SLAVONIAN GREBE

Slavonian Grebe, Fairhaven Lake

AN UNBELIEVABLY CONFIDING SLAVONIAN GREBE AT FAIRHAVEN LAKE, LYTHAM showed down to less than one metre at times and was too close to focus on with the 500 for the majority of the time. Fortunately is seems to be in good shape, feeding actively and even flying a couple of times. In the dreadfully low light I tried opening the aperture as far as it would go (f/4) and trying for a shallow depth of field with only the face in focus and a blurred background. Also here was a pair of Grey Wagtails and a Little Grebe of interest. After grabbing the opportunity of a gap in the succession of heavy showers to shoot the grebe the next downpour arrived and Mark and I headed off to Fleetwood, finding a great little café there, 'The Tasty Bite Cafe' opposite the indoor market. It was a dramatic contrast to the rubbish we were served up at the RSPB's Leighton Moss café the other week and would definitely be a worth a place in our top ten. Before yet another squall we managed an enjoyable walk along the seawall at Rossall Point, with highlights being: three Northern Wheatears (two males); several Sanderlings; two Common Ringed Plovers; three Dunlin; hundreds of Red Knot and an adult Mediterranean Gull as well as the ever obliging Ruddy Turnstones there. As we were returning to the van along the landward side of the seawall I noticed a movement out of the corner of my eye in a tiny isolated rose bush, tucked up against the concrete of the wall. It turned out to be a robin. Surely a migrant to be behaving in such a way, I wonder where it came from and where it is going to?

From top: Ruddy Turnstone; Northern Wheatear and bottom, European Robin