Meresands Wood

After leaving Marshside time was on my side so I decided to call in at Meresands Wood

http://www.lancswt.org.uk/Our%20Reserves/mere_sands_wood.htm

in the hope of seeing some Kingfishers. Not in luck today, I hotfooted across the reserve to the Rufford Hide where I have seen them from on previous visits, and barring a quick glimpse of one flying past, none settled within range to photograph. But i was treated to some great views of a couple of Jays, and on the way back across the reserve witnessed a Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding its young, so the visit wasnt wasted!!

A fine display by a couple of Jays right outside the hide.













Walking through the wood i could hear a strange calling, and what sounded like a Woodpecker calling in the canopy. Looking around the trees I found the source of the strange call, it was a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from its hole in a dead tree, the parent was obviously waiting for me to pass by before coming down to feed it. I hid myself behind a tree and was treated to watching the feeding.

Wheres my food????





I'm just waiting for him to go!!!



I'm coming!!









From a different angle, revealed this bird has been caught and rung.



All the boxes in the wood seemed to be occupied by Blue Tits busily back and forth feeding.



I am now looking forward to later in the month when I am off to The Bass Rock, hopefully on a nice sunny calm day, and lots of Gannets.

RSPB Marshside

Recently took the opportunity to get across to Marshside, Nr Southport, with the intention of getting some shots of the breeding Avocets. It was a lovely hot sunny morning when I arrived and a few Avocets were feeding close in to the Sandgrounders Hide, but the strong sun was behind them which caused a few problems getting good shots, but managed to get some nice ones. As it was only a short visit I didnt have too much time to have a good look around, but a flock of Black Tailed Godwits caught my attention, and although very flighty they settled eventually.

Todays target, the Avocet



That long upturned bill is constantly sieving and probing the mud for food





This one was calling to its mate







Nicely posing amongst the colourful buttercups





The parent birds were constantly calling and chasing off gulls, to protect their young that were already at a young age probing the shallows feeding













A large flock of Black tailed Godwits were flying around for a while until they settled close by













Just outside the hide a Sedge warbler was singing, but try as I might I couldnt get a full clear shot, this being the closest I came.



Just at the waters edge a juvenile Pied Wagtail



On the way I back I called in at Meresands Wood, to hopefully get some Kingfisher shots, no success this time, but some nice Jay pics, and Woodpecker pics to come shortly........

Preston Dock

Its been ages since I have been out with the camera,took the chance to have a walk around Preston dock, hopefully to see the Common Terns that had reportedly been about. But what I did find was a Mute Swan nest on one of the break waters with the most cute cygnets i have seen.



The nest was on a breakwater wedged between some logs and made up of whatever they could find, the female constantly annoyed by the local mallards.



I think in all there were 3 cygnets that I counted







This ones head popped out from under mums wing















it took a short while to locate the Common Terns, but one took to the sky and led me back to the tyre it was nesting in, these tyres have been placed on the breakwaters for the birds to nest in.











Although they are a very common duck, I never tire of photographing mallards, the setting sun lighting them up nicely









St Wallburghs church in the background, the breakwaters that hold most of the birds in the foreground.