Apparently on Monday, 3rd June 2013 a Bearded Tit was observed feeding on a gritter table, so again, another reason to visit the centre. Now hoping that the weather stays warm and sunny and we have both photographs and a bird report to add to the blog at the end of the week.
Sunday, 9th June saw us heading towards Leighton Moss and the visitor centre on a very warm, sunny day. Quickly discovered that the reserve included a number of hides being; Lilian's Hide, Public Hide, Lower Hide, Tim Jackson Hide, Grisedale Hide and further afield the Allen and Eric Morecambe Hides.
Visitor Entrance
And would you believe it straight into Bearded Tits as we walked down the Causeway, a long path to the Public Hide. Infact, four were sighted less than 3m off the path and my first photographs taken of this bird.
Bearded Tit
Bearded Tit
Bearded Tit
Bearded Tit
Also observed a Long Tailed Tit during our visit while approaching the Allen Hide as seen below.
Long Tailed Tit
Also spotted on the Causeway path were Reed Warblers again another first for me and seen below.
Reed Warbler
Reed Warbler
Reed Warbler
And then while sitting in the Lower Hide we observed on a tree perch at approximately 100m, the ultimate for me so far, being a male Marsh Harrier as seen below
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
and as it flew from the perch into the sky
Marsh Harrier in flight
Again from this hide we observed a a pair of Great Crested Crebes where the male was fishing for the chicks which were being carried on mums back as seen below
Male Great Crested Grebe fishing
Female Great Crested Grebe carrying chicks on her back
Female Great Crested Grebe carrying chicks on her back
Father just fed fish to chick
A nice Cormorant duo photographed while stretching out on a post
A duo of Cormorants
Cormorant stretching its wings
My first Swallow of the day on the tin roof of a barn next to the low bridge while approaching the car par close to the Allen Hide.
Swallow
Also took photographs of:
Magpie
Pied Wagtail
Lapwing
Lapwing in flight
Black Headed Gull
Not many butterflies seen today, however, managed to photograph another Small White and a new one for me being a Speckled Wood butterfly of the Nymphalidae family
Small White
Small White
Speckled Wood
Again a first for me as we located one after the other of Damselflies as seen below;
Blue-Tailed Damselfly
Blue-Tailed Damselfly
Male Common Blue Damselfly
Female Common Blue Damselfly
Male & Female Common Blue Damselfly mating
Dandy Long Legs mating
And for Flora a photograph of Meadowsweet as seen below;
Meadowsweet
A very enjoyable six hours was had walking around the reserve and although at a cost of £5 each to non members we instead took out a twelve month family subscription for a sum of £5 per month. We will definately be back....
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