Today I visited the RSPB Reserve at Burton Mere on the Wirral. There was nothing too rare or unusual. The welcome sun (if not the chilly wind) helped secure a few interesting images.
A study in black and white: Great White Egret (the yellow bill separates from the black bill of Little Egret when size is not apparent); and Coot.
A rare view of the top side of a Sparrowhawk dashing by. The brown back indicates it is an immature: the size suggests it is a female.
A panic set off these Black-tailed Godwits.
Here a group fly accompanied by a single Dunlin (bottom left). It is just possible to see the slightly de-curved bill of the Dunlin.
A mixed group here: at least 25 Dunlin and 14 Black-tailed Godwits. Three drake Teal on the water.
Nearly all the features of the Black-tailed Godwit on view here. Long straight bill; obvious white wing-bar across almost all the wing; black tail with contrasting white upper-tail; feet sticking out beyond the tail. With the light behind me it would be possible to note that the bill is two-toned, pinky/orange at the base and black at the tip. The similar sized Bar-tailed Godwit has, guess what, a barred tail, a white lower back, no white wing bar, and shorter legs such that the feet are not usually sticking out beyond the tail. Also the slightly shorter bill is very gently de-curved. Bill length needs to be treated with caution as on all godwits female bills average longer than male bills and different races have, on average, slightly different length bills.
And the underside
Another place to find a friendly Robin
A male Stonechat in its less colourful winter plumage.
And here is its female companion.
And another view of her.
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New Brighton
Afterwards it was up to New Brighton to look for reported Snow Buntings. These did not show but a quick visit to the Marine Lake for the high tide wader roost on the pontoon produced:
Four species of wader here. The highlight is the bird bottom centre – a Purple Sandpiper. The three birds behind it are Dunlin. The bird behind the left-most Dunlin is one of several Redshank. The darker birds are all Turnstones.
A closer view of the Purple Sandpiper. Note the yellow-toned legs and bill. The bill is very slightly downturned but not as noticeable as on the Dunlin. Note the barring on the under-tail of the Redshank at the left and also the notching on the edges of some of the flight feathers.
Two Purple Sandpipers were noted: here is the other one (sans Dunlin). Massed ranks of Redshanks behind it!
On the beach was this trio of Sanderling. Much paler than the Dunlin with a shorter all-dark bill and black legs. Not easy to see here is the presence of a dark shoulder mark.
A bit zoomed in but note the pattern of their footprints in the mud: Sanderlings have no hind-toe and leave a three-toed pattern. This feature is also responsible for their unmistakable gait as they dash up and down with the breaking of the waves.
A splendid adult Herring Gull. Two Redshanks in the foreground and the bill of a mostly hidden adult Black-headed Gull behind it.
