New Brighton in Colour - 4 March 2013

A morning visit to Burton Mere Wetlands was foreshortened due to work on the electric fencing. It was not a wasted trip though, as I did see the resident Water Rail adjacent to the visitor centre and the feeders gave me my first Siskin of the the year. A quick stop at Parkgate Donkey Stand gave me 200 Blacked-headed and a few Herring Gulls, plus 6 Little Egret and 4 Curlew.

By now it was approaching high tide so I decided on a short detour to New Brighton on the way home. Situated at the western tip of the Mersey Estuary, New Brighton has seen significant regeneration recently in the Kings Parade area, west of the marine lake. It seems to have paid off too as it's always fairly busy. I recalled a recent visit; taking advantage of the increased visitor numbers, I wandered around shooting in black & white, trying to capture images resembling what it may have looked like in its heyday as a small but popular resort, complete with an open air swimming pool.

Today was a complete contrast to that last visit and the colourful theme dawned on me during a walk around the marine lake. First up, a group of roosting waders, within which two Purple Sandpiper with their distinct short mustard-yellow legs were an easy spot amongst the vivid orange legged Redshank (32) and Turnstone (21). The roost was soon disturbed when a passing Peregrine flushed everything up and away.

Most striking in the afternoon sun were the Starlings. A common black bird often ignored, but what a magnificent sight with their iridescent plumage of blues and greens, white spots, golden-brown tinged coverts, bright yellow bills and vivid red legs.

The south side was awash with the deep red legs and bills of Black-headed Gulls, mostly airborne and enjoying the fruits of the local food-pass hobby, viz. throwing the remains of lunch into the air for the acrobatic scavengers.

The lake held a single Herring Gull, looking majestic in super-clean white and grey plumage and glowing yellow bill with vibrant orange spot.

Monochrome has its place, but not in my world.

Purple Sandpiper taking a breather from the huddle

Iridescent star lingered for a pose

BHG no doubt resting after a fish & chips dinner