Sorry, Not Sorry

 Earlier today I took a walk down to the marine lake at West Kirby, I had seen some male Goosander yesterday but didn't have my camera so went back today in the hope of getting some shots. Unfortunately I was short on time and missed out on that score however I did manage a few nice shots of some Turnstone and a flock of Redshanks roosting on a pontoon. 

I was speaking to a guy who informed me of some other species I might be interested to see but they were further out on the lake and I didn't get to photograph them. He mentioned that a Shag had been spotted and I was fortunate enough to not only see it but to watch it fishing. The water was still and clear so each time it dived I could watch its progress under water and with my grandson along for the walk we enjoyed guessing whether it would come up with a shrimp or fish in its beak.

When asked what this bird was I had told someone it was a cormorant but I believe it is a Shag. The two birds are of course very similar and so although I am sorry for giving misleading info to that passer-by I am not really sorry because they are closely related and at the time we were chatting it was quite a way off, it was only when I saw it close up I realised my error. 

I love the way they swim, almost half submerged and they dive so gracefully, barely breaking the surface. Then when the return to the surface their dark feathers have a beautiful glossy sheen.

Anyway here are a couple of the images I got of the Shag. I will share some photos of the other birds in due course and I will be back by the lake tomorrow to see what is about then, as long as the weather is as forecast.

Guillemot

 This is a Guillemot, a member of the auk family and one of the most common seabirds to nest around our shores, however this was the only pair of the birds that I could photograph on Skomer, the rest were nesting too far away.

As with the puffins the male and female birds spend the winter apart, meeting up in the breeding season when they lay one egg on a rocky ledge. They don't make a nest but as in this shot they clear the space of any stones or debris that might be in the way.

When the egg hatches both parents will attend to the chick for the first three weeks or so after which the chick will go to the water where it is looked after exclusively by the male parent who will feed it and train it for the next 12 weeks. |t does not fly until it is 8 - 10 weeks old 

Just Great...

I had a really good spell at Mere Sands Woods reserve yesterday during a brief respite in the horrendous weather we've had recently. I watched a lovely Little Grebe fishing and saw a stunning kingfisher fly directly towards me before it looped off around the mere. 

Then at a different spot I heard the tell tale call of another kingfisher and and after a few minutes searching the reeds I spotted it and spent the next 15 - 20 minutes watching it fish. It caught what appeared to be newts, eating one and after killing the second he hung it on a branch possibly to go back for later. 

Although I managed to get a few pictures it was too far away to get a decent clear image. I will have to save hard and maybe have to sell some gear to be able to afford a better lens and get the sort of images a fellow photographer managed to get (but his camera and lens set up would have been around £17K so I would have expected the sort of images he was keen to show off). 

That being said I don't think you have to spend such a huge sum of money to get great images and I think these shots of a fishing Great Crested Grebe are proof of that. 

I think these are such regal looking birds and they are so sleek as they dive in search for food, barely leaving a ripple as they break the surface.

Mutton Chops

I think you would agree with me when I say that the Great Crested Grebe is a stunning bird.

It is regal, sleek and streamlined and has the most beautiful plumage, and it has a fearsome beak which it uses to catch fish while swimming under water. 

It is known for its amazing courtship rituals when the adults perform a balletic dance. I had gone to Mere Sands today in the hope that I would witness this but obviously I had picked the wrong time. This chap stayed a safe distance away so getting the perfect shot was really difficult however I am fairly happy with these two.

I had a really enjoyable time at Mere Sands listening to the birdsong as I walked through the woods and sitting quietly and undisturbed in the various hides around the mere. There weren't that many different species of birds to see but it was so relaxing and a perfect opportunity to de-stress.

Don't feed the pigeons

I hesitated before finally deciding to post this picture of a feral pigeon, they are sometimes referred to as flying rats because they're often seen as pests, certainly in cities; and in many places it is an offence to feed them. I wonder if people would like them more if one of their other names "city dove" was used more than feral pigeon it sounds slightly more appealing as a dove doesn't it. 

Regardless of what you call it it is actually quite a nice looking bird, not pretty, certainly not beautiful but this bird certainly has character and is a fine specimen.

Little Egret

I had stopped to look through one of the screen hides at Burton Mere and at first glance there was virtually nothing to see but then I spotted this lovely Little Egret a little way off in the distance. I could see that it was working its way slowly towards me as it was searching for food so I hung around for a bit in the hope it would get close enough for me to get a few shots. 

 Well as you can see my patience paid off.

This is a really elegant bird with its pristine plumage and fierce long black beak. I love the plume on its head and the wispy feathers on its breast and back. Although here it looks perfectly still it was in fact shuffling its feet constantly stirring up tasty treats.

Sleek

I was lucky that today, for a couple of hours at least the sky was clear and the light was good. It was just as well because when I got to Mere Sands I realised that I had left my coat at home and while my layers of fleece were guaranteed to keep me warm they would offer little protection if it rained.

There was a fair variety of birds to see but not in great numbers and mostly too far out on the mere to get a good shot.

On land cormorants look clumsy and ungainly and in flight they're not the most elegant of creatures but in the water they are something else. Swimming low in the water with their sleek bodies and long necks they are elegant and graceful and it was mesmerising watching this one fishing.

Sadly the light and fair weather didn't last too long and was soon followed by heavy rain which brought an end to my New Year's photo shoot. But I am not complaining, I had a lovely couple of hours and even when the weather isn't great I enjoy being outdoors and there will hopefully be many more opportunities in the months ahead.

Hunkered Down

The first image show a beautiful Little Egret in winter plumage (sleek and lacking the wispy plume that it has during the summer months). It was patiently patrolling the shallows fishing. I watched this one catch a decent sized fish just a few moments before this shot but sadly I didn't capture the action. This is such a beautiful and elegant bird with its pristine white feathers.

The second picture shows an adult Grey Heron hunkered down on the embankment over looking the pool. It was cold and windy and he seemed quite content standing there. He lacks the elegance of the Egret, at least in this pose but nonetheless he is a lovely creature.

Coming to Life

There is something elegant about the sleek tulip bud as it develops and bursts into a colourful flower. The external shell gives the slightest hint of the colour to come.

I like the natural lighting in this shot, it is almost like there is a halo around the flower.