Psilos Bird Journal
Sunday November 26th 2006
     
"A purple mission" page 2
 
Knot
 
 
The most spectacular sight on the coast has got to be that of the flocking Knot. Sychronised flying at its most amazing they change colour, shape and speed in the blink of an eye. Thousands of birds all flying as one in huge flocks designed to dazzle and confuse the enemy. They switch and turn and as they come near the whirring of their wings is truely electrifying. Anyone who is a regular birder knows that a passing jogger or a dog will put up groups of birds but nothing clears a beach quite so effectively as a Peregrine falcon!
 
 
 
 

This bird was almost passed me before I even knew he was there and so this fleeting grab shot was all I managed to get. Alarm calls rang out from all directions and many birds flew off and did not return. After flying out to sea many of the knot did return though they were never to come in quite as close as they were before. Today this bird was no real threat to them. Peregrines are commonly seen hunting on the coast but this one was not in hunting mode and just continued to fly on by.
 

Redshank
 
Another very common wader found on Hoylake beach in very large numbers is the Redshank. Seen often in small flocks these birds spread out more as they feed. They will also come in closer than the Knot though they are easily spooked and so very difficult to get close to. Today the light was superb which meant that I could get a sharper focus from a longer distance. This Redshank landing is a huge crop but I am pleased with the detail that was retained as it is rare that you get to see the wings open quite so nicely.
     
A Cormorant also flew over quite close by. I have many flight shots of these but I thought the detail as the light caught the wings was lovely.
 

 
With the Peregrine going by the birds were now too far away and so the session was over and I decided to return to my car. The light would be gone soon and Ithought my photographic day was over. By the side of my car was a concrete ramp that led down to the beach. The high tide was lapping at the base and it was on this water line that I noticed a single wader was sitting. Immediatly my heart started to race. When you become familiar with waders you can instantly discount common species when faced with something different. At first I was too far away and could only see the bird in silhouette but I knew this was a bird I definatly wanted to see. Out came the binoculars and immediatly I knew that this was my target bird for the day. By perfect chance I had stumbled across a Purple Sandpiper.

 
 
This was a very tame bird and the general consensus was that it was a first year bird. Being high tide all it wanted to do was sleep. This was fair enough and we certainly were not going to disturb the bird to get our shots. It was frustrating though that we couldnt see his fabulous red legs and beak.
 
 
After some time the bird did wake up and decided he was hungry. He then went further into the water and at last we could see him in all his glory. What a beautiful bird! Getting shots that didnt just involve the bird sleeping and posing where great too.
 
 
 
 
In the end a single rather nervous Turnstone flew in and landed beside the Purple Sandpiper. The Turnstone obviously did not like our close presense and quickly he became spooked and flew off, taking this much sought after and charming bird with him. That night I drove home feeling very pleased with my day.