Ellesmere - Little Gull part two

Whilst I was pleased to get a good number of decent flight shots of this juv Little Gull, I was always tuned into the 'quick as a flash' manoeuvre that signified a fly had been spotted!

Even at 10fps, the camera would miss a near 'catch' whilst the gull was a couple of feet away from its quarry! 

Slowly but surely, the insects were lining up nearer the bill...

And this trio against different backgrounds summarised just how lucky I was!

And to finish, a nicely lit shot on the water!

That will do very nicely...

Ellesmere - Little Gull part one

I'd called at the Mere the previous day and had enjoyable albeit distant and into the light views of the juv Little Gull which had been hanging around there for the past week. That was all about to change!

Close enough to enjoy a bit of feather detail on the water...

But there were plenty of opportunities to enjoy the Gull in flight. A couple of close underwing passes!

The upperwing is so neatly patterned

And of course the first objective was a to get a full on banking shot!

Followed by an angled low approach

The last image reminds me of a Great Shearwater shot I enjoyed a few years ago! This will run it close as a favourite?

There's more to come, this little fella was catching insects...

Venus Pool - Wood Sandpiper x 2

The weather conditions were favourable as I joined a VP wader vigil but apart from the now 'daily present ' species (plus the Terns I missed!), there was nothing of note for me...

I nipped back home at about 12:30, went through the door and my phone went off... "You had better get back Jim" Four waders had dropped in and two of them were Wood Sandpipers! (Many thanks Dave) The two as yet unidentified species turned out to be Ruff!) A hastily made sandwich and I was back in the hide 20 mins later...

The Ruff were off almost immediately, spooked by a Hobby! I got the Ruff but the Hobby was literally over the hide!

A few pics then of the two juv Wood Sandpipers...

Singled out these...

But I spent most of the time trying to get them close together!

By far the quirkiest pic of the day was this strange pose captured mid wash! Freaky or what!

 

They departed at 3.40, just before the clouds lifted and the light improved dramatically! 

Venus Pool - Juvenile Redstart

A juvenile Common Redstart has been putting in an appearance lately and I bumped into it today!

Goodness knows where it came from?

Venus Pool - Black-tailed Godwit adult vs Juvenile

The majority of the Black-tailed Godwits passing through have been juveniles so it was nice to have the one adult with them up close!

A juvenile taking to deeper water and paddling along!

Here's another juv giving a nice comparison of the different plumages!

Venus Pool - Black tailed Godwits x 9!

The Black-tailed Godwits are not just coming, they are are staying a while. Two new arrivals took the tally for the day to 9 and they were a little more obliging with one of two coming near to the hide. The light of course was horrendous...

Here's the adult...

Plus of of the juvs feeding...

Encroaching on the mud...

Searching for different invertebrates?

A pause for thought?

Then back in the water for more goodies...

Teaming up with another new arrival, one of the first Common Snipe which arrived the previous day...

And getting a withering look from one of the geese...

No new waders but (2) LRP, (2) Green and (2) Common Sandpipers still present!

Venus Pool - Black-tailed Godwits x 7

The Patch has turned up a few waders of late and leading the roll-count has to be Black-tailed Godwits with another seven (all Islandica) a single adults plus 6 juvs...

Sticking near to the middle island, they were always going to be difficult!

But nervous birds create occasional flight possibilities!

Singling out one of the juvs and adults to finish...

RAF Shawbury - Typhoon display

It's been a while since I put my aviation hat on and long overdue to witness a brilliant display in the new Union Jack Typhoon display paint scheme for 2021 (and 2022 hopefully if they happen!)

I'll let the pictures do the talking...

The noisy farewell!

Roll on the next opportunity!