Birds and lots of water during my second visit to Leighton Moss nature reserve on 6th November 2025

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.

Flora and fauna, including White Storks and other captive birds, at Barnes Wetland Centre on 23th September 2025

I started my visit to the Barnes Wetland Centre by heading to the southern part of the reserve

On the way I passed some lovely fluffy Cardoon seed heads

A male Common Darter dragonfly was perching on a leaf

I saw a male Wigeon from one of the bird hides on the south side

and a pair of Gadwalls

I then went to the other side of the wetlands where I saw a pair of American Wood ducks - part of the wildfowl collection

A free-flying Grey Heron was trying to eat a frog

The following photos are of some of the other exotic birds kept at Barnes:

Group of Chiloe Wigeon

White-faced Whistling ducks - don't know the name of the other ducks

Three Cape Teal

Beautiful White Storks

After leaving the wildfowl collection, I saw a dainty Willow Emerald damselfly resting on a leaf

A Magpie joined me for lunch on a nearby bench

Then, on the way out of that side of the wetlands, I saw a Cape Barren goose

On the way back to the south side of the wetlands, I passed some lovely Autumn berries

First time I have photographed green Rose-ringed Parakeets from above

I was on the top floor of the Peacock hide

Snipe standing at the edge of the lagoon

The light was fading by now - Three Northern Shovelers in the water and two Snipe in the background

Two more Northern Shovelers swimming across the lagoon

An orderly row of juvenile Cygnets - even without their parents there to guide them!

The highlight of the day was a Bittern in the far away reeds

Unfortunately my bridge camera could not do it justice!

 

Wildlife at Rainham Marshes - 13th September 2024

Male Common Darter on the Thames path at Rainham Marshes

Comma butterfly on pink Sedum/Stonecrop flowers near the car park

Tall Cardoon plants with large seed heads at the edge of the car park

Bee in the centre of a still-flowering Cardoon

Upside-down Comma butterfly

White butterfly on a Buddleia flower

and on a Sedum

Cat bird watcher at the marshes

Marsh frog resting in the stream

Lapwing in front of the Purfleet hide

Juvenile Little Grebe - a parent was fishing nearby

A juvenile male Kingfisher put on a performance in front of the MDZ bird hide.  Photographs were taken through the glass window, which is covered with camouflage netting with some camera lens-sized holes so that the birds don't get scared off.

Unidentified caterpillar on the path

A Migrant Hawker dragonfly was hanging from a shrub

Black-tailed Godwit with slightly windswept feathers at the Shooting Butts hide

Same Little Egret in two completely different poses

Peaceful view on a lovely day - with lots of electricity pylons in the distance

Bath time for a Shoveler duck

A  couple of Gadwalls on the move

Lapwing and Snipe

plus a few Black-headed gulls and a sleeping Black-tailed Godwit

It was great weather and I enjoyed a lovely walk along part of the Thames path outside the reserve and then a long walk all round the reserve itself.  I must go there more often!