Warning - Lots of Snow Shots!

I was again very lucky this morning to get a few hours birding while the wife and kids went out shopping. A look at the forecast suggested late morning the sun would come through to a lovely afternoon so I didn't venture out until 10am. I arrived a few minutes later where it was quite bright but a little cloudy but the sky was starting to break up. I walked west a few hundred yards and soon found the Black Redstart in its usual area where I tried for a few shots but it proved a challenge shooting a dark bird in a dark area, another challenge for another day. A few birds were on the tideline including 6 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 3 Ringed Plover, 4 Sanderling, 1 Grey Plover and 4 Turnstone. I then decided to see if the Snow Buntings were around to exercise the camera. On my way down I noted 2 Stonechat, 4 Meadow Pipit, 6 Shelduck offshore, 3 Mute Swan, 1 Rock Pipit, c40 Brent Geese and 1 singing Skylark. I could see a couple of birders further ahead which turned out to be Les Woodward and Nick Smith, nice to meet you both this morning where we had a chat and fired off plenty of shots of 2 Snow Buntings which were very obliging to watch and photograph. Often they would pass within a couple of metres and seemed happy with us watching them. Les and Nick moved on and I stayed on another hour where thankfully the sun broke through and I was able to take a number of pleasing shots. I suggest you go and get a cup of tea before you read on as there are quite a few shots, the most I believe I have posted in one session but when birds are as brilliant as these you can't help but keep photographing and enjoying them. I eventually pulled myself away from them and had another quick look at the Black Redstart on the way out but there were too many people in the area making it a challenge to get any images at all. Not a lot of birds seen but most definitely a memorable session.

Snow Bunting