leighton moss

[Fracster]

I go to Leighton Moss regularly,am still to see the otter and have only seen a bittern once,it did a flyby before I had my camera set up,dammit.........

Guess that is how it goes at times though.......

[pegasus]

Originally Posted by PMG

Finally! At last! I made my mind up I was actually going to stand on the public causeway in front of the grit trays until I had seen the 'beardies' ....... so we stood from 9.30am to 12.30pm and saw two pairs and a single male visit the trays and eat grit!!

After going back to the centre for a brew and a pit stop we moved to the far end and walked around to the Lower Hide. The weather was dull and unpromising whilst walking but once sat in the hide the sun came full out again - the light was brilliant!

Eventually someone to my left said 'its here' and not 30ft in front of me was a male beardie - it was deep in the reeds and I shot off a volley knowing full well that important parts of its anatomy like its eyes and beak were hidden by reeds ........ then as I watched and prayed it came up the reed stem and out into view and I let go with another volley! It was all over in less than a minute and as the female appeared behind him - they both flew right to left and weren't seen again ..........

The times I have sat in that hide and not even heard them never mind seen even a distant waft of one! I can only presume the breeding prog at LM for this species is doing well and there are more beardies to go around at the moment ...... take heed folks and visit as soon as you can before this apparent bonanza fizzles out











Oh and PS the bittern had been seen in front of the hide in the morning and it flew out in the afternoon and across the lake - my shots of this are all blurred ........ towards dusk it appeared on the edge of the reeds of the opposite island and walked about and fished - you could tell what it was thro binocs and I'm always chuffed to even see one at a distance ....... but wouldn't it have been a red letter day if it had walked in front of the hide too ....... dreaming Pauline - you're always dreaming!!

Pauline

Thanks for great Pix---worth the wait eh!

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by PMG

Finally! At last! I made my mind up I was actually going to stand on the public causeway in front of the grit trays until I had seen the 'beardies' ....... so we stood from 9.30am to 12.30pm and saw two pairs and a single male visit the trays and eat grit!!

After going back to the centre for a brew and a pit stop we moved to the far end and walked around to the Lower Hide. The weather was dull and unpromising whilst walking but once sat in the hide the sun came full out again - the light was brilliant!

Eventually someone to my left said 'its here' and not 30ft in front of me was a male beardie - it was deep in the reeds and I shot off a volley knowing full well that important parts of its anatomy like its eyes and beak were hidden by reeds ........ then as I watched and prayed it came up the reed stem and out into view and I let go with another volley! It was all over in less than a minute and as the female appeared behind him - they both flew right to left and weren't seen again ..........

The times I have sat in that hide and not even heard them never mind seen even a distant waft of one! I can only presume the breeding prog at LM for this species is doing well and there are more beardies to go around at the moment ...... take heed folks and visit as soon as you can before this apparent bonanza fizzles out











Oh and PS the bittern had been seen in front of the hide in the morning and it flew out in the afternoon and across the lake - my shots of this are all blurred ........ towards dusk it appeared on the edge of the reeds of the opposite island and walked about and fished - you could tell what it was thro binocs and I'm always chuffed to even see one at a distance ....... but wouldn't it have been a red letter day if it had walked in front of the hide too ....... dreaming Pauline - you're always dreaming!!

Pauline

All great shots pauline but i love the last one with its mate back stage so to speak just coming into view
regards mark.......

[captaincarot]

Originally Posted by PMG

Finally! The times I have sat in that hide and not even heard them never mind seen even a distant waft of one! I can only presume the breeding prog at LM for this species is doing well and there are more beardies to go around at the moment ...... take heed folks and visit as soon as you can before this apparent bonanza fizzles out


Pauline

i think the website says it's been the best year on record for ringing this year

[PMG]

Originally Posted by captaincarot

i think the website says it's been the best year on record for ringing this year

Yes I suspected as much as they are very much in evidence - I've gone there for years and not even heard one let alone see any. Thanks Pegasus and Mark its true that photographing these birds has bucked me up no end

[ChrisJB]

Finally saw bearded tits at Leighton Moss today, after umpteen visits over many years. Two showed well on the grit trays by the Causeway. Also saw the four snow geese, a great white egret and a few hawfinches at Sizergh.
We finished with a flight of fancy over to Swaledale for the black grouse, but in the rain and 'moorgrime' we missed these, but consoled ourselves in the Tan Hill Inn with a couple of pints.

Regards, Chris

[PMG]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

Finally saw bearded tits at Leighton Moss today, after umpteen visits over many years. Two showed well on the grit trays by the Causeway. Also saw the four snow geese, a great white egret and a few hawfinches at Sizergh.
We finished with a flight of fancy over to Swaledale for the black grouse, but in the rain and 'moorgrime' we missed these, but consoled ourselves in the Tan Hill Inn with a couple of pints.

Regards, Chris

Sounds like a great day out - wish I'd followed in your footsteps instead of going to Martin Mere Ah well ........... love that road around the Tan Hill - it heaves with waders in spring ........... sigh ..........

Pauline

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

Finally saw bearded tits at Leighton Moss today, after umpteen visits over many years. Two showed well on the grit trays by the Causeway. Also saw the four snow geese, a great white egret and a few hawfinches at Sizergh.
We finished with a flight of fancy over to Swaledale for the black grouse, but in the rain and 'moorgrime' we missed these, but consoled ourselves in the Tan Hill Inn with a couple of pints.

Regards, Chris

sounds like you had a good day chris with a perfect ending.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by dunlin

sounds like you had a good day chris with a perfect ending.

It was a special day Dunlin. Kind of a remembrance days birding, revisiting the spot at Leighton Moss where we scattered one of our late gang members ashes. I like to think he summoned the bearded tits for us.

Regards, Chris