Third Time Lucky for Another Lifer

It's always nice to get another lifer, particularly when you have to work hard to see it. It was third time lucky for me with this Spotted Crake at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB - perhaps even fourth if you count the fact that I'd spent a couple of hours trying in the morning trying to see it before returning at 6pm to finally get lucky at around 7pm as the sun was dropping down. Fortunately it was a beautiful evening and despite the little bird being amongst the reeds and in the shadows, I managed to get this record shot.

There was also a Green Sandpiper on the reception pool and strangely enough I haven't had a good view of one this year until now.

The lighting conditions kept changing and so the colours in these record shots vary quite a bit.

Yet another Grey Heron Shot - YAGHS! Well, you've got to do something while you're standing around for hours waiting to get a very brief glimpse of a Spotted Crake! And Grey Herons are the 'Robins of the Water' photographically speaking.

I also took these Meadow Pipit shots out on Burton Marsh at Denhall Quay earlier in the afternoon. There was very little else about part from a solitary Marsh Harrier, the occasional Little Egret and a few Gulls.