Martin Mere

Stretching the legs around Martin Mere. Ferociously bright sun with cloudless skies. Not good for the photos but we saw some interesting stuff and got to test the new polarising filter for the 500mm lens. Conclusion: can make a big difference but not sure if I like it.

Barn Swallows

A Sedge Warbler was very busy singing from the top of a clump of reeds. Very reliable and entertaining from the comfort of the hide, but it never came any closer, so heavy crops to get a decent size in the photo.

Sedge Warbler

Red-legged Pheasant

Juvenile Moorhen being fed in the ditch

Grey Heron

Sedge Warbler

Birds were frequently seen trying to fly off with sticks that were far too large, and big clumps of nesting material in general.

Black-headed Gull with enormous stick

Female Blackcap

Moorhen feeding juveniles

Black-headed Gull (polariser shot)

Sleepy Mallard

Shelduck (polariser shot)

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker

Sedge Warbler

Easter greetings from the nestbox

Saw George this morning with a beak full of fluff.  He sat in the tree for quite a while before going in.  It must be lovely and cosy in there now - about time we had some eggs.  Real ones of course, none of this chocolate rubbish:-)

Nestbox now occupied!

We erected a nestbox at the beginning of the year with a slim hope that something might show an interest in it.  Today I came down to make my breakfast and saw a Great Tit collecting moss (of which there is no shortage) from our lawn.  I thought to myself 'I'll watch it to see which direction it flies off in' and surprise, surprise it flew straight into our box!!  I was over the moon.  I'd only seen one land on it, have a quick peep in and then fly off before now so I was completely chuffed to stand there and watch it for the next 10 minutes whilst it repeatedly cleared our lawn of moss and transferred it to the box.  I dashed upstairs to get the camera to get photographic evidence and here are a couple of initial shots.  Hopefully we'll be hearing the patter of very tiny feet soon!

One of our new residents: George the Great Tit

George leaving the box

Dunham Massey

A stroll around the grounds of Dunham Massey.

Dunham Massey route

Lots of rabbits near the visitor centre.

Rabbit near the fountain

In an open patch of grass a Fallow Deer was resting but being plagued by the flies.

Fallow Deer

Jackdaws to the rescue! They were running up and down the deer, snatching flies out the air and pecking things out of their fur. A complete top to toe inspection, with barely a flicker of an eyelid from the deer.

Jackdaw using Fallow Deer as insect bait

The Jackdaw Twins up to no good

A convenient support for...

...launching against flies

Deer doesn't care

A mobile perch

Grey Heron gathering twigs

Wet log with moss and lichens

Moel Famau

A very, very, VERY long walk around Moel Famau. Taking in Foel Fenli along the way under blazing sun all day long, we forgot to bring extra water so were really flagging by the end. This route starts at the top of the hill so the final mile or so is all up hill. Very glad to get back to the car.

Moel Famau elevation

Moel Famau route

Sheep hiding behind a stump

View up towards Moel Famau

Spring lambs by the car park

Daffodils

Piglets at Pigsty corner

Piglets at Pigsty corner

Bulkeley Hill

A walk up Bulkeley Hill and the surrounding countryside. Very muddy after rain during the week, particularly across some of the fields. Very different from when we came last year during the summer; hedgerows previously full of flowers and insects were barren with only dry stems left. The day was rounded off by some well preserved plate fungi.

Lonely Tree

Remains of the harvest

Fungus on a tree stump

Plate fungus

Plate Fungi

Plate Fungus (or UFO)

Martin Mere

An early look around Martin Mere, to stretch the legs after Christmas and stock up on bird food and a nest box. Nothing much about worth photographing in the harsh sunlight but the usual array of geese and swans were on the mere.

Whooper Swan

Mallard

Flying Whooper Swan family

We finally got a willing subject right at the end in the car park. A little too much sun on its white breast but well take what we can get.

Cheeky Black-headed Gull in car park

Black-headed Gull on car roof

Black-headed Gull on car roof

Freiston Shore

Stretching our legs and burning off a few mince pies. Pretty cold, breezy and muddy after all the rain. Mallard, Widgeon, Black-headed Gulls and Redshanks all paddling around in the waterlogged grass.

Mute Swan splashing down

Black-headed Gull

Carrying on round to the sea wall we spotted a young Great-crested Grebe, seemingly stuck in the mud, struggling and trying to clean itself. After watching for a while I attempted to get down to it (on very slippery mud) but it then decided it wasn't stuck after all and zipped over to the other bank. After moving away it returned to its original spot and carried on with its strange routine. Very odd but nothing we could do.

"Squidgy" the Great-crested Grebe

The sun was getting low so we waited around for ages to see if we could get a nice sunset like the other day (no) or if the geese would give us a fly-over (no). We settled for some abstract clouds and flocking birds instead.

Flying Widgeon

Flocks of birds

Sunset behind clouds

Sunset behind clouds