NIK III
Well-known member
I had a trip to Leighton Moss on Friday when the west coast was bathed in sunshine. It's a one and three quarter hour run for me but the journey is part of the pleasure. It's scenic almost all the way, up past Settle, Kirkby Lonsdale and down the M6. Crags, limestone outcrops and green fields make a nice change from the housing estate where I live. It wasn't a birding trip. I was going to try for some pics of the Red Deer. I particularly like the Morcambe Bay hides so called there first. Oh dear (no pun intended) it was high tide. Some of the birds were on tip toe as the islands covered over. They all seemed a long way off but I could make out Redshank, Greenshank & Black-tailed Godwit. A Curlew Sandpiper kept appearing out of some reeds. Teal and Wigeon were on the islands. A large group of Lapwing got up flashing white and dark green in the sunshine, and a flock of Greylag flew over making their honking noises.
Jackson hide is best for Deer. They had just cut the reeds near the hide and it all looked a bit bald. They were still cutting the reeds at Griesdale, the next door hide and making plenty of noise whilst doing it. Apart from the odd Moorhen, Coot and a Heron, all the birds had retreated to the far end of the lagoon. I'd not got my scope but could easily make out 8 Little Egrets. Their numbers seem to be steadily increasing here. I sat for a while and could hear a stag bellowing, not far away but not visible. After a while two hinds and a calf appeared out of the reeds. They had a good feed on reeds and grass, and seemed aware but unconcerned of the attention they were getting from the hide. The calf may have been the same one I saw here in July before it was weaned (pic5), but had grown a bit since then. The male kept bellowing. Whatever he was saying the hinds and calf completely ignored him and settled down for some R&R. The stag never appeared.
10 pics
Jackson hide is best for Deer. They had just cut the reeds near the hide and it all looked a bit bald. They were still cutting the reeds at Griesdale, the next door hide and making plenty of noise whilst doing it. Apart from the odd Moorhen, Coot and a Heron, all the birds had retreated to the far end of the lagoon. I'd not got my scope but could easily make out 8 Little Egrets. Their numbers seem to be steadily increasing here. I sat for a while and could hear a stag bellowing, not far away but not visible. After a while two hinds and a calf appeared out of the reeds. They had a good feed on reeds and grass, and seemed aware but unconcerned of the attention they were getting from the hide. The calf may have been the same one I saw here in July before it was weaned (pic5), but had grown a bit since then. The male kept bellowing. Whatever he was saying the hinds and calf completely ignored him and settled down for some R&R. The stag never appeared.
10 pics
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