Elusive bitterns

When we were in Australia, one of the pictures I took was this one. Just leaves under a multi stemmed (rooted?) tree you might think.

Having arrived back in the UK the pictures were perused  in more detail and we were amazed to find that a snake had been lurking in the leaves that I had been nonchalantly thrashing around in!

It was while we were wandering in Leighton Moss at the weekend that Q remembered this wild life spotting technique and wondered if we could apply it to our (so far) totally ineffectual efforts to actually see one of the reserve's famous inhabitants, the bittern. That we have failed to see a lot more of the reserve's inhabitants seems insignificant in comparison to our lack of tick against the bittern box.

So ... the idea was that we take LOTS of pictures of the bittern's natural habitat (reeds, reeds and more reeds) and then come home and scrutinise the results for that give-away profile.

Hmmm. it doesn't seem to have worked, or else we are not looking closely enough.  That said, we did as always have a great time.

Spotter or birder?

We went to Leighton Moss yesterday and just as we got into the hide we heard the magic words "bittern to the right, flying over the field". The bittern is one of those birds which is exceedingly elusive, and each time we go to the reserve Q is desperate to find one.  I failed to see any wings of any sort, bitterns or otherwise, Q said she saw a brown blur in the appropriate place, but then rather blew her ornithological knowledge by whispering to me that she didn't realise they could actually fly. Luckily no one else in the hide heard her comment as we were in the company of EXPERTS. The two bittern spotters each had lenses the size of small sheds and as they left to see if they could follow the flight of the bittern a derisory voice was heard saying "Spotters! pah, they're not birders; you need binoculars, not a camera to watch birds properly". We didn't have our binoculars; but even if we had remembered them, they would not  have passed muster  in such erudite company. We did have our cameras, but again our paltry lenses couldn't put us in any spotters' league. Anyway we don't really spot let alone identify  many birds unless they stay still for about 5 minutes.

The robins of Leighton Moss are not at all camera shy and are willing little posers. The top left robin was flitting about near the reed beds and came and ate food out of one of the visitor's hands.




The marsh tit was a first - luckily for us there was an identification board right near the picnic table.

It's a long time since I have seen a greenfinch.

The reasons for the cages around some of the feeders became apparent!

Leighton Moss

An outing to the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss on Saturday, a glorious day for us to attempt to hone our bird watching skills. First stop however, the coffee shop in order to gather our strength to make attempts to mingle in with the experts. We don't need giant L plates on our backs, our junior status as budding birders is evident from our lack of state of the art and enormous equipment; cameras and spotting scopes with lenses so large that we would require sherpas if we were to cope. Some of the camoflauged equipment toted around looks as if it comes with its own built in hide and tea making facilities. 

After coffee we make off to the feeder area. A great spot for children, and fantastic for us as we can learn by osmosis as birds at the feeders are identified by knowledgeable parents. This experience can become heightened when rather large rats encroach on the rejected seeds tossed out by the birds. Though yesterday, no rats, just some rather self satisfied looking pheasants and ducks scrabbling about.

Then onwards to one of the many hides in the reserve and a slow meander through trees and a glimpse of a coal tit.

Wandering along the reed beds as the camera shy bittern totally eluded us, a robin willing to pose and, importantly, sit still, came to the rescue.

Into a hide and a quick recce to determine the best bench for least disturbance. Finding one next to a window already open is always a plus, otherwise you risk crashing the hinged window at that crucial moment when some exceedingly rare bird is being watched by those aficionados with the mega lenses. (Oh... and do remember to switch that mobile phone off....)

Ideally, it is best to have the place to yourself, that way you can misidentify birds with aplomb and bring out your I Spy Birds book without fear of derision.