Saturday 25 May 2013

Leighton Moss

Bittern 1
Bearded Tit 1
Cetti's Warbler 1
Marsh Harrier 5 (2 males, 3 females)
Marsh Tit 1
Pochard 2 (inc. female with 4 chicks)

Year 197 (Bittern, Marsh Tit)

With a good looking forecast for the weekend, I decided to have an early start at Leighton Moss.


The public causeway at 6am. Lots of birds singing in the reeds, including Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler. I headed for Lower hide, where Marsh Harriers were performing well. I saw two fantastic males and at least three females.


Young Coots are great birds! These were right outside the public hide.


It's not all good news for the Coots though, chicks like this are favourite prey for Marsh Harriers. With up to 7 harriers on the reserve at the moment, and with even more to arrive soon in the form of juveniles, no water birds can let their guard down for a moment.

As I was leaving Lower hide, their was a loud commotion in the reeds behind the hide and a male Marsh Harrier emerged at point blank range, right in front of me, carrying an unfortunate Coot chick.



Bird Cherry is in full blossom at the moment.

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