Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata)

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It was a last minute decision to go and photograph the Red-throated diver it's been a few years since I last photographed one.

This Photograph is from a few years ago at Fleetwood Marina

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More images later

This will most likely be the last time I photograph Snow Buntings this year as I have other wildlife to photograph.

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 I should be able to get one more trip out before I spend a few days in Rome with the BOSS( she did say

she wouldn't throw me to the Lions if I behave myself) so I could be back soon with some photographs.

It's the biggest high tide of the year today so it's a trip to Parkgate to see what turns up.

The high tide at Parkgate always attracts lots of bird watchers and photographers, this year is no exception.

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Life and death dramas are played out as the high tide rushes in.

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This shrew tried to make it to dry land and safety however it wasn't to be.

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It was picked off by a Gull as were lots of small mammals.

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This Water Rail also made a dash for dry land and cover.

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 Predatory birds search for easy pickings.

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A Vole being carried away by a Black-headed gull

After it was all over I decided to go and photograph the Snow Buntings again.

Great Crested Grebes

Had a slight problem with my web site but it's restored to its previous layout now, it would have been a horrendous

task to start from the beginning as there are fifteen thousand images on the site.

Still no Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  By this time last year I had photographed it several times but no luck so far,

it hasn't been seen at its usual spots.

Managed a few Great Crested Grebe photographs in good light for once but didn't find anything of further interest.

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  With the weather forecast being ok today I thought I would give the Barn Owls a go.

Old photographs

You never know it could be my lucky day.

 This will be my forth attempt  at photographing them. 

Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

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Getting plenty of Bullfinches in the garden and they seem to be tolerating each other for now.

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Went to check out the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker today but did not managed to find it however

I did spot this rather wet looking Tawny Owl.

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A Great Crested Grebe was on one of the lakes and worth a few shots even in poor light.

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Sparrowhawk

Day at home today doing some small jobs around the house, one of them being to fill up the feeders

and do some re-arranging.

Redpoll, Blackcap and Goldcrest have been in the garden but the photographs I have of them are nothing

to write home about. They will never see the light of day.

I am still trying to get the best out of my flash, that's one of the reasons for the re-arrangements of the bird feeders,

so the birds are in the best position.

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I had just moved the feeders and returned to the house. The birds also returned to feed and not long after that so did a Sparrowhawk.

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 It plucked a Goldfinch from out of the tree and landed on the lawn but before I could swing my camera into position it flew off.

Water Pipit (Anthus spinotta)

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Long-eared Owl at Burton Mere RSPB

After last week's sunshine this week is set to be a bit disappointing.

I photographed the Laughing Gull and some Snow Bunting in some good light, but this week's weather is set to be dull.

I've been keeping an eye on the Long Eared Owl at Burton Mere to see if it is still showing.

 If so it could be worth a trip to get a head shot.

 On Tuesday I made the trip and was able to photograph the Long eared Owl even though it was very low light conditions

and the Long eared Owl was partially obscured by Hawthorn branches.

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The shots are not disappointing as I didn't expect to get a full view of one, I was lucky to even get the shots that I have.

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I managed a few shots before the Twitchers arrived and sent the bird deeper into the Hawthorn and that was the end of that.

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Long eared Owl shots from nine years ago

Long eared Owl

Latin name Asio otus

Family Owls (Strigidae)

Overview
The long-eared owl is medium-sized owl, smaller in size than a woodpigeon. It often looks long and thin, with head feathers (known as ear tufts even though they are not ears) which it raises when alarmed. It is buff-brown with darker brown streaks, and deep orange eyes. It breeds thinly across the UK with fewer birds in the south-west and Wales. Northern birds migrate southwards, including birds from Europe coming to spend the winter in the UK, while southern birds are residents and only move short distances to find food.

At midday I decided to leave and see if I could Photograph the Water Pipit at Neston Sewage Works.

More shots in the folder

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

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Some more photographs of Snow Buntings

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More in the folder

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

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More later