ALL IN ALL A GOOD ONE (14/01/12)…..PART ONE

It was only minus three this morning but it felt much colder. There was no wind so it must be me getting soft. Just before dawn and the world was covered in a rosy glow.

It was too good a day for truck cleaning so it is still a tip. I decided to walk back up the hill and through the woods in the opposite direction to yesterdays wander. It was a bit slippery and boggy through the wood, a deerless but nonetheless enjoyable four mile stroll. I was just approaching the van when a dozen Roe Deer broke cover and shot away. That’s fate telling me……if I’d been good and stopped home cleaning they would have been grazing not fifty yards away.

     Whilst not enjoying a Baxters soup for lunch the Spotted Woodpecker decided it was safe enough to pop down for his lunch. There are a pair of these but I didn’t see the female today.

It’s all go here…..soup forced down it was time to take a rucksack and collect peanuts and sunflower seed from the RSPB shop. It’s not far, a two mile round trip through the funny farm and one is into their bird food emporium.

I don’t seem to be able to cross the reserve without some minor altercation. This time I was accosted by a very strange bloke…..’ I hardly like to mention this but you are not allowed to bring dogs on the Moss'……I am. I replied. And I’ve got a map to prove it!……He kept waffling away till I said I’d had enough and would he leave me alone. You’ll be hearing more about this was his parting comment…..I was in the shop paying for seeds when in he came to report me. I was on the ball….quicker than lightening and sharp as a razor!. I said in a loud voice to the young lady counting out my change….’There he is…there’s the paedophile that’s been stalking me…..you know! The nutter I was just telling you about…..He was gone in a flash, no doubt off to annoy someone on Facebook.

Never a dull moment on Leighton Moss…..It’s so good I’m coming back next week for a fortnight.

It was a long walk home……I got chatting to the gamekeeper and the farmers wife and by the time I'd had a cup of tea the sun was setting…..Murmaration time.

  I’ve always walked down to the reserve before but after yesterdays mediocre display I decided to watch from the field next to the camper.

  What a show the Starlings put on………..I know it’s not good for them but for a super display one needs a Sparrow hawk or two in the mix.

  On top form they were…………

   They even got round to creating an image of a Humming Bird.

  No sooner have they started than it’s all over and down they go into the reeds and to bed. There are reportedly eighty thousand of them….how one would go about counting I don’t know. Tonight they flew directly overhead and the flock is only a few birds deep vertically….maybe ten or so. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of the sight and sound of them.

I have lots more images from today so will post a part two in the morning before heading to Ingleton.

Have a good Sunday.