Stonechats

After a brief visit to Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB, I walked to Burton Point to look for a Cuckoo that had been seen earlier. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the bird but ample compensation came in the form of a pair of Stonechats. The female was more confiding than the male.

I finished the day off by trying to get some photos of Skylarks by Leasowe Lighthouse.

Sandstone Trail

The Sandstone Trail is a long-distance footpath starting in Whitchurch and meandering north through some of Cheshire's finest countryside before finishing in Frodsham. Last year Helsby Running Club revived the Sandstone Trail Challenge, a long distance walking event that also supports runners.
My friend Jane and I completed the Challenge last year and enjoyed it so much that we took part again last Saturday (the 12th of May). Officially the trail is 34 miles long but Helsby Running Club measure it at just under 33 miles. Not a great deal of difference when you're covering that distance. Also the total elevation is about 3700 feet, that's higher than Snowdon! The field of entrants is split evenly between runners and walkers and there is a cut-off time of around 12 hours.
We fully enter into the spirit of the event and its non-competitive nature; so much so that we view it as a 33 mile long picnic.
The weather was kind to us again this year with no rain and a few sunny spells but it was unseasonably cool. As per last year we kept a record of all the birds seen and heard along the way. Highlight for me was a stunning male Wheatear near Delamere, while Jane saw her first Goldcrest of the year along the canal near Whitchurch. We recorded a total of 41 species which was one up on last year and included a few recently arrived migrants such as Lesser Whitethroat as well as residents such as Raven.
True to our competitive nature we stopped for a welcome coffee in a pleasant little cafe near Delamere. This was in addition to the cake and biscuit checkpoints along the route. It took us just over 10 hours to complete the course through a combination of steady walking and occasional downhill running. Its amazing how quickly the time goes on such adventures and a great day was enjoyed by all the runners and walkers. Many thanks must go to the organisers for a superb event; roll on next year.

At the start in Whitchurch.

Somewhere in deepest Cheshire following

the yellow markers.

Approaching Beeston Castle, halfway-ish.

Overlooking the River Mersey, not far to go.

The following day I lined up with 5000 other runners on Chester racecourse for the start of the Chester Half Marathon. I had a few doubts about my sanity in entering this event straight after the Sandstone Trail, but you live once so why not? The route was a total change from the previous few years' races and was a bit more "undulating". I didn't feel too bad for the first 5 miles and kept at an average 6.30 min/mile pace, but at around the 7 miles mark the previous day's exertions began to take their toll and my legs started to feel heavy. I pushed on buoyed by the public support in the villages that we ran through. Mile 12 was downhill so I upped the pace a little to 6.25 min/mile, but this was before the final hill up into Chester where I slowed considerably. Turning into Northgate Street the finish was in sight and the cheers from all the supporters crammed onto the pavements urged me on to a sprint finish (well it felt fast!). My finish time was 1 hour 25 mins which was a great result considering.

Wheatears

Drove out to Crewe yesterday to look for the reported Wryneck as I have never seen one in Cheshire. The bird had been found at a site that I hadn't visited before, Maw Green Tip; birders often visit the most unusual places. On arrival in the area I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of birdlife to be seen, Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and even a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. But the Wryneck was proving elusive so I settled down on a grassy bank and enjoyed something even rarer this Spring, a bit of warm sunshine! After about an hour the Wryneck flew between two stands of gorse, perched briefly on a bare branch, then dived for cover never to be seen again that day. No photographs, but at least it was a Cheshire tick.
I made my way slowly back to the car and came across a small flock of Wheatears that I photographed in the early evening sunshine.
Saturday training update - did my first longish run since the London Marathon, ran 10 miles at 6.50 pace, but legs still not quite recovered.

Male Wheatear with takeaway.

Not the prettiest perch but a lovely bird.

Back lit shot of male Wheatear.

Dolphins

My recent trip to Scotland produced only distant views of Bottlenosed Dolphins and certainly none were even close enough for record shots. But in July 2009 I stayed at Avoch on the Moray Firth, which is only a few miles away from the famous dolphin watching spot at Chanonry Point. I visited this site twice a day and saw dolphins on about 90% of my visits. Sometimes the animals were a long way from the shore while on other occasions they were very close giving stunning views. The weather for that week in Scotland was rainy and cloudy but at times it was very rainy and very cloudy! Typical Highland weather, I'm sure the sun must have broken through occasionally.
Bottlenosed Dolphins are truly enigmatic animals, they have a very special place in the human imagination. Language alone is inadequate to describe their energy, power, beauty and grace. But one word that they surely embody is dynamic; their reckless acrobatics are one of their most defining attributes.
Here are a few shots from that trip. No captions required.

Snowdon

This photo of me, on the Pyg Track on a wintery ascent of Snowdon last December, appears in this month's (May) issue of Trail magazine. Snowdon is a major feature in this edition.

London Marathon 2012

The months of pounding the streets through rain, ice and wind reached their fruition when I toed the line last Sunday at the start of the Virgin London Marathon. This was the fifth time that I have run this marathon and my training had gone reasonably well so I was hopeful of posting a good time.
The forecast was for showers but the sun shone brightly throughout my race (it rained later in the afternoon.) I was pouring water over my head by mile five to keep cool, and I did end up slightly sunburned. The crowds where out in force cheering the elites and handing out jelly babies to the slower runners. All the runners owe a debt of thanks to the people of London who never fail to take to the streets in their thousands to enjoy the spectacle and offer massive support to everyone taking part. This is their marathon as much as the runners.
I paced the first 13 miles as planned and went through the halfway point in just under 1 hour 29 minutes. I slowed a bit around Canary Wharf, put picked up the pace again when the 3 hour pacer overtook me. Unfortunately, I got cramp in my legs at 22 miles and had to slow significantly. I limped home in 3 hours 8 minutes; a respectable time but I had hoped to get closer to the 3 hour mark. There's always next year. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and thank my friends for their fantastic support around the course. I finished the day off with some well-earned beers.

Ring-necked Parakeet, this bird appeared

to be pecking at the mortar, maybe it was

obtaining minerals like its wilder cousins

do at salt-licks.

The previous day was spent at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centre at Barnes, a true oasis in a concrete desert. I managed to see my first Common Tern of the year as well as close views of Ring-necked Parakeets; not everyone's favourite bird but this colourful alien is always fascinating to watch.

Me at the end of the marathon in Horse-

guards Parade.

Tryfan

After an easy 5 mile run in the Cheshire countryside (where I saw my first Willow Warbler of the year) this morning, I decided to walk up Tryfan in Snowdonia; this is my way of taking things easy in the run up to the London Marathon! This is a grade 1 scramble and apart from a brief walk up stone steps near the A5 it was hands on all the way to the top. Despite the sunshine there was an icy wind blowing near the summit with snow and ice on the rocks so extreme caution was needed. The panoramic views on the entire route were stunning, and the scrambling was most enjoyable. Tryfan is 3010 feet above sea-level which makes it the fifteenth highest mountain in Wales. It was a great day out and one I intend to repeat very soon.

Me, on the rocky outcrop known as "the canon", about

half way up Tryfan's north ridge.

The view from the summit looking towards Y Gribin.

My picnic guest, not far from the summit, overlooking Llyn

Bochlwyd, also known as "Australia Lake" because of its

shape.

Egrets, I've had a few.

Went down to Burton Mere Wetlands yesterday (Saturday), hoping to photograph the Great White Egret that has been around for some time now. Unfortunately, the bird was too distant even for record shots, but there were plenty of migrants around on a rainy afternoon including Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins and a singing Willow Warbler. Managed to photograph a Little Egret in poor light, and the immature Spoonbill flew overhead a couple of times but didn't land near the hide.
One week until London Marathon. Did a run of 12.5 miles including a few miles at marathon pace.

Little Egret, wading through the reeds.

Little Egret with its dinner.

Scotland at Easter

Travelled up to Aviemore in Scotland for a short Easter break last Thursday. Stopped off at the beautiful Loch of the Lowes Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve near Dunkeld. Had good views of the resident pair of Ospreys including the male in flight with a fish. Arrived in Aviemore later that afternoon and the mountains still had a reasonable covering of snow; indeed, there was even snow on the grass in the town.
Visited Loch Garten as the male Osprey, named Odin, was performing his skydance to the female,OJ, a superb sight.
Over the next few days I managed to see a few of Scotland's special birds including, Capercaillie, Slavonian Grebe, Crossbill and Crested Tit. Visited the Rothiemurchus Pine Marten hide but failed to see any for the second time. Consolation came in the form of close views of Badgers and some very nice roding Woodcock. A quick excursion to Chanonry Point failed to produce any dolphin sightings. Later that day in Cromarty, I dashed out of a cafe midway through a pot of tea to watch a pair of Bottlenosed Dolphins that I spotted in the Firth through the cafe window! The wintering Long-tailed Ducks where also looking very smart.
Training update - managed a steady 16 miles run through the Caledonian pine forest on Friday, and a marathon paced 8 mile run on Sunday. Less than 2 weeks to the big day.

Ospreys at the Loch of the Lowes. The male is flying with a

fish as the female sits by the nest.

Lovely male Siskin on a feeder at Loch of the Lowes.

A wet and bedraggled Badger at Rothiemurchus.

Kayaking on Loch Morlich in the mist and rain.

Snowdon

Marathon training hasn't gone quite to plan this week. Had a few slow runs on Wednesday and Thursday when I felt cold, sweaty and headachey so decided to have a few days rest. Complete rest on Friday (apart from work!) but Saturday I walked up the Pyg Track to the summit of Snowdon then back down the Miners' Path. My friend Jane accompanied me again along with her daughter Emma, aged 13, who has got fantastic stamina; she led the way to the top despite this being her first walk up Snowdon. As usual visibility was poor on the summit but the sun shone for part of the day. Saw my first Wheatears of the year, a singing male serenading his drabber mate on the lower slopes. Also a few Redpolls flew over near the car park. No sign of any Ravens which were so vocal on our last visit.
Ran 22 miles today (Sunday), started slow 7.30 min/mile pace then picked up the pace at mile 16 to 6.50 pace and below. Entertained by the large numbers of motorbikes taking part in the annual Easter egg run that starts on the prom in Wallasey.

Me, before being enveloped by the cloud.

The view back to the car park at Pen y Pas.

Red-flanked Bluetail

Last October, while I was painting the house, news broke of a mega rarity for the northwest, our first ever Red-flanked Bluetail! Unfortunately, the bird was on the tidal island of Hilbre in the Dee estuary so access would be late afternoon on the receding tide. This gave me enough time to finish my painting, get my birding gear together and be at West Kirby to follow the tide out; but would the bird still be there?
After a yomp over the wet sand (okay a wade through wellie-high seawater!) numerous birders gathered on the east side of Hilbre Island hoping for a glimpse of this enigmatic eastern waif. Time passed and still there was no sign of the bird, anticipation was turning to frustration when news came through that the bird had been re-trapped. After another dash across slippy rocks onto the main island, an eager crowd of birders gathered outside the observatory keen to see their quarry. The bird was duly shown to the assembled group amidst the sound of clicking camera shutters and hushed murmurs of approval. The bird was re-released and later showed well on the sandstone ledges on the east of the island.
A truly fabulous bird for this part of the country, and one that will remain in the memories of all who saw it. On the walk over I snapped a group of birders who where wading through the ebbing seawater, this photo appears in this month's (April) issue of Birdwatch magazine.
Training update - ran 10 miles at 7 min/mile pace followed by 12 miles at 7.37 pace due to a sore thigh muscle. Only 4 weeks to London.
Saw a White Wagtail at Leasowe accompanying a few Pied Wagtails.

Red-flanked Bluetail, what a bird!

Twitchers wading through the ebbing water in the Dee Estuary.

Red-flanked Bluetail being shown to

the crowd of birders.

White Wagtail, (nominate race of Pied Wagtail), Norfolk

April 2011.

Watkin Path

I decided I'd take it easy this week after running the Blackpool Marathon last Sunday, so I decided to have a day off and walk up Snowdon instead! My friend Jane and I walked to the summit via the picturesque Watkin Path. We couldn't believe our luck with the weather, when we climbed this path last August we got soaked to the skin but today (14th) our only problem was overheating in the bright spring sunshine; I even had to apply sunscreen. Managed to see quite a few Ravens on the way up, and a very smart pair of Grey Wagtails were seen on the Afon Cwm Llan. The Watkin Path near the summit is little more than a loose scree slope which provided a little scambling fun, but could be treacherous in poor weather. After visiting the summit, time-out for a picnic was very welcome. We descended via Bwlch Main, a beautiful ridge with stunning views into Cwm Clogwyn and Cwm Tregalan. The impressive summit of Yr Aran was a tempting addition but the fading light precluded this diversion. A curry and a beer in Llangollen on the way home rounded off a beautiful day in Wales.

Pausing to admire the view across Llyn Llydaw

The summit of Snowdon. Sunshine and no mist!

The route down, Bwlch Main with Yr Aran behind.

Marathons

Marathons hurt. I know, I've just run my twelfth. I have no doubt that marathons cause some degree of discomfort or even pain to anyone that has ever run one; from the fabulous Paula Radcliffe to the 6 hour plus plodders at the back of the field. It's not just the struggle of covering the iconic 26.2 miles on foot that leaves legs like jelly and causes some finishers to walk downstairs backwards for a few days. It's probably more to do with the fact that our bodies only store enough fuel in the form of glycogen to keep us going for about 20 miles.
So while I marvel at the incredible feats of endurance accomplished by human athletes, how even more amazing are the migrations of birds?
Arctic Terns undertake the longest migration of any bird, from the sub-arctic breeding grounds to and from the Antarctic, a staggering round trip of about 22,000 miles. These elegant seabirds obviously feed as they migrate, not unlike runners taking on gels and energy drinks on a long run. But according to Stephen Moss's fascinating book Everything you always wanted to know about birds but were afraid to ask, the longest single migratory flight is probably that of the Bar-tailed Godwit, from southwest Alaska to New Zealand a distance of 6,800 miles in a single flight! That certainly puts my efforts into perspective.
I actually ran the Blackpool Marathon today as a training run for London. I ran 7.10 per mile for the first 22 miles as planned then slowed down to an easy 8 minute mile pace for the final few miles. This gave me the respectable overall time of 3 hours and 10 minutes. Which allowed me to get back home in time to see the England rugby team beat France in a thrilling and close game in Paris.

A stunning summer-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, Wallasey,

May 2011.

Arctic Tern, Farne Islands, June 2010.

Avocets and Spoonbills

Ran a tough 22 mile training run last Saturday (3rd), had stomach cramp and a pulled muscle in my thigh, but managed to complete the distance, albeit slowly. But I'm sure these are the miles that will count come the big day in London next month. Zipped down to Inner Marsh Farm on the same day to see the newly arrived Avocets. It's amazing how these birds have spread across the country during the last few years; very elegant but also very feisty birds that belie their graceful and delicate appearance.
Had a morning at Parkgate today (9th), but the high tide didn't come as close to the wall as hoped. But saw some impressive birds including 2 Hen Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Short-eared Owls and, bird of the day, a magnificent Peregrine that harassed one of the harriers.
Also had quite good views of the immature Spoonbill on the Boathouse Flash. This is another species that will hopefully become more common after recent years' successful breeding in Norfolk.

Avocet at Cley Norfolk, March 2008.

Immature Spoonbill, Parkgate, February 2012 (record shot).

Spoonbill flock, near Cley Norfolk, August 2010.

Tortoises and Turtles

In recent years I have been lucky enough to visit the beautiful Greek island of Lesvos a number of times. Along with the stunning birdlife there is a wealth of other wildlife to enjoy including a good variety of reptile species. Spur-thighed Tortoises are native to the region and I have seen them quite regularly, normally ambling over busy roads quite oblivious to the dangers. I have helped one or two reach the safety of nearby vegetation and on one memorable occasion I rescued a tortoise that had fallen down a small well at Aghios Ioannis a few miles south of Kalloni.
I had been birdwatching in the area when I noticed the poor animal at the bottom of the sheer-sided pit. It had obviously fallen in and was unable to climb out again. It was impossible to say how long it had been trapped there, but there was a trickle of water seeping into the well, which along with some moss growing on the base of the pit  had probably sustained it for some time. I quickly called my son Adam to join me as he had never seen a wild tortoise and he proceeded to film me as I executed the rescue.

This Spur-thighed Tortoise was photographed in southern

Turkey in 2009.

When I visited Olu Deniz in Turkey in 2009 I was amazed to

see the  head of a distant turtle in the famous Blue Lagoon. I

didn't expect to get such close-up views of  fabulous

Loggerhead Turtles in the marina at nearby Fethiye.

Treecreeper

Before I started work this morning I had a quick walk through Arrowe Park. There was a mini dawn chorus taking place with singing Song Thrushes, Dunnocks and Robins and the distant drumming of Great Spotted Woodpeckers. But the real highlight was the sighting of a Treecreeper slowly working its way up a small tree. This fab little bird has suffered in the recent cold winters and has become more difficult to find. It is a good few years since I have seen one in the park, let's hope it's the first of many sightings.

Treecreeper photographed at Loggerheads

 Country Park in 2007