A beautiful Autumn day at Leighton Moss

Leighton Moss RSPB Nature Reserve is the largest reedbed in the Northwest of England. It is home to a fascinating array of wildlife including Otters, Bitterns, Bearded Tits, Marsh Harriers and Red Deer, to name but a few.
Recently work has been ongoing to drain some of the reedbeds in order to promote fresh reed growth, as the overall age of the reedbed is not conducive to breeding Bitterns which prefer newer growth in which to rear their young.

There are several hides from which to observe the wildlife at Leighton Moss. It's impossible to guarantee exactly what you might see on any given day, but there's always something of interest if you keep your eyes peeled.

Black Tailed Godwit

Juvenile Moorhen

Great Crested Grebe

Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly

Speckled Wood

Preening competition

Breath holding competition

Common Darter dragonfly

Common Darter dragonflies

A little serenade from everyone's favourite cheeky chappie...

Grey Heron

Great Egrets

Water Rail

Little Stints

Red Admiral

 We've had a lovely long summer this year, but it's quite nice to see Autumn colours creeping in now.

 

  














 Last time we visited Leighton Moss we could hear the Red Deer bellowing in the reedbeds, but didn't see any. This year we were lucky to see several does enjoying the sunshine...

As we turned to look through one of the end windows of the hide, we were privileged to witness two Red Deer stags emerge from the reedbed....

The stags didn't stay very long; it was a magical moment for us though! Sadly it was time for us to catch the train home, so we wandered back via the picnic area where there are very busy bird feeders to watch while you eat your lunch.

 
Back at the train station this butterfly insisted on having the last word...

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