Mere Sands Wood Grebes.

Last week I spent a few hours at Mere Sands Wood with the grebes allthough they didn't come very close and the light was very harsh I managed to capture a few images.Dave Cookson turned up and we had a good chat while the birds were distant,I would like to thank him for all the help and advice he gave me.I have posted a few images below from a very enjoyable day out  and hope to return soon to try and get some images with more action.

Quick Visit.

Firstly I would like to apologize to some of my fellow bloggers as I am unable to post comments on their bloggs,hopefully I will get this sorted soon.A quick hour at Newton Marsh saw 3 hares,squabbling waterhens,plenty of widgeon,teal,shovelers,coots,with a few blacktailed godwits,redshank,with plenty of displaying lapwings.I have posted a few images from my short visit.

An Afternoon Out.

At the feeding station I managed a few images of Chaffinch,Coal Tit,Long Tailed Tit,Blue Tit and a Wood Mouse.I managed to get on the floor at eye level to the Wood Mouse and like the image I have managed to capture.I travelled to the common in the late afternoon for the SEO's and sod's law struck again as I was in the wrong place to capture any images.I watched them through my binoc's and saw one flush a snipe.Back at the car with all my  equipment away one appeared and I managed a record shot hand held.Christian came over having had the same luck as me and as we were having a chat a SEO cme from right to left at tree top height flying fast and straight towards a small flock of Jackdaws roosting in a tree,they certainly didn't hang about.I don't know if the owl did this for badness or was seriously hunting.Anyway a very enjoyable afternoon birding and nice to meet Christian.

Learning Curve.

I've been trying to get better composition images with clean blurred backgrounds and the best place to practice this is at the local feeding statoin.I've posted a few images of my efforts below and any comments for me to improve my composition and presentation would be welcome.

GOOD MIX.

Sunday I was of early to Newton Marsh to see what was about.A sparrowhawk whizzed down the channel and a kestrel hunted the marsh,four buzzards floated over till the carrion crows started to mob them.A steady stream of lapwings,godwits and starlings landed on the marsh to feed with the impressive numbers of duck,a few lapwing were displaying and calling that wonderful PEEWIT call.I counted six skylarks in the field and fourteen meadow pipits on the fence and bramble bush,three hares were visible and one was very obliging and I managed a few images. In the late afternoon I called at a local common to see if Icould see the SEO's,two owls were hunting occasionally giving close but fleeting views due to the dogwalkers,but Imanaged a few images and was very pleased to see the owls as I class this area as part of my local patch.I have posted a few images of the days sightings and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did watching and capturing images of this wonderful wildlife on my doorstep.

                                                                                                                                                              

A GREAT DAY OUT.

Brian picked me up at 10.00 am for a trip out to Rossall for the high tide,at Higher Bartle a sparrowhawk glided   low over the roadside and up a farm track looking for breakfast.We joined Dave at Rossall the conditions were perfect and the sanderling and turnstones kept us busy with are lenses.A peregrine dived bombed the small flock of birds a couple of times with no success,a great sight to see.We had an hour on the Marine Lake with the tufted duck,mallard,turnstone,and redshank.On to Pilling were a kestrel was at the picnic site and on Cockerham road a snipe was close to the roadside and I managed a few images.Down Gulf  lane a well fed kestrel  was sat on a post and the camera was in action again,further on the little owl was in it's usual place.On the way home a barn owl was spotted  and the cameras were out again the light was fading but we managed  some images of this wonderful bird.A great way to finish a wonderful day,thanks to Brian and Dave for great company.I have posted a few images of the days sightings below for you to enjoy.

Short-eared Owl's.

After hearing a report of S E O's at a sight on the Lancashire Mosslands just south of the Ribble,I paid a few visits and was rewarded with some lovely but distant views of these wonderful owl's.I have posted a few of my better images below for your enjoyment.