Having a Laugh with fog on the Wirral

Me, Mark and Paz headed West to the Wirral today for a first winter Laughing Gull that has been frequenting the Marine Lake at New Brighton all week, it was forecast a nice day but as we dropped down the other side of the Pennines we ran into thick fog which although showed signs of lifting a couple of times remained for the duration of our stay, fortunately the Laughing Gull that was eventually picked up on the beach mid-morning showed very well and at fairly close quarters when it returned to the Marine Lake after the tide came in, nice to bump into a few familiar faces. When we’d had our fill of the Gull and a couple of rather showy Snow Buntings nearby we headed back and returning to a nice and sunny Yorkshire called in at Fairburn Ings, there was a pair of Smew in the Main Bay but otherwise it was fairly quiet.

initially picked up on the beach

a couple of Sanderlings came close

it later returned to the pontoon on the Marine Lake

where it showed very well

it even joined us on the path

nearby a couple of Snow Buntings allowed a close approach

a Jay in late afternoon sun at Fairburn