Med Up Again....

....and the Jay is a winner in the end.

Mediterranean Gull. Copy Permitted.

Tuesday started well with an adult Mediterranean Gull on Conder Pool in company with up to 280 Black-headed Gull and 3 Common Gull. I decided to give myself a break from an accurate count but made a note of 9 Little Grebe including one in the creeks. Also on the pool, 4 Goldeneye, a Red-breasted Merganser, and a Little Egret.

  

Spotted Redshank. Pete Woodruff.

I saw a Spotted Redshank again in the creeks, the bird posed for me whilst I made one of my attempts to prove I can take a mean pic....but again failed miserably.

Pintail. Noushka Dufort. 

I decided on a trip down the A588 to look over the marsh at high tide from Pilling Lane Ends where conditions were excellent, my 'notes without numbers' were of several hundred Pintail, with a good number of Teal. Also of note, a small group of Grey Plover, and a few Black-tailed Godwit. Small birds included 2 Rock Pipit, with Skylark seen, and in excess of 80 Linnet with Twite in the mix. A Peregrine Falcon was on a distant post waiting to take to the wing and change the scenery, a few hundred Pink-footed Geese were in a field behind the embankment.

  

At Fluke Hall a family group of two adult and two juvenile Whooper Swan, on my way here I had seen 9 Whooper Swan with Mute Swan in a field opposite Sand Villa. Legging it to Cockers Dyke I saw at least 100 Twite and 9 Greenfinch noted.

Thanks to Noushka at 1000-Pattes for the excellent Pintail image. 

And Finally....

Jay Martin Jump  

The photograph above is one which Martin Jump regarded as his 'Photograph Of 2012'....Brilliant.

But congratulations go to Martin for the current winner of Birdguides 'Photo Of The Week'. I'm only too sorry I was unable to gain access to the original photograph of the Jay with a half swallowed acorn which can be seen HERE....Great stuff Martin, a well deserved award, and thank you once again for allowing me to use your images on Birds2blog.