The name Kinmel Bay has become synonymous with top quality Snow Bunting pictures due to the feeding of the birds by locals and visitors alike, so with me I brought a half kilo of seed by way of a sacrifice to the gods of photography to allow me some nice views. It was however disappointing to arrive and not find any area already seeded, so I effectively started 'from scratch'. I did however soon have 12 birds feeding, a good number and with some very handsome males in the mix. It was not long before they started moving my way, although it wasn't long before a dog walker came either, putting the birds up and me back to square one. I however knew they'd be back, so sat it out and waited for their return...
...That low, early morning winter sun really helps here...
...Red Alert! Dog Walker...!
...But its not all Buntings on the seeded patch, this Meadow Pipit has grown bold with the extensive disturbance and as a result has become quite tame...
...even down to eye-level...
...and that bit of luck required to get something more special...
...but soon the bunts were back and my attention drawn away from this unobtrusive LBJ...
...a stunning male struts his stuff...
...this one appears to be trying to hide...!
...and as the light faded and the train rolls into Rhyl station i'm off again, the sun setting behind me casting great long shadows across the sands of the Dee. The crags and contours of Hilbre are picked out in the glorious technicolour of the dying sun and, once again, I'm reminded that it ain't all that bad a life
