Venus Pool - Redshank

A hat trick of passage waders over three days at Venus Pool was completed this afternoon when a Redshank flew in mid afternoon!

It was really mobile thanks to the Lapwings but occasionally took a rest!

Interesting patterns in the water...

That's what I like to see - the bird walking my way!

The final two images at closest approach. Wonder what will turn up tomorrow??

Venus Pool - Redshank

My second Redshank of the year and a much closer bird than the distant Wood Lane one. Here it comes...

Letting sleeping Shoveler lie...

Best foot forward...

Happy on land!

Or deeper water...

Making the most of good light with the last two!

More waders are due hopefully?

Wood Lane - Redshank

Redshank have not been too plentiful in the county in recent years and with one on offer at Wood Lane today, I took a chance it would still be there at midday? It wasn't showing, so a waiting game ensued in the company of one of the friendly local birders... Best part of an hour later it was in view but sadly 100m+ away, oh well, wasn't a wasted visit.... Record shot alert!!

The nearest it got was behind a reed bed, just enough room for a 'stem free' pic!

There were plenty of Shelduck, Gadwall plus a Treecreeper / flock of 15+ Siskin in the little copse behind the hide. 

Venus Pool - Redshank

Strange that I've seen a Spotted Redshank this year but no Redshank has come my way! I put that to rights with a Juvenile Redshank showing quite close at times!

Eventually, the Lapwing presence would always suggest 'relocation'...

Nice obliging bird!

Venus Pool - Egrets and Waders

I wasn't expecting much but with an empty car park at Venus Pool beckoning, I walked down to the hide with a spring in my step! Rightly so, there were two Little Egrets on the middle island, then as I returned my gaze to that area, their Big Brother had walked in, a Great White Egret!

A long way off but big enough to stand a decent crop

There had also been a Redshank present on arrival but a shrill call announced some company in the shape of a Dunlin!

Shame nothing came any nearer...

Venus Pool - Redshank

Two months have elapsed since finding a use for the long lens! Despite the poor light, managed decent views of a Redshank (first one of the year) at Venus Pool...

Feeding in front of the main hide...

The mud provided a better backdrop!

And after a swim across to the island, perched nicely on driftwood!

On this day (Jan 21st)... 2013 - White-fronts, GWT and Redshank in snow!

This flashback #Onthisday in 2013 was an incredible session featuring White-fronted Goose, Green-winged Teal and Redshank all in the snow!

Quite a session at Polemere today, it's rare for me to stay more than 20 mins and I ended up there for five hours! It will probably take 5 days to go through all the images and I'm up to me eyes with talks and other things but keep looking back.... there are plenty more images to come!

The skulking Green-winged |Teal decided to skulk no more - maybe due to the fox having a nap near it's usual haunt :-)

Now that's what I call not skulking !

A Redshank was showing particularly well too (when it wasn't hidden by the hedge!)

Underlit quite nicely from the snow.

Not an everyday sight!

Again, there's more.... these conditions don't occur very often but are worth every minute spent out in them!

Saving the best until last. I couldn't have dreamt that the Teal would be upstaged but unbelievably... it was!! My serious 'Shropshire' bogey goose was about to get cooked - not just by one but two little stunners :-)

Yes, County tick and Tunnock's teacake down the hatch after I'd decided to scan the Geese in the field adjacent to the horse paddock. First one.... then another, smaller Grey Goose with distinctive barring on the belly, eventually heads popping up and yesssss - White fronts!

Many more to sort but here's a couple to be going on with.....

Eventually they flew the short distance down to the water....

Plus a bit of foraging in the snow....

What a seriously good day!!

On this day (May 10th) 2016 - Perfect passage

A big post from VP Memory Lane - the weather appalling, the birds superb!!


The light was dire, the weather apalling but amongst other good birds, the drake Garganey was astill present - went almost unnoticed today!

The resident male Shelduck has serious 'anger management' issues and whilst it spends most hours of the day chasing almost everything, the Garganey seems to be the 'little guy' he picks on!

A moment for a breather in front of me!

 Whoops here he comes again!!

Shutter speed in short supply but hey that wind blur looks dynamic - this is ART!

Back to the waders next.....

Easterly winds, low cloud and drizzle - the omens which looked good at least produced some excitement! Firstly in the form of a Sanderling :-)

Settled at first and busily feeding up as they do.....

Another dash across the mud....

Constantly being moved about by the territorial Little Ringed Plovers!

Will I be safe on the nearest island?

For a moment anyway!

This was the pick of the waders but there's more to come.....

A Redshank had been downed by the rain and present all morning. With so many other things (birds) going on, I eventually caught up with it from the North hide.....

It wasn't doing much!

But eventually ventured into deeper water.....

Striding around the margins....

Eventually giving a nice show of those smart legs!

Caught in mid stride....

What else is showing well today?


It was all happening today, it was almost as if the Sanderling got kicked into touch as my attention turned to the single Common Tern which had been present since arrival!

You can't have it all and good Tern days are invariably dank and drizzly....

But watching Terns jink and jive as they catch insects in flight is magic (especially when you never quite know if you'll see them here from one year to the next!)

And before long, I realised there was company arriving!

Three more Common Terns......

Imagine my excitement when after another 30 minutes, it literally rained a new flock of newcomers!

I couldn't get them all in the frame but repeated counts revealed the new (much larger) group numbered 22 more Common Terns

Not enough room on this bit of prime Tern real estate!

And occasionally they would land and spread out on the main island.....

Occasionally flying in and out....

One Tern (probably the original one for the day) kept flying but we were now witnessing the amazing sight of 25 Terns on the deck.

All good things have to come to an end of course and something triggered (I don't think it was the Coots) their eventual departure after 90 minutes or so?

There they were (well, most of them) gone but not forgotten!!

A record count for the reserve - by a mile!!