We parked on Old Cemetery road and walked down to the big piles of rubble next to the beach as this is where the Shorelark was most commonly seen. Our hopes began to go a little as there was not a birder in sight. All we could see was a Carrion Crow making its way along the piles of rubble, me and my dad then started scanning the area for the lark and within around about 5 minutes both of us spotted it at the same time! It quickly sprinted straight past us, it then hopped up onto a rock and gave superb views, It let us get very close only a few feet a times. A truly great bird! Plus to have it all to our selves was fantastic. I am very pleased to finally seen this superb bird. We stayed for around an hour and then headed of to Saltholme for a little walk round.
Shorelark
When we had parked up we firstly had a walk over to the Phil Stead Hide hoping for some Redpolls on the feeders but we had no luck but out on the scrapes we had a single Black Tailed Godwit, Teal and a Redshank. After we went into the visitor centre to see if much had been sighted around the reserve, 4 Red Breasted Mergansers caught my eye which were viewable from the Saltholme Pools hide so we would be going there fairly soon but before that we got a brilliant surprise, a Fox was feeding right under the visitor centre feeders! All of my pics were through the window but I weren't to bothered as it was an incredible sight!
Fox
When we arrived in the hide some very kind people put us onto the Red Breasted Mergansers which were quite far away but still very nice to see also a Little Egret walked straight in front of the hide where I probably got my best ever views of one.
Red Breasted Mergansers
Little Egret
On the way out of the reserve we saw presumably the same Fox which we saw at the feeders.
What a great post. The pictures are just brilliant. I really like that fish about to disappear down that long throat.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant day out.
ReplyDeleteNice account Ellis.
Some great photos, little Egret absolutely stunning.
Well done ;)