Yesterday Friday, 5th July 2013, the weather was so good that I decided to take the day off work and convince the wife that a day out in the countryside would be the order of the day. Decision made, it was off the RSPB centre at Leighton Moss at Silverdale. Extremly pleased that we chose this centre again as it gave me the opportunity to both observe and to photograph a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Red Deer and my first ever Dragonfly, not to mention Roland Rat.
First stop was at the woodland feeding station close to the rear of the RSPB centre where I managed to photograph my first Bullfinch as seen below:
Bullfinch
Bullfinch
Next were a couple of Chaffinches:
Chaffinches
Followed by a young Great Tit:
Great Tit
Another bird feeding at the station:
TBI
Then moving on and while on the Grisedale Trail I spotted a Song Thrush followed by a young Robin:
Song Thrush
Robin
On arrival at the Grisedale hide we managed to photograph our first Red Deer on the far bank:
Red Deer
Red Deer
Also from this hide a Mute Swan:
Mute Swan
Heading back towards the centre took these shots of the Speckled Wood Butterfly:
Speckled Wood
Speckled Wood
Speckled Wood
Moving back to the centre and onto Lilian's Hide I photographed a nice Grey Heron:
Grey Heron
Grey Heron
Grey Heron
Grey Heron
Grey Heron
Grey Heron
Also observed was a Great Crested Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
and Great Crested Grebe chick
Canada Goose
We then headed for the Causeway and on the way entered the Damselfly area as we call it where I managed a few photographs. Not much to be seen, perhaps, due to the strong breeze blowing:
Blue-Tailed Damselfly
Female Common Blue Damselfly
Male Common Blue Damselfly
On reaching the Causeway I spotted a Reed Bunting at a distance in the reed bed as seen below:
Reed Bunting
Reed Bunting
On entering the Public Hide I observed my first grounded Dragonfly which had landed on the outer window cill area. This Dragonfly was very dull in colour and I have yet to identify it: Now identified as a Male Black - Tailed Skimmer.
Male Black - Tailed Skimmer
Male Black - Tailed Skimmer
Male Black - Tailed Skimmer
Male Black - Tailed Skimmer
Continuing towards the Lower Hide and while on the path took some photographs of wild flowers and Bees as seen below:
Honey Bee on TBI
Honey Bee on Tufted Vetch
Honey Bee on a Creeping Thistle
TBI
Yellow Iris
On arrival at the Lower Hide we managed a glimpse of the Marsh Harrier but not a great deal else, however, on the way back and while on the Causeway photographed what I believe was a Buzzard:
Buzzard
Buzzard
Although I have both refered to and labled the above two photographs as Buzzards, I as always stand to be corrected.
Moving back towards the Reserve centre I photographed this nice little Chaffinch bathing in a stream:
Chaffinch Bathing
Chaffinch Bathing
Now back at the feeding station the first thing of note spotted was a rat followed by a Pheasant and my first Great Spotted Woodpecker and although not photographed a Sparrow Hawk who came in to attack birds on the feeding station who were only saved by the external wiring of the feeders:
Rat happily feeding on droppings from the bird feeders
Pheasant
At this point we were joined by a Great Spotted Woodpecker the first I had ever seen:
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Another excellent outing was had at this resreve and a number of new species added to the tally.
