@dh Thank you Delena, one trick to getting nice bird shots is knowing where the birds are, and where you can get up close to them, without bothering them. These are a few ideas, local to me, but not far from you, where you might like to try as locations.
Moore Nature reserve, Sandymoor, Runcorn.
Large area, hide east end Lapwing Lake, ( ducks, coots, grebes,and a very obliging robin normally. Occasionally Kingfisher)
Feeding station, not very good for photos as you are a bit far away, but excellent for watching woodpeckers, tits, etc does provide the odd gem.
Hide west end of Birchwood pool, ducks gulls etc.
The whole area is worth wandering around looking for stuff.
Map and leaflets in car park.
Spike island, West Bank Widnes, large flock of tame swans, geese, ducks, gulls and pigeons, plus views of new bridge.
Pickerings Pasture, Halebank, Widnes
Feeding station by car park, in fact if car park is quiet, I have parked on the corner by bird tables and stayed in the car photoing the birds, they seem much less wary if you remain in the car.mthat is true anywhere.
At the far end (west towards Hale) there is another hide& feeding station hidden in the trees, the view from the hide is difficult it faces into the light a lot of the day, but the birds at the feeders are very approachable and there are a few branches which act as waiting spots which let you get natural shots, tits, finches, robin etc.
Also views of the bridge and river..
Another spot worth thinking about if you visit Aber Falls, North Wales, that I told you about a couple of weeks ago.
Just after Aber Falls, next junction towards Bangor, there is a reserve called tha Spinnies, woods and a pool, right next to the sea. Two hides with feeders, and normally loads of stuff there, squirrels(grey) tits, finches, woodpecker, ducks, moorhens, heron egret, even Kingfisher now and then. This is a bit far away, but on a nice quiet weekday, well worth the trip.
Hope this might help you the birds and get close up to them. Google will give you more info re location of these, if you need any more details let me know, and good luck.
Moore Nature reserve, Sandymoor, Runcorn.
Large area, hide east end Lapwing Lake, ( ducks, coots, grebes,and a very obliging robin normally. Occasionally Kingfisher)
Feeding station, not very good for photos as you are a bit far away, but excellent for watching woodpeckers, tits, etc does provide the odd gem.
Hide west end of Birchwood pool, ducks gulls etc.
The whole area is worth wandering around looking for stuff.
Map and leaflets in car park.
Spike island, West Bank Widnes, large flock of tame swans, geese, ducks, gulls and pigeons, plus views of new bridge.
Pickerings Pasture, Halebank, Widnes
Feeding station by car park, in fact if car park is quiet, I have parked on the corner by bird tables and stayed in the car photoing the birds, they seem much less wary if you remain in the car.mthat is true anywhere.
At the far end (west towards Hale) there is another hide& feeding station hidden in the trees, the view from the hide is difficult it faces into the light a lot of the day, but the birds at the feeders are very approachable and there are a few branches which act as waiting spots which let you get natural shots, tits, finches, robin etc.
Also views of the bridge and river..
Another spot worth thinking about if you visit Aber Falls, North Wales, that I told you about a couple of weeks ago.
Just after Aber Falls, next junction towards Bangor, there is a reserve called tha Spinnies, woods and a pool, right next to the sea. Two hides with feeders, and normally loads of stuff there, squirrels(grey) tits, finches, woodpecker, ducks, moorhens, heron egret, even Kingfisher now and then. This is a bit far away, but on a nice quiet weekday, well worth the trip.
Hope this might help you the birds and get close up to them. Google will give you more info re location of these, if you need any more details let me know, and good luck.