Nothing to write home about....

....but an enjoyable tour of Leighton Moss just the same.

View from Public Hide. Pete Woodruff.



The outlook from any RSPB hide doesn't come any better than this and if - like me - you live within a short drive from Leighton Moss you can count yourself very fortunate, and by the way if the Bearded Tit is on your 'list' you can almost be guaranteed to make contact with them from the causeway where they visit the grit trays provided for them at this time of year and where I found John Wilson collecting ring details as they fed this morning, I told John I was going to propose the birds were renamed the Wilson Tit such has been his work and enjoyment over the many years as reserve warden and beyond, undoubtedly his most favourite bird surely.

I myself enjoyed excellent views of 6 Bearded Tits if a little zoological. From the Public Hide 7 Greenshank were on the island, but the mere was notably void of wildfowl and I noted only 27 Coot, a single Tufted Duck, Shoveler, and 6 Great-crested Grebe. From the Lower Hide a Black Tern was patrolling the mere for food which I can't believe was proving anything other than difficult for the bird, also a female Marsh Harrier came on the scene, but as with the rest of the area it was void of bird species save in excess of 100 Coot and 32 Mallard.

Migrant Hawker. Brian Rafferty.

A few Migrant Hawkers were patrolling the reed edges at both Public and Lower Hides. Thanks for the photograph Brian....nice one.

In an Alder close to Lillians Hide I managed to pick up a male and female Siskin but despite some time they were the only two I could find with Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Blue Tit and Great Tit. At the Grisedale Hide I was surprised to find up to 520 Redshank, the number of which is certainly a first here for me in more years than I care to recall, but a Sparrowhawk shifted the lot and they appeared to return to the saltmarshes from whence they came having been put up by a Peregrine Falcon there by all accounts. Also noted, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, a Buzzard, and at least 2 Jay seen over the wood opposite, 2 Little Egret and a young stag Red Deer.

UK MEGA NEWS (RBA)  

A Myrtle Warbler found yesterday at Cape Clear in Co.Cork is still present there today. Co.Cork has an excellent record for the species with nine of  the twenty eight records in the UK since 1955. And a Green Heron was found today in Cornwall at Pentewan at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and if you're thinking of making the trip make sure you have plenty of money in your pocket 'cos it's a tenner to get in!!