Snowed Under

Anyone visiting this blog over the last few weeks would be dissapointed. Its a bit barren, i've been out and about with the camera but that's all i've done. Everything that has happened seems to have happened all at one. First my computer packed in again, then A levels REALLY started, then I said i'd do D of E, then I started appreciating how much I really do love sleep.

Don't get me wrong, I do love a night with just me and a stackload of photos to edit but I literally haven't had the time to do this, every evening is a maelstrom of Biology and Physics, every weekend a vain attempt to cram as much birding in as time allows. All in all this isn't a very satisfactory arrangement. So here I am again, hands held aloft and ready to regail whoever reads this with tales of birding and the like.

First off since I last posted i've been on the wader trail on the Dee. This is something I do every year (as i'm so original!) but of late have had to watch my step because of some animosity at certain roosts relating to the disturbance of the birds there. This is a photo blog and not a soap box and i'm not preaching or naming names, but it saddens me that one of my favourite places in the world is off limits now. Ah well, here's a Sanderling from afar in some rare sun...!

...and a little closer...

...I love these wee birds and their shorefront antics, like little clockwork toys! Now the next set of photos require a little background. I was out on the Dee (again) looking for waders when a shadow passed me. Not a real shadow, as that would require sun and obviously there was none of that, but a black shape against the obstinately grey sky. It moved quick down the estuary before pulling sharply up and meeting another shadow in the air. The two pigeon-esque birds tusselled for a bit with the sea behind. This was to be the theme of the day, for I was sharing my patch with a pair of Merlin.

Regular readers (or the singular, I don't know how many of you there are!) will have seen my shots from last year where i'd have only got closer to Merlin by shoving my lens up its arse. Not quite so this time, but I could still appreciate this bird even if it was sitting so far away the curve of the earth prevented eye contact...

...and indulging in some fencing...

...bit pissed off about the way the fence obscures it a bit but its such a great bird you could stick a golden statue of Jimmy Saville in shot and it'd still be OK. Because of this little beauty the wader count was on the low side, so when the light fell behind the point of ayr and the talacre dunes were bathed in golden light I crawled along the dee looking for em. First a Turnstone...

...then the 'oh God look at the light' shot...

...and as some bastard dog came out to me I managed this of a Redshank, to date my favourite wader shot I think...

...you got to love dog walkers haven't you? I returned home on the Merseyrail stinking of seaweed, covered in mud and listening to Green Day. Such is the live of the modern teenager.

And another thing, i've made a hide! I say made. And I say hide. Its a hole in the shed with hinges and a lock basically, but its actually given me a couple of hours of great birding so far. This fella has been the star so far, but I look forward to whatever it brings to me...!

So there you have it, a varied month to say the least! Couple that to my adjustments to sixth form (and the nagging feeling that I need to think about the future) and you'll see that its been an odd few weeks, but i'm off to bonny Scotland for a week which'll be right laugh. I hope...

'That's Soooooo Last Season!'- Waders in the autumn

Hilbre Island is a small sandstone outcrop off the Wirral coast. It was at one point a spindly prominentary, but has since fallen foul of erosion and consequently is now a tidal island. It is home to a bird observatory and one of the UK's best wader roosts, mainly because of the lack of disturbance from the general public. It really is one of my favourite places on earth.

Still, as I looked across the sea from west kirby towards the island I looked with aprehension. This was mainly because i'd arrived by train from Liverpool and noticed I wasn't wearing a pair of wellies. Or walking boots. I was wearing a pair of trainers. So as I stared across the sands I had the unappealing prospect of soggy feet all day. So like the sensible person I am I took them off and tied them to the bag and crossed Croagh Patrick style. It was only as I reached Hilbre I did a headcount and found i'd lost a shoe. I was informed by someone crossing that the absent shoe was half way back to the mainland, and so ensued a race against the tide to retrieve the shoe before it did. I won. Just.

But this was all worth it, for as I sat and had my lunch a Pomerine Skua passed north-south along the island. This was followed by the wader roost, as it circled the island looking for suitable rocks. I caught up with them as they landed on the usual ledges, precariously placed below the cliff edge. This meant that into the equation I had to place both getting those killer shots AND staying alive. They say that if you wriggle towards waders they tolerate you on the grounds you look like a seal. I thought I looked more like a tit.

Still, some cracking individuals to look at, although sadly the bestest ones were lower down and out'a  reach. To kick off here's a moulting Turnstone, taken looking down on it...

...here's a more wintery individual on the very recognisable sandstone island...

...its comical watching them try and move around on one foot, they refuse to put the second one down...!

...one of the finer looking birds...

...but roosting waders present a problem of bokeh. As they rest they like to be hard up against the rocks, so when you're trying to get close to them you have to try and angle yourself so as you get some depth of field. This one was well placed...

...a sleepy one...

...Peekaboo...!

...but its not just Turnstone on Hilbre. As I scanned them I located a small group of Dunlin, not as respledecant as they were when I watched them on Shetland, but still stunning wee birds...!

...this one's a bit over the top...!

...and the obligatory portrait...

...and after I informed the bird observatory of my wader counts and seawatch bounty I set off over the sands, sun setting behind and wader massing in front, reflecting for the umpteenth time this holiday, its not so bad being off.

Turning over a new stone...

The Turnstone is not an uncommon bird, but they tend to be rather skittish. This is the case especially when photographing them, since they're even more wary if you follow them around. I was lucky enough to find some 'tame' birds last year and took full advantage of the oportunity offered, foresaking my family for a few hours to watch these wonderful birds on a quayside. I've heard of them eating cat food from the hand up in Nairn, Scotland, but I was happy just to watch them running about...