Leighton Moss and Hest Bank

I took advantage of the sunshine and went up to Leighton Moss today.  I had a number of target birds to see and managed to see most of them, including:

• A Glossy Ibis in the field next to the one facing the chimney (not seen first thing in the morning but went back late afternoon and got it.)
• A Bittern which did quite a long flypast at the Public Hide
• A Redhead Smew showing quite well at Lillian's Hide
• A Little Egret at Griesdale Hide
• Marsh Tits, Nuthatch and Treecreeper in the woods to the right of Lillian's Hide (I've only seen them on the feeders previously)
• Two very tame Robins posing for photos
• Several Fieldfare in the woods on the way to the causeway
• I had distant views of two Otters playing in the pool to the left of Lillian's Hide.
• Lots of Greylag Geese about, especially in the field near the level crossing where there must have been 200 in the late afternoon
• Three Oystercatchers in another nearby field
• There were not so many of the usuals around except at the Public Hide - 2 Mute Swans, 1 Pintail, 1 Cormorant in the usual place, lots of Tufted Ducks and Coots, some Mallards and Moorhens - there's probably something I've missed

         The only thing I didn't get to see today were the Bearded Tits.  I didn't visit the Lower Hide or the Eric Morecambe and Allen Hides today.   

On the way home I paid a short visit to Hest Bank where I saw:

• Curlew
• Oystercatchers
• Many Redshank
• Sanderling
• A Grey Heron
• Lots of Lapwing
• Shelduck
• A Black-headed Gull treading mud and catching shrimp
• A large group of House Sparrows chattering away in the tree-tops

A good day out to what is becoming one of my favourite regions for birding. Some pictures to follow...