Happy Birthday To you....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLOTTE

Thursday morning and it was my other half's birthday, so I got up at 5 o'clock and headed over to Leighton Moss, don't worry she was in college so I was allowed out for a bit...

Anyway... To the serious stuff, I got down into Lilian's hide for 6 o'clock and everything kicked off, as I arrived I started checking through the large number off gulls that were around when a summer plumage Mediterranean Gull dropped in at the back of the pool, weighted around for about 5 minuets and then moved on, within 5 min as I was scanning across the top of the reed bed for anything unusual a Bitten decided to drop in out of site but a millisecond glimpse is better that none at all.

After this not much happened so I decided to head over to the grit trays to see if any of the Bearded Tits where around, I did manage to get a quick view of a gorgeous male at the top of a reed before flying off and never been seen again, although two slightly more co-operative Sedge Warblers provided ample opportunity for a few photographs:-

Sedge Warbler

After this very pleasant encounter, as I managed to get within about 2 metres of the special little birds, I decide to head over to the main reserve to see what was around. I decided to put in a good stint in Grisdale Hide and see what turns up, I weighted for almost an hour before anything turned up, with a large herd of 13 Red Deer came walking across in front of the hide:-

Red Deer

As I was watching this, a Male Marsh Harrier decided to give us a very close up view of its self as it tried to snatch a chick from a Moorhen nest but the Mum and Dad where having nothing to do with it...

Marsh Harrier

As the Marsh Harrier drifted off so majestically into the distance, I decided that it was time to see if anything interesting was showing its self over at Eric Morecambe's hide, as I settled down, I was shown a Spoonbill roosting far off to the left, not showing its bill at all and been very in-conspicuous so I decided to have3 a check through the massive number of gulls that were present. It just so happened that I was very lucky this time and literally the first 2 gulls that I checked were 2 of the 3 little gulls that were present in the end, I saw so happy to see this fabulous little bird, I didn't take that many pictures, but I was so happy to see them for the first time, I don't even care, but here are a few record pics anyway:-

Anyway I hope that you like me blog, sorry about the late delivery but here it is,

Thanks always Lee Harrison.

Easter Monday Magic, It Truly Was Eggselent...

Right, that's enough of double entendre, down to the serious stuff, I headed up to Leighton moss on Monday, hoping to have a bit of luck and we did, as we approached a fabulous female Marsh Harrier rose up along side of our car giving great views, we pulled up and had dinner, no more than two minuets had pass when a Peregrine came soring across closely followed by a buzzard and then a marsh tit appeared singing in a near by tree... An amazing start, putting us in a good mood for the rest of the day, as we checked the sighting book we heard news that a Gargany was showing well at Grizdale hide, so in hope of a new tick we headed down, 1 hour past but nothing, it felt like we were the only ones not to see it but as we left the hide, we were treated to some beautiful views of both male and female Marsh Harrier cruising over the read beds, the first of many.

Marsh Harrier

We decided to have a stroll down to Public hide but nothing really showing except both Marsh Harriers again and a gorgeous Willow Warbler singing high in a tree top...

Willow Warbler

As we headed back, we heard new that a Spoonbill had dropped in at the back of the moss, so we went on mission to find it, which turned out to be the easiest mission of the day, we walked the public footpath across the back of the moss and the first field we came to, there it was showing beautifully at the back of the reeds, to far to get any good pics but here's a record pic. just for the sake of it:-

Trust me it's a Spoonbill

After this beautiful and unexpected surprise we decided to see if we can finish off the day off with some views of the Peregrines at Warton Crag and we weren't disapointed, one sat on the nest and one sat there eating what we think was a Pigeon and Ravens feeding chicks on the nest, in the second and third pics you can see the chicks heads popping over the edge and then the Male Peregrine deciding to to take flight and going for a cruise... Here are a few pics that made me happy so I hope that you like them as well:-

Raven

Peregrine Falcon

Anyway thankyou for visiting my blog, I hope that you like what you see and that you will visit again.

Thanks always Lee Harrison.

A Few Hours At The Mere...

I was meant to be doing work today but that went straight out of the window when i saw what a Glorious day it was, crystal clear skies, a nice warm breeze and birds galore, singing there little birdy hearts out, what felt to me like the first day of summer, well spring.

So i dropped my girl friend off early after noon and headed straight through to Martin Mere, a good choice in my books. Nothing out on the ordinary around really, the usually Whooper Swans, Pintail, Wigeon, Pochard, Mallard, Golden eye, Shell duck, Graylay, Teal and any of the usuals that I for got to include.

There was also plenty of waders witch included the expected Ruff wandering around, Oyster Catchers, Black Tailed Godwits, Avocets, Ringed Plover, Lapwing and Heron.

And as expected the Cormorants on the far bank at the gull roost but unfortunately there was no meratarian Gull around, oh well there's always another day...

Oh and I got a Fantastic view of the Marsh Harrier as it came low over the marsh chasing numerous waders with no success, probable a young bird getting a bit hungry.

Anyway here's a few pics i took on the day: -

Avocet

As you can tell i do love the Avocet, I think its one of the most beautiful birds we get here over summer, I could spend hours watching them.

Ringed Plover

Sorry About the distant views but here's a shot of the ringed plover

Marsh Harrier

I'm sorry about the silhouetted views but i kinda like them...

Last but definitely not least, the smaller tits and finches that were around, all the usual stuff but still i managed to get a few shots which made me happy.

Chaffinch
Blue Tit

I hope that you enjoyed my blog and that you will visit again, please comment and if you have any questions about anything, please don't be afraid to ask.

Thanks always Lee Harrison.