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Winner on a Spinner

22/5/2016

It was Ben's 9th birthday on Saturday, so we've been busy. Relaxation finally came at 16.00 this afternoon when I decided to go fishing for the first time this year. For some strange reason I felt drawn towards a place that I haven't visited in over 30 years: The canal at Spark Lane, Rufford. I remember Hoggy's dad Martin bringing me and Hoggy fishing here once in the early 1980s. Today I was after a winner...

The canal at Spark Bridge, Rufford. 22/05/16. A distant memory brought back alive.

Pike, 22/05/16, Rufford Canal, Rufford, Lancs. At long last! My first ever Pike! Its a winner!

Wasdale Wander

14/5/2016

Conditions on Saturday were perfect for a walk with my kids and friend Daniel up England's highest peak: Scafell Pike. The kids stormed ahead whilst muggins here carried all their gear in a rucksack. Scant wildlife offerings included a raven, a buzzard, wheatears, meadow pipits and skylarks. I couldn't be bothered photographing those, but here's one shot of the rambling rabble...

Holly, Ben and Daniel at the summit of Scafell Pike 14/05/16, Wasdale, Cumbria.

Black Magic

11/5/2016

Eddie rang tonight claiming 6 Black Terns were at Preston Docks. Seeing was believing, so we sped down there for a look. Sure enough, he was completely wrong. There were in fact 14 black terns, but I'll let him off.

Black Terns, 11/05/16, Preston Docks. Twelve of them in one shot, on the Pontoons opposite Morrisons.

Eight of them take to the air. They were very active actually, but eventually settled down to roost.

So there you are see: Preston is paradise. I always thought it was.

Hilbre Hike

1/5/2016

The weather forecast reckoned Saturday would be the driest day of the bank holiday weekend, so Mark and I headed for Burton Mere, a safe bet for a decent day out. Favourable tide times also offered an opportunity to visit Hilbre Island, off the coast of West Kirkby, reachable by foot at low tide...

Linnet, 30/04/16, Burton Mere, Cheshire. There's a healthy population of this species here.

The morning rain was unexpected and making for poor photography. Although we saw several Spotted Redshank and a pair of distant Whinchat, we decided to postpone Burton Mere and head for West Kirkby instead, our ultimate destination: Hilbre Island. After parking the car we began the 2 mile trudge across the sand to Hilbre: two tiny islands surrounded by rock-pools and plenty of wildlife too...

Hilbre Island. There are two small islands here, this one is the biggest. I'm stood on the other, taking this photo.

Grey Seals, 30/04/16, Hilbre Island, Cheshire. Arriving on the first island, look south towards a sand bank. Probably over 100 seals.

At the furthest point is this building. A derelict shack which probably had a history and a purpose, but for us, it made a decent bird hide.

Dunlin, 30/04/16, Hilbre Island, Cheshire. They flock in their hundreds here, murmurating like Starlings

Whimbrel, 30/04/16, Hilbre Island, Cheshire. Definitely Whimbrel and not Curlew, look at the eye stripe and shorter bill.

Ringed Plover, 30/04/16, Hilbre Island, Cheshire. Sociable with the Dunlin masses.

Little Egret, 30/04/16, Hilbre Island, Cheshire. Seemingly more common than herons around these parts. I'd like to see the latest stats.

Looking back towards West Kirkby from Hilbre main island.

Bluebells carpet Hilbre Island at this time of year.

Hilbre's rock-pools at low tide. Must bring the kids here.

Hilbre was a stunning place which deserves more time. Next time, I plan to get stranded there at high tide. Tired from all the walking, Mark and I headed back to Burton Mere for a leisurely stroll around the place. The sun was out and so were the birds...

Black-tailed Godwits, 30/04/16, Burton Mere, Cheshire. By far the commonest wader here today, and the most colourful.

Spotted Redshank, 30/04/16, Burton Mere, Cheshire. Not often I see these and I've never seen them in breeding plumage before.

Needless to say, I've never seen a row of five Spotted Redshank in full breeding plumage before. Have you?

Avocet, 30/04/16, Burton Mere, Cheshire. I've never seen so many, there are dozens here now.

What made this PM visit to Burton Mere special was a combination of perfect sunlight, good air clarity and lack of leaf-cover. Many small birds were out singing and feeding, all out in the open and at close range...

Blackcap, 30/04/16, Burton Mere, Cheshire.

Whitethroat, 30/04/16, Burton Mere, Cheshire.

Same bird. Just 6ft away now, it suddenly had enough of me.

Reed Bunting, 30/04/16, Burton Mere, cheshire.

Yellow Wagtail, 30/04/16, Burton Mere. A rubbish shot but it was getting dark. Five in the same field!

Winner on a Spinner

Wasdale Wander

Black Magic

Hilbre Hike

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