Whilst sitting in Morecambe Hide down by the salt marshes at Leighton Moss, a pair of Redshank were going through the motions of mating, I can't believe this early in the season for the real thing so maybe it was a practice run and their bonding routine lol The photos tell a story when the end pic shows Mrs Redshank nipping the leg of Mr Redshank telling hi to clear off !!! lol
Here's how it started, foraging around the reeds by salt marsh
It's just seen it's mate the other side of the reeds ............. you can just make out the other bird on the left
then it was ..... well..... energetic lol this behaviour went on three times that we noticed so spring is in the air despite 1 degree lol
love those wings !!
poor Mrs Redshank ! size 10 boots and toe nails not trimmed !
and then he got a good nip on the leg lol
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Regards, Hazel
Wow who is pulling whose leg here lol
Very nice Hazel, you did have a very nice last morning at LM
Jim
My Pictures
My Fbook Group
Great sequence. He was keen and very persistent. I think she was saying the equivalent of "geroff" when she'd had enough.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
That is early ... and persistent to have several goes at it! Well captured though.
Unknown said:size 10 boots and toe nails not trimmed !
If you're wearing size 10 boots, doesn't that cancel out uncut toenails? Saying that, I realise it might not be much of a bonus but...
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Nige Flickr
Well noticed Nigel, that's true !!
something tells me we're going to see good Redshank numbers this season lol
Blooming heck bonking Redshanks at the Moss in broad daylight,whatever next
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
I imagine he'd just had a pedicure and didn't want to get his tootsies wet.
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
lol Pete, you just never know what you are going to see when birding and the freezing cold wasn't dampening his ardour any time soon !!
I think you're all wrong, and he was just practicing for his gold award life saving medal :-)
Great shots though Hazel.
cheers Terry
my photo's here
Perhaps he just wanted to warm up and was intent on using a particularly fun method.
Great photos, Hazy!
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
I've just had to put the heating on and then see your amorous Redshanks!!!! Great pics Hazy, you make them look good sized birds but they are really pretty small I think.
Lot to learn