Leighton Moss: more waders....

Just back from a fab weekend enjoying the wonders of Morecambe Bay and in particular, Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve.   Much to enjoy and the weather played ball with a glorious sunny Saturday.
Back in the early 1980s I studies Ecology at Lancaster University, living in Morecambe for a year, and enjoying regular visits to the Silverdale area and Leighton Moss in particular.  My degree dissertation project was a study of the invertebrates colonising the newly created Allen Pool, a saline lagoon of the landward edge of the salt mash.  Nice to hear that over 30 years later, 30 pairs of Avocets are now nesting (they first bred in 2001) and Little Egrets are using it as a favourite feeding area.

Little Egret chasing after prey

Got one!

A couple of hundred Redshanks were roosting in the pool and a couple were feeding around the edges, quite successfully.

At Leighton Moss, a short walk from the visitor centre is Lillian's Hide and new observation tower.  From here you get great views across a lake dotted with small islands and, just at the moment, the islands are packed with Black-tailed Godwits - many hundreds.

Much else to see - Bearded Tits, Marsh Harriers, Red Deer rutting, huge gatherings of Oystercatchers and Shelduck feeding across the endless mudflats......

Continuing the wader theme, but much closer to home, a couple of juvenile Ringed Plovers spent several days last week feeding on the ever-expanding mudflat at the north-east end of Boddington Reservoir.  An interesting insight into their likely arctic origins can be found on the Northants Birds Rarity Round-up.

Finally, a week ago today, Golden Plovers returned to the Wardington Area, the same date they arrived back in 2014.  Always a thrill to hear their calls and watch them drop back down into their favourite field.