These Boots....: September 2016

You may have gathered by now that Leighton Moss is one of my favourite places to visit, especially in late summer and early autumn. This year, as is often the case in mid-September, the weather has been beautifully calm, warm and sunny. The green reed beds of the summer months have begun to take on a multitude of golden hues.

Buzzard

Cormorant

At this time of year the birds always seem to me to be taking a bit of a break after working so hard to build nests and rear their young. The garden at home always goes a bit quiet and I picture to myself the exhausted parents taking a well-earned holiday minus the children!


Reed Warbler

Marsh Harrier numbers have been steadily increasing at Leighton Moss, with several successful nests this year.
A few choose to overwinter here instead of migrating to Africa.

There was a bit of a spat between a Marsh Harrier and the Buzzard. No harm done to either one though.

Colourful dragonflies whizz to and fro, never settling for more than a few seconds before they are off again, performing miniature acrobatic displays as they flip upside down to catch their prey in mid-air.

Otter spotting is always top of my list and I usually see at least one whenever I visit. This fella was enjoying his breakfast of eels, as you can see.

Down on the saltmarshes are wading birds such as Greenshanks, Ruffs, Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits..

Black Tailed Godwits

Avocet

Back on the main reserve, Red Deer enjoy the lingering warmth of late summer. The quiet before the storm of the Autumn rut. This year's fawns still have a few spots visible on their coats.

To my surprise a Moorhen was still busy collecting nest material. I've since learned that they can have multiple broods and that adolescent members of earlier broods help to feed and guard the younger chicks. There were indeed a couple of juveniles close by.