Following storm Brendan today had the promise of decent weather so needed no excuse to get out to the coastal area and thus decided on Connah's Quay as it's a quiet reserve and sometimes you can get some nice waders on the bund pools and muddy estuary. Even with 300m + 2x a lot of birds were a little far out so most of these shots are heavily cropped.
First of all we visited Middle and Dee Hides by the bund pools where we saw Redshank, Greenshank, tons of Teal, Wigeon plus fluffy bum Little Grebes and the beautiful Snipe so took a few pics; it's easier for me these days with deteriorating eyesight to get shots from being seated in a hide rather than try to locate them via eyeglasses, binoculars and camera outside whilst walking around !
Miss Lovely-legs January winner - Green Sandpiper ?
Greenshank ?
Fluffy bum next .............
These Snipe were a bit distant on the far bank of the bund pool but it's not often I see them swimming !
They obviously don't like to swim all the way to the grassy island in the middle of the bund pool so they flew the rest of the way !
Sorry these are all heavily cropped shots but once again, kept them as record shots …...
and they all made it to Snipe Island !
Next we headed to the opposite end and West Hide where one of two Pied Waggies was inspecting the car parking area
Wigeon were doing a flypast outside the hide along the Dee Estuary (clearer if you click full zoom)
Curlews were on their way in to shore as the high tide was encroaching and filling the estuary edges …..
a distant Redshank was watching the water rise higher over the mud flats
and the Curlew was too busy digging out worms to worry about the high tide fast approaching …..
Curlew and Redshank seeing who could find the juiciest lug worms !
Lots of Teal around too, males were practicing their courtship routines like clockwork toys
and having scraps with other drakes
now trying to drown the other drake !!
Mrs Teal obviously wasn't impressed with the drakes courtship display and sailed on by !
One of the female Teals showed her joy at seeing the back of storm Brendan and welcoming the sunshine back again - despite the 9 degrees feeling more like zero !
It's no good Mr Teal, she's still not interested !! too many other suitors to consider first
out on the distant mudflat the three Cormoranteers were either trying to keep lookout whilst another relieved itself and the third was wondering what to do with a rather large gullet of fish !
The one who had swallowed fish ? looked rather uncomfortable so it went back into the water to try regurgitate the food
(on closer viewing on another photo I have I am hoping it hasn't ingested plastic :( )
then back to the mudflat not looking much better as he swallowed the fish again !
the attractive Shelducks were also out on the mud making the most of the food source before the estuary filled
The Curlews were calling ………………..
Another Curlew close by …...
then it was time to say goodbye ………………….
Byeeeee !!