A Tale of Three Colours... [and a shade!]

1. Citrine

Sunday 9th November: Barry had the morning free so we set off at 7 a.m. prompt for Danes Dyke beach, Flamborough. Strangely I hadn't been there before and we drove round twice before finding the car park! Don't ask! A few birders came up from the beach and confirmed the citrine wagtail was still present. Luckily things were still pretty quiet and we had stolen a march on the crowds who would follow. Soon found the wagtail as it flew past Barry. And then back again to where it came from.  Say no more...

What's this, then? I spotted a bird at the cliff base.

Citrine Wagtail

Target bird!

Citrine Wagtail Citrine Wagtail Citrine Wagtail Citrine Wagtail Citrine Wagtail

An hour at South Landing looking for water pipit proved fruitless. We saw one possible down on the rocks with the rock pipits but couldn't get decent views. Water pipits are generally more easily flushed than rock pipits so this bird may well have been the one we sought but we'll never know!

2. Pink

On Monday I decided to head for Formby and Downholland Moss to seek out the snow goose that had been widely reported. On arrival at the site I saw no birds. I cruised the general area on narrow, subsiding roads. Eventually, arriving back where I started I heard geese [I had the car window down]. In they came! Pink feet!

Pink-footed Geese

I came back a couple of times to see if there had been any new groups coming to join the flock but no snow goose came. In between times I headed for nearby Formby NT where I remembered a colony of red squirrels clings on protected by NT's heavies who keep the greys at bay!

3.Red

The light in the pinewood was very poor on this dull day and I had to shoot at 1250 ISO [a new experience for me] and still only managed shutter speeds of 1/80th or 1/125th. Many images were too blurred to use but here's some of the nice ones I liked. Reds are restless, constantly chasing, much faster and slighter than greys. But photogenic definitely!

The first shot was from the car.

Red Squirrel Red Squirrel

Although they are red squirrels this static population does have some very dark 'black' red squirrels but still clearly not like the black grey squirrels of southern England. Below: a 'black' grey squirrel.

Note the ear tufts on the darker red squirrel: below a Formby 'black' red squirrel.

Red Squirrel

Back to the Formby reds.

Red Squirrel Red Squirrel Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel Red Squirrel Red Squirrel Red Squirrel Red Squirrel

Recently my wife said that you don't see monkey nuts any more. I know where they've gone!!

Red Squirrel