Although the weather forecast threatened rain and poor visibility, we took ourselves up to Leighton Moss mid-week. Its about an hour’s drive away.
We had to return a bird-feeding station for the garden we’d bought there a couple of weeks ago. It was a very nice one in natural wood but would have been far too big for its allocated space. The hangers for bird food look just fine where they are now on the trees. The garden birds aren’t complaining at any rate, judging by the rate they’re getting through their suet blocks and peanuts.
So much for the weather forecast! It was a lovely day: quite warm and sunny. And that’s not a usual combination for NW England in February.
Leighton Moss is an RSPB reserve (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). It is situated on the edge of Morecambe Bay and in the Arnside and and Silverdale AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
The reserve contains the largest reedbeds in North-West England and is home to some rare birds such as breeding bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers. All of which we have seen at various times.
On this visit we took the path from Lillian’s Hide along The Causeway and through the woods to the Lower Hide:
The Causeway ©HelenBushe
A Wee Bridge ©HelenBushe
A Pile of Logs ©HelenBushe
Lower Hide 100m ©Helen Bushe
The Lower Hide ©HelenBushe
Birdwatching ©HelenBushe
View from Lower Hide ©HelenBushe
We saw marsh harriers, cormorants, herons, teal, shovelers, pintails, gadwall and loads of coots. Once again we did NOT see an otter . Otters seem to appear whenever we leave the hide. Maybe next time……
For Which Way posts from bloggers around the world, why not head to Cee’s Challenge…
10 Comments
mylifestorymyway · 27 February 2017 at 10:09
Gorgeous captures. Congratulations on the feature on Cee’s blog 🙂
HMB · 27 February 2017 at 10:09
Thank you. I’m pleased you liked it.
Cee Neuner · 24 February 2017 at 16:56
Congratulations! I have chosen your post to be featured on Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
http://wp.me/p3ZTqs-5Qf
Have a wonderful weekend.
HMB · 24 February 2017 at 17:11
Thank you so much Cee. So pleased you liked post have a good weekend
Leah · 20 February 2017 at 00:09
Such a beautiful area! You’ve captured it well, as always.
Helen Bushe · 20 February 2017 at 10:50
Thanks Leah. We’re so lucky to have places like this so close by.
Leah · 20 February 2017 at 18:24
The key is that you appreciate what is around you. So often, when we travel, people try to send us to see things that are hours from their homes, when they are surrounded by beauty.
HMB · 20 February 2017 at 18:42
I wholeheartedly agree. I love travelling, but equally enjoy exploring my local area.
I used to, for example, go to Paris for a week and take a train to Bruxelles for a couple of days, and so on. Silly, when two separate trips were quite possible with my teacher’s holidays.
Now when I take a trip, I make wherever I am my short-term “local” area and explore accordingly.
Thank you for making me put this into words to myself!!!
Have fun for rest of your season.
Cee Neuner · 18 February 2017 at 20:16
I so adore all your photos this week. Beautiful entry!!
HMB · 18 February 2017 at 20:17
Thank you Cee. And as always for your work with these challenges.