Lakes but not Mountains

Leighton Moss Nature reserve is somewhere I have not been to since myself and friends were encumbered with ‘small boys’. Now with much ‘larger boy’ we were inspired to visit again and were not disappointed.

The RSPB have succeeded in creating a ‘something for everybody’ place. For the serious ornithologist the hides are protected from wind and rain so that impressive ‘mine is bigger than yours’ lenses can be used without fear of weather exposure. Yet within these ‘huts’ are information sheets for the rest of us to identify the different birds.

We spent a couple of hours at the reserve, visiting the six of the seven hides that were open. Walking between the hides the spring sunshine dappled through the trees and though there was constant calling of lapwings, the reed beds and dark mash were serene and somnolent. From the hides the wider expanses of lakes reminded me of some of the Florida wetlands. If only the sky had been completely blue.

Unfortunately we didn’t see the Bitterns, marsh harriers or bearded tits which attract many people to the reserve. This was probably because we didn’t have enough time to look, but we did see the Avocet from the hides on the coastal trail.

My most impressive bird photographs are of the back of a Greylag goose and a rather lowly mallard having a bath.

For quiet day outdoors I would recommend visiting. I am determined to get up early and go otter watching.  Lakes but not mountains – for a change!

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