Its Knot What One'd Think

Red Knot are not uncommon. If I look at my CAWOS 2010 Report they're described as 'very common'. This does not detract from their attractivness to the photographer, in fact the sheer numbers present on the coast present an opportunity for us to get creative and attempt to capture and convey the sheer mass of birds present. As it goes, the Wirral is one of the best places I know for these birds and its no secret, there are often many people watching them roosting. At low tide this is a different story! A gruelling 8 hours logged over both states of thge tide last year allowed me to capture these most wonderful birds at both rest and play...

Heads up lads...

...That's the port of Liverpool in the background, if you're interested...

...finally he sees the camera, took him long enough...!

Wirral Waders

Only my second post and already an unholy number of waders! I went onto a beach recently, one of my favourite habitats for photography, with loads of waders at close range, particularly at high tide.

I started on some local marshland, where I found this lovely stonechat, even if he refused to be lit properley...

I was then cut off from walking the scenic route along the coast, so I cut inland, ending at another beach about high tide, with loads of birds massing on the beach. Furthest of the birds are always the largest, in this instance the Grey Plover, this striking summer plumage birds catching the eye.

Its a huge flock, make no mistake! Closest, and the only birds feeding were the Sanderling, my target...

They were moving towards me, and soon I was engulfed in a feeding frenzy...

This flock moved along all too quickly so I moved onto the stationary birds. There were a good c.5000 birds, of which the foremost were Sanderling and Dunlin, but the main body were the more numerous Knot. The wonderfully peaceful looking waders are photogenic in the extreme...

 But its still fun trying to capture stragglers coming in the back...

But possibly my favourite of the day, the Dunlin who likes a wee stretch!

A really enjoyable day out with the waders, I wish I could continue this life of rielly through the winter, but I've got exams, so i'll grit my teeth and resist the temptation.

This is a first- My best so far...

Well apparrently I have a blog. Wow. I once heard blogging described as 'never have so many people had so much to say about so little'. I have too much to say about everything, i'll stick to birding for now. I'm from that lovable little town nestling at the foot of the pennines, Manchester. I try and get out as much as possible as well, all praise the rail network for helping me do so! Therefore, some of my best photography comes from outside my home town. My favourite place?  Scotland, particularly around Inverness, where I have family. However, I thought it'd be best to kick off with some of my best images, which are quite crap considering I only touched a camera less than 2 years ago, and I only got a DSLR in March 2011. Anyway here goes...

I took this in the Farne Islands in May this year, I was sick of all the bloody Puffins! This is RSPB Young Photographer of the year winning photo.

 I said I liked scotland. Taken atop a Munro summit, battling low light and bitter winds, hands freezing up, this is how photography should be.

 I was just lucky with this one. Merlin, Isle of May, sitting 500 yards away on a stone. A long and knackering crawl over and I was within shooting distance! Amazing bird.

I love a good Wader, and this rather lovely individual from the Dee Estuary is just gorgeous. Taken mid-september this year.

Well, I missed them in Scotland this year, so this beaut from the Great Orme near to Conwy was a Godsend. A young bird, with lovely crisp plumage on the back.

Anyway, next time i'll find something actually worth writing about, rather than just a collection of loosely connected images.