The severe weather of the past week was always likely to provide a bit of a Phalarope wreck and with several birds across the UK, it made sense to give the Crosby Marine Park Phal a go.
This was shades of the Pallid Swift (which flew over the car on arrival) - a short walk over to the small boating lake and it was..... immediately onto the Grey Phalarope busily surface feeding at the playground end - with everyone else frantically rushing from the other end of the lake from where it had flown!!
Grey Phalaropes are normally very obliging birds and this was certainly no exception! The gallery posed no problem with the bird happily feeding and totally at ease with birders and even the friendly locals with Pit Bulls and Staffs Terriers exercising nearby!
An atmospheric shot with everyone quietly rooted to the spot including passers by with prams.....
Every now and then it would fly off, on a couple of occasions, vanishing for 15 minutes or so but eventually always returning to this favoured spot.....
A chance for some classic poses - a reflection....
I tried my best to capture the 'droplet' effect after many a small insect met their doom!
I did say 'obliging' - a question of holding focus as it came ever nearer and with the sun now shining, the light was absolutely perfect!
The chance of a quick Shag was not to be missed either! Two juveniles were present on the main lake - not easy into the light!
The only Shropshire highlight over the past fortnight was good views of the very flighty Cetti's Warbler at Chelmarsh last Monday. Away days are much more fun - I may give Stubbers Green a go tomorrow.....
