Birdwatching in Cumbria

[ColonelBlimp]

Now I don't consider myself a twitcher by any means. Half of the time I can't understand their lingo and my lowly set of 8x25 binoculars seem puny compared to their extravagant scopes etc.

BUT! I seem to have had a bit of luck with even my meagre equipment and knowledge.

I just went up to the Lake District for a few days, seeing allsorts-a colony of jays, a 12-strong flock of goldies, mistle/song thrushes, redwings, redpolls...etc. etc.

The best part was when I went to Leighton Moss, and alongside seeing about a million types of waterfowl, two BITTERNS decided to turn up! Admittedly the first one was only a glimpse of it quite far away going "arhk arhk arhk" but the second was much closer, and through my binoculars it gently glided in, curving to show its speckly back, before disappearing into the reeds.

I don't have any photos as you can get some phones today with better cameras than my proper camera so any image would come out as a bit of speckly guff a couple of pixels across.

I was so shocked-and pleased-to see them!

[jcd123]

Hi

sounds like a good trip

Never seen a Bittern (not sure where I would in my neck of the woods

You will have to get a decent camera and take some Pics

John

[coasty]

Been birdwatching on and of for 40 years mate and only on my second set of bins,,, Telescopes are for twitchers and southern softies,,, Sounds like you had a great trip... The lakes is a cracking place.