as the light was failing (any excuse... but you know the score by now).

Back on my own patch, if you have viewed this blog in the past, you will know I have a penchant for flying things (for some reason I don't understand either!)... The sun 'in the wrong place' allowed me the archetypal image of the resident Mute Swan – so here are two. And having spotted a male Orange Tip frist on 4 April I managed to capture this image in a favoured spot I frequent; the local Mallards had nine young, freshly out of the nest (no photo)

Mute Swan

This nest was in a very public location and I just happened to be passing as it was time to roll the eggs or change the guard perhaps.

Dan de lion and Goldfinch

Another early visit in poor light.

A male Chaffinch, a pair of Blue tits, two or three Goldfinch, a Whitethroat, a pair of Linnet, a pair of Gadwall, a pair of Shelduck, 27 odd Herring Gulls of various ages, Coot and Moorhen, a Mute Swan on a nest and a Mallard with 11 young. They looked they had only just hatched and she was walking them across the field to the water, so the nest must have been well hidden, and just in time with those marauding gulls about.

One or two Goldfinches were feeding on dandelions in the roadside verge, see photos. You can see the yellow nectar on the crown of the bird. The bright yellow on Goldfinch has always been a wonder, yet when feeding on the ground on dandelion, the perfect camouflage.

Later that day, over at St Annes a Dunnock popped up as I was parking the car at the tax office! The Whitethroat pic is only so you know, I know what one looks like and it was still about on the way home later in the afternoon!

Hghi in the sky, I thought there was a Swift but on closer(!) inspection it wasn't a Swift. A couple of brief snaps at considerable distance, and not big enough for a Peregrine I am leaning towards a probable Hobby. What do you think? (see below)

Odds n Sods

Just for the record ...
A Song Thrush because they are declining and the archetypal song bird, joyous.
A cob Mute Swan because of the odd colour of its head
A Black-Tailed Godwit because the light was so flat it reminds me of a Chinese print (and if anyone can help with the species, please advise)
The first Swallow of Spring (11 April)
A male Tree Sparrow, because they're cheeky
Baby Mallard because it's 12 April
A Starling, because I like them...

Newton Marsh – Wigeon

Popped down to Newton Marsh at first light... relatively quiet, plenty of Wigeon were in evidence both on the water and feeding on the meadow. A Mute Swan swam majestically by as they tend to do, at least six Shelduck, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Redshank far off on the marsh, so numbers difficult for me to establish. A small number of Teal were also on site. A female Reed Bunting popped into the nearest Hawthorn tree.

Up at Clifton Marsh a pair of Kestrels were consummating their relationship and similarly two Grey Partridge while a single male Pheasant was feeding in the field.