Joe

Better than I had but still not a great sign for the population up there

Some more of the showy scoter on West Kirby Marine Lake yesterday morning. In the third shot you can see a crab claw hanging out of it's mouth as it gets on with swallowing it whole!

My best views ever of a common scoter this morning on West Kirby Marine Lake. This drake wasn't worried about me watching in the slightest, catching multiple crabs and even swallow a whole razor clam!

Yesterday morning was a great chance to catch some lekking in the sunshine, up in North Wales uplands. 7 male black grouse and double digit reds, including a few not moving from the road side as i parked next to them, not bad views! @northwaleswt.bsky.social @rspbcymru.bsky.social

Nice shots! had 7 male black grouse yesterday morning, did you count similar? hoping there's more hiding somewhere

Had a great session with the Nant-y-Pandy reds last weekend. The sun was out and showed off their full colours, even let me try catching them mid jump as they came for some tasty bribes. Just look at those tufts! @northwaleswt.bsky.social

@rspbcymru.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social

Prepare for a few days of dipper shots, this mornings session with the 2 pairs at Dyserth was brilliant. All 4 birds are very confiding and with a little bit of fieldcraft will show almost down to minimum focal distance!

Thought I'd revisit the Speke grackle this evening as I hadn't really tried viewing it come to roost. Glad I did as not only did I meet the grackle whisperer ( @birderjack.bsky.social ) but also got to hear the grackle singing!

hover vid

Two clips of the star lincs shrike from Wednesday. First one showing him comfortably singing to us, the other hovering high over the field hunting. Excuse the amateur videography as usual, taken at 1120mm. @lincswildlife.bsky.social (hovering video in thread)

A flying lunch visit to @rspbburtonmere.bsky.social was very rewarding with a snoozing spoonbill, very obliging willow tit, pair of barnacle and a white fronted goose.

A visit to the famous lincs shrike had to be done, 9 hours in it's field yesterday with it visible for most of 8 hours. Sadly, no close hovering, wasn't helped by some chasing it most of the day. Still a great bird to see singing, hovering and hunting.
@lincswildlife.bsky.social

Thanks!

Thanks mate, that one will be a little harder!

Thanks mate!

Guess I'd better start posting here as well now the other is getting quieter. Nice to now be near North Wales and it's dippers, able to visit before work! The Dyserth pair are busy nest building, tame as ever and a pleasure to watch. @rspbcymru.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social