Knypersley Res:

Not that often that my shift pattern, the weather and the bird population, actually come together, on my local patch, although the sunshine did not last for that long, have been tracking the Bramling for about two weeks now and the numbers are increasing, however, they are not easy to get close to and still don't have the shot I want, but hey that's what keeps us going back for more.

Brambling (Female).

Brambling (Male).

Nuthatch.

Coal Tit.

Chaffinch (Male).

Westport Lake.

Westport Lake is held close to our hearts, (myself and Dearly Beloved), being were we met for the first time! Have not had course to visit for sometime, so when this Red-breasted Merganser arrived and with today the only day we have off together for some time, we were up early and off, showed really well, but had to wait a good few hours for the sunshine to play ball. Glad we persevered.

Red-breasted Merganser.

Red-breasted Merganser.

Red-breasted Merganser.

Red-breasted Merganser.

Red-breasted Merganser.

Norfolk!

I love Donkey's, this is one I befriended in Norfolk and visited every day we were there.

Donkey!!

Donkey!!

Tatton Park.

I had no idea that Tatton Park was as close to us as it is, went with no great hope that we would be successful but wow we were able to walk amongst them, although they don't retreat when they have had enough of you, they just come straight for you!! Cannot wait for the heavy frost and snow to go back and have another crack at them.

Fallow Deer.

Fallow Deer.

Red Deer.

Red Deer.

Red Deer.

Red Deer.

Cannock Chase.

Oh to be retired!! I was desperate to visit Cannock Chase to see the Great Grey Shrike, but with work commitments, I was not even able to accompany The Seal the first time he went, so with time booked off and at least a sunny day promised, I woke up in great excitement, only to get a message when we were half way there that the Shrike had been seen in another part of the Chase, luckily we continued on and found that it was in fact a second Shrike that had been seen, although a lot less aproachable, the one we were after was in it's usual place and was great to see, even to the point of it showing off too close to us to photograph.

Great Grey Shrike.

Great Grey Shrike.

Great Grey Shrike.

Great Grey Shrike.

On Our Way Home.

On our way home it did not take much of a detour to call in at Grafham Waters, Cambs., for the Sabines Gull, we also saw the Grey Phelarope, but does not look the same out of the water and unfortunately it did not venture in very often.

Sabines Gull.

Sabines Gull.

Sabines Gull.

Sabines Gull.

Grey Phelarope.

Covenham, Lincs.

Our last day in Norfolk, just as "The Seal" had found an App on his new phone, of how to find our nearest MacDonalds, what should it be than Skegness which it said was only 17miles away, (well that's only if you were a bird or a boat), what should turn up in Lincs but the American Black Tern, so off we went intending to meet Dave Hutton there as he was travelling up from Nuneaton, by road it ended up being 70 to 80 miles we covered, pity we were not a Bird or a Boat, but we had a good day and we had two Little Stints to have a go at as well.

Little Stint.

American Black Tern.

American Black Tern.

American Black Tern.

Rare One Of Me.

Norfolk continued:

Firstly my apologies for neglecting my blog and getting through my collection from my Norfolk trip in September, cannot believe how the time can get away from you, however, back to Norfolk and two day's where taken up by visiting the Common and Grey Seals on Blakeney Point, if you have not been it is a must, the first day was with my own Seal in tow and the next I was joined by good friend Di Stone, we had a whale of a time (Excuse the pun) and cannot wait until we can go again, while waiting for the boat trip we did our usual visit to the Harbours were I got one of my personal favourite shots of the Bar-tailed Godwit, while Di and I were out on the second day, the Seal managed to track down this Greenshank in a small inlet at Stiffkey Marsh, he was waiting for us when we disembarked and whisked us off to see it for ourselves.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Greenshank.

Bar-tailed Godwit.