West Kirby.

West Kirby Marine Lake .


I do not get much time of work these days so as this was one of the few and far between days , i decided to go to West Kirby Marine Lake . Where during the last week Red-breasted Merganser's and juvenile Shag's had been reported. On arrival the sun was shining (weather man wrong again) and i didnt take long before i located two juvenile Shag's close in shore . Only one scruffy looking immature drake Merganser could be found and it took some time before it came close enough for me to get some decent shots in the bag .

Shag (juvenile) .

Shag (juvenile).

Red-breasted Merganser .

Red-breasted Merganser .

Red-breasted Merganser.

Red-breasted Merganser.

Strong Winds.

Grey Phalarope.


With these strong west, south west winds many seabirds may get blown inland onto our lakes and reservoires . Amongst them may well be a Leach's Petrel or even a Little Auk . These are only usually one day birds as many are taken as prey by the larger gull's.

Little Auk.

Leach's Petrel.

A Taste of Summer.

Barn Owl.


Long gone are those warm summer evenings , but those memories still linger on .

Green-Hairstreak.

Common Darter.

Ghost Moth (female).

Common Blue.

Four-spotted Chaser.

Eyed-hawkmoth.

British Robin.

The confiding habits of the Robin are familiar in our gardens, town parks and along hedgerows. Our British Robins belong to the race (melophilus) , and most are sedentary and highly territorial throughout the year . Many defend territories around garden feeding stations and have now mastered the skill of feeding from suspended nut-feeders . Although most Robins are resident , some make local seasonal moves , forsaking the bleak high ground in winter for the more sheltered lowlands . Others make longer journeys with the continental race (rubecula) arriving along the East Coast in large numbers.

Swallows and Martins.

Ah well with those long hot summer days behind us, we are now into the dark, wet and windy season . But spare a thaught for the three little fellows below, did they make it to Africa, and if so will they return to our shores next spring !.
House Martin.

Sand Martin.

Swallow.

Wirral

The image below was just one of the many Bar-tailed Godwit flocks located along the Wirral coast today . Trying to photograph a single bird on its own proved quite a challange.

Bar-tailed Godwits.


Bar-tailed Godwit.


Below are a few more images taken from my travels along the coast today.

Ringed Plover.


Knot.


Curlew.


Dunlin.


Little Egret.


Various size flocks of Sanderling are now present along the coast, finding a small flock makes it a lot easier to handle when trying to get in close for photography.

Looking forward to Winter.

During the winter months the coast and inland waters of the Wirral will hold a sea duck of some discription . If we get the right weather conditions we may be rewarded with a Grey Phalarope . Below are a few images of what we might expect , who said the Winter is dull, cold and birdless.

Great Northern Diver.

Black-throated Diver.

Red-necked Grebe.

Slavonian Grebe.

Smew.

Red-breasted Merganser.

Grey Phalarope.


Check local landfill sites , and Gull roost's for that Glaucous Gull.

Glaucous Gull.


Plenty of Short-eared Owl's will be around the marsh's , anywhere between Burton Marsh and Parkgate will produce excellent views during late afternoon's.

Short-eared Owl.

Keep those feeding stations topped up during the winter months and you could be rewarded with Redpoll, Siskin and if your very lucky even a Brambling or two.

Redpoll.

Siskin.

Brambling.


Along the beach's around the Wirral you could come across small parties of Snow Bunting's , and the ever elusive Purple Sandpiper will be found around its favoured winter sites at Wallasay and New Brighton.
Snow Bunting.


Purple Sandpiper.


Waxwings can and will turn up anywhere ,during bad weather on the continent and with short food supplies , birds will arrive on our shores in various size flocks .

Waxwing.