Mixed Bag

This week's posting is a compilation of shots from my trips last week.I visited the Ribble Estuary at Lytham and on the opposite side at Southport.The tides were favourable for wader roosts and I enjoyed trying to capture what is one of my favourite subjects.The Ribble Estuary at Lytham was a new venue and I was pleased with the image of a knot flock flashing white in the afternoon sun.I will be returning soon to Lytham as it is possible to get close to the waders as they move about the Ribble Estuary.

I also visited Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve near to Crosby. I had been there in previous years photographing short eared owls but there didn't seem to be any around on last week's visit. A lot of improvements have been carried out at Lunt by the Environment Agency and it is now jointly managed by Lancs Wildlife Trust. New pools have been created and viewing screens erected making it a wonderful location for birdwatching and photography.A lot of pinkfooted geese were in the area and skeins were arriving during my visit and briefly landing on the pools.The hoped for owls and kingfisher didn't show on this visit but I will be back to spend more time at this super reserve.Images above from Lunt show a smart heron and lapwings enjoying the new pools and a flock of pinkfeet departing.Thanks for looking in and I will be out again soon to enjoy the current settled and very pleasant autumn weather.