Sanderlings

I have finally finished processing and updating my Sanderling images. I have added 67 new images to my website. I had many shots of winter plumaged birds taken locally on the Wirral and North Wales. Then I had images of breeding plumaged birds, taken on the Outer Hebrides, back in 2013. It's hard to believe it is the same species when you compare the two plumages. Both very stunning in the right light and conditions.

  

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

Photo of the Day - Sanderling

I have been sorting through some of my increasing backlog of images, trying to catch up a little with my website. I had an idea that, as I go through them, I will pick out some of the best and create a regular post of  "Photo of the Day" I'll try and do this every day, but we'll see how it goes.
To start with, here's a winter plumaged Sanderling taken in North Wales a few years ago.

Sanderling