Out and About

Last night we headed back down to the Badgers, had great views of 2 of the residents, with the highlight of seeing some new behaviour, mutual grooming.


Today started early, leaving the house at 05:30am and heading into the Pennines. Arriving at our destination the characteristic sound could be heard straight away, the bubbling of 20  male Black Grouse at their lek, 3 females were also present. I always find the atmosphere amazing on moors in the morning, when all its inhabitants make themselves heard, Curlew, Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, Redshank, Skylark, Red Grouse, and Golden Plover could all be heard in the vicinity of the lek. It was great to see so many Black Grouse, the most I've had at this site.





Had a Booths breakfast in Penrith, and we headed back out, this time heading South to Leighton Moss. The glorious weather saw us sitting a Warton Crag watching the Peregrines, and Ravens (with chicks) for the majority of the afternoon, but we also made a visit to the reserve.

A couple of Pheasants were coming really close, but unfortunately I only had the 100-400 lens.

The day finished with 3 Long-Eared Owls up on the moors again.

Leighton Moss

Decided to head down to Leighton Moss today with Ciara and Rachael, its only about an hour from Penrith, so not too far. Although it was dull, with a few rainy spells we still had a great day. There were good numbers of Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Coot, Wigeon and Mallard, with a few Pochard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Cormorant and 2 Great Black Backed Gulls. 


Heading to the cafe at lunch we bumped into this confiding Robin.

Even bold enough to feed from Rachael's hand. Please double click image.

The feeding station by was busy with Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Blackbird, Pheasant, Moorhen, and Mallard. A skein of Greylag landed on the main pool, a quick scan produced the 3 Snow Geese that have been hanging around. After lunch we added a Red Deer stag and multiple Little Egrets to our list. The Morcambe Hides provide more wildfowl, and a large number of Lapwing on the salt marsh.


We ended our day in the Public Hide, viewing 5 Otters, with a couple of the well grown cubs play fighting, and porpoising, catching an Eel now and again. Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, and Teal came in close to the hide as the light was fading, Little Egrets headed to roost over head, and the Starlings began their murmurations. 

The sun shared its rays for a few seconds before we left.