Scarce and Rare Birds on the Wirral

With a period of Easterly winds the Wirral got more than it's usual share of rare and scarce birds over the last week or so. At Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB Reserve (or BMW as it is known) there was a good list including a Red-necked Phalarope, Cattle Egret, Little Stints, Curlew Sandpipers and Pectoral Sandpiper. Some of these were present for most of the week, if not longer.
Tied in with some high tides I spent a couple of days out with the camera to see what could be done. BMW isn't great for photography and from the old hide unfortunately the birds are a little distant. So this would only be good for record shots. Still, I had a go and managed to photograph the Red-necked Phalarope and Pectoral Sandpiper.

Red-necked Phalarope

Pectoral Sandpiper

On the North Wirral coast I photographed Curlew Sandpiper on the beach at Hoylake and the diminutive Little Stint which was roosting with about 500 Dunlin at Leasowe.

Curlew Sandpiper

Little Stint

Here are some of the more common species I encountered in a productive couple of days with a bit of decent sunshine.

Dunlin (It's not marching)

Grey Heron

Mute Swan

Ringed Plover (juvenile)

Sanderling

Holidaying in France (Part 2)

My trips to the park would vary from day to day, no two being the same.  Different species would come and go, from small waders such as Green and Wood Sandpipers to large Herons and Egrets. The lake was too deep for waders, so they would circle around and then fly off again. I never knew what would turn up next.
I had hoped to photograph Purple Heron, as I had seen some good shots of one taken here earlier this year.  Speaking to a local, he told me that May and June was the best time to see them, although I did briefly see one but wasn't able to photograph it. Here are a few shots of some of the species that were photographable.

Great White Egret

Great White Egret

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Black-winged Stilt

Little Egret

Little Egret

My Favourite Images (3)

The third in the series of some of my favourite images.


Hoopoe
This bird turned up in Scotland a few years ago. I decided to make the long journey to photograph it having heard that it was very tame. It certainly was, this being a full frame image taken with a 300mm lens.

Grey Heron
Another very approachable bird, this one was stalking prey at the edge of a lake and let me get well within 10m.

Southern Hawker
When I photograph a Dragonfly I usually start by taking some shots with my 300mm lens, then if they seem settled enough I'll move in closer using a 60mm macro which is how I got this shot.

Gannet
A bit of a theme developing in this post as I have just realised that they are all un-cropped. I like this one because of the dark background which is the shaded sea.

Fulmar
Similar to the previous image with an even darker background, this time it was shaded cliffs giving the contrast.

In Flight

Whilst I'm out working on certain subjects, I try never to miss the opportunity to grab some flight shots of any incidental species that might pass by. These images are some I have taken over the last couple of months.

Lapwing

Raven

Grey Heron

Shelduck

Magpie

Cormorant