Northern Shoveler seen from the Causeway hide
and a female and two male Gadwalls - also at the Causeway hide
This is the path leading to the Causeway hide - there had been a lot of rain during the few days I had been staying in the area and, although it was not raining during the day, I could only just manage to go along this path by gingerly walking along the side by the hedge. I could not go any further towards the Lower hide as I was told there was a lot of 6" deep water further along the path and I was only equipped with waterproof shoes and not wellies!
As I could go no further along that path, I turned round and went to Lilian's hide
A flock of nine Whooper swans had just landed in the lagoon in front of the hide
There was a juvenile Whooper among the group, which had slightly disturbed the Coots
The Whoopers only stayed for a short time and were soon off somewhere else
I accidentally photographed a Marsh Harrier when I was taking pictures of the Whooper exit!
Oh dear - the path to the Grisedale and Tim Jackson hides was covered in really deep water!
and only suitable for people with waterproof boots/wellies or, alternatively, for these three Mallards, which were on their way there!
I back-tracked once again and climbed up the Skytower from where I saw a male Eurasian Teal
and a female - both with feathers blowing around in the wind
I had run out of places that I could reach without getting wet feet, so ended up in the bird feeder area near the Visitor Centre
Coat Tit and female Chaffinch on the feeder
Two Coal Tits
Female Bullfinch on the ground near the feeders
Greenfinch with seed in its beak
A Robin was checking out that its picture was included on the bird identification chart - it was!
I was joined by a very close Robin on the picnic table when I was eating my lunch
I had another look at the bird feeders, where I saw my first Marsh Tit
Back at Lilian's hide, there were three Snipe among the ducks at the edge of a little island
I was staying in the area especially to visit Leighton Moss and was annoyed with myself at not being better equipped for walking through deep water. I just did not expect there to be so many places on the site that were prone to flooding. Regardless of that, I did see some interesting birds - especially the Whooper swans and the Bullfinch - and just wish I was able to visit again in drier conditions.
