The safari visited Marton Mere nature reserve for the first time in ages. On the walk in there was a juvvy Heron just standing on the path. Nearly didn't get a shot off as a dogwalker appeared from the otherside and although he could see what I was doing just kept coming. I was hoping to be able to inch a little closer but you guessed it he flushed it...marvelous. Same happened with two Herons at the very end of the walk - they were in a pond very close to the path, I got a bit nearer and cautiously set the camera up and was just about to click away when a dopey woman threw a stick into the pond for her dogs to fetch. Not as if it wasn't obvious what I was about to do cos she'd watched me stalking them for a few minutes; AND there are several notices asking you to keep your dogs away from the water. D'ya know what - I don't think she could be bothered waiting for me to finish getting my photos so she deliberately scared em off. Dozey, selfish cow! A total imbecile who should not be allowed 1) to keep dogs and 2) out of her front door!!! 
The mere itself was looking good but there didn't seem to be too many birds on which isn't unusual for the rtime of year though more gulls to rummage through wouldn't have gone amiss. Sorry about the list to starboard, being pulled by Frank at the time. The striking patch of yellow plants are Hoary Ragwort. The patch of dead flowers in the foreground are the remains of Black Knapweed. Looks like there has been a good show of wildflowers on this meadow over the summer.
Out of the wind it was quite warm and sheltered areas held a few dragonflies. This one is Common Darter, also seen were Brown Hawker, Emperor and Migrant Hawker.
Round where the kids feed the ducks there was a young Black Headed Gull which seemed to be having a right old peck at whatever took its fancy on the reed stems. Even had a go at one of the young Mute Swan's toes at one stage. They do stick em out at a tempting height.
I ddin't count the Coot but there were probably around 150. Interestingly one at the feeding area was ringed. We have seen ringerd Coots here in the past; if I remember rightly almost all were 'done' on passage at the Wigan Flashes. Tried to get a few shots of the ring but had no bread to coax it up the bank and get it moving about. Just got the one pic which is inconclusive unless there is enough there for someone to have stab at identifying the individual. C,G,6? N 4?......it then toddled into the water and swum off to join its mates in a pond weed feeding fenzy.
The mere looking westwards over the reedbeds to the iconic Blackpool Tower. Very quiet in the reeds today only a lonely Blue Tit and eventually a Reed Bunting dropped in from on high. Still a bit too early for the Bitterns.
A short blast of sunshine revealed a nie bright fresh Small Tortoiseshell feeding on the Hoary Ragwort.
Nearly all the way round, looking back over the mere to the north east. In clearer weather you get a good view of the Bowland fells from this vantage point.
Where to next? Somewhere new and unusual coming up I think .
In the meantime let us know who is pecking whose feet in your outback.
But you don't want distant shots of 
What a salt encrusted mess!
On the boating pool wall the roost was disappointing but there are four species in the frame. There can be up to a hundred Redshanks. Hardly any Black Headed Gulls and only a handful of Lesser Black Backs seen all afternoon, the latter must be making their way south. Can you see the odd one out?
Bit easier in this one.
An easy 
You don't want to go down there - - -
That's about as rough as it got today - there's no way you can stand here and snap away on a higher tide with a bit of a westerly throwing it up the steps - you'd last one wave!
The audience looks bored by the kid's one-legged cliff balancing act.
and a couple of fresh looking Red Admirals.
But just one Painted Lady.
Not noticed the expected huge numbers of these yet after the May influx maybe they didn't all stop to breed. A Common Darter buzzed about but was too warm to get anywhere near, kept going back to a favourite perch but not really giving a photo opportunity. Unlike a nearby Migrant Hawker
- not so long ago that these were unheard of round these parts but now seem to be about the most numerous dragon.
At home there was no respite from the weather so no chance of a quick dash out to see if 'owt was about'.
Well it does have Black Headed Gull in it, what more do you want the bird flying more aesthetically pleasingly into the picture rather than out of it? The spot at 4o'clock from the sun is another BHG not dust on the lens this time!
As I mentioned bees like it but which species these are is a bit baffling and photographing them was a nightmare as you can see. The turned round iside the flower and came out at full tilt. I like the pointy nose on this one - but note the dark 'Ugg' boots on the hind leg.
Thanks to Extreme Photograper, Raf, for the close ups. Yellow legs - no boots. Not a Kingfisher in sight but in the river Brown Trout were jumping for fun after the huge amount of insects the humid weather had brought out. Like this small Caddis Fly.
That was it for that site so we went a bit further in to the hills. The rain poured down and we sat it out whilst having a brew. Oh my eye! a Kingfisher flew straight past the bonnet of the Land Rover and landed somewhat out of sight in the vegetation on the far bank. No chance of a pic. The rain eased a little and Raf went for a wander into the stream and came back with this slightly deceased Stone Loach. It has some kind of injury by its pelvic fins, the red patch on the flank. very fresh, a victim of the Kingfisher or unluckily under a stone someone paddling trod on? Whatever the cause of death it was an unusual and totally unexpected find.
The rain eased a little so we headed off upstream. nothing much doing. A few Swallows milling around the farm buildings, a couple of Pied Wagtails on the dry stone wall and brief views of a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
A Brown Hare was disturbed from some rushy grassland.
where Frank found a vole or mouse in the leaf litter but that was far to quick on its toes to identify as it bolted into a thick patch of moss. No sign of the deer.
Relaxed; enough distance between him and us.