It’s a beautiful sunny day at Leighton Moss and there’s a definite autumn chill in the air. Autumn is the time of year when the red deer get ready to rumble as their annual rut takes place in October. Visitor Paul Yates was out on the reserve early this morning and shared his wildlife experiences with me as he wrote in the sightings book back at the visitor centre afterwards.
Paul had gone down to Griesdale hide at first light. From across the tranquil reeds and pools he heard a stag roaring, how magical! Whilst watching the wildlife, he and a few other “early birders” saw a couple of otters about 9.00 am. One was grooming itself out in the open sunshine and another, a larger otter, was seen wrestling a very large eel that it had caught!
On leaving Griesdale hide and walking back up the trail, Paul saw a bearded tit but something wasn’t right. This little bird was flapping about at the top of the reeds. It became apparent that it was stuck. It wasn’t far from the path into the reedbed but Paul did not have wellies on. Luckily, another visitor, who came by wearing wellies, managed to reach the bird and rescue it. Unfortunately the reeds had got caught in its leg rings. They removed the flowering reed heads and released the bird immediately. Paul assures me that it flew away strongly, seemingly none the worse for its ordeal. We will inform John Wilson of what happened. John’s our man who monitors the bearded tits at Leighton Moss.
Well, this is my last blog as I am leaving Leighton Moss. I’ve had a wonderful wildlife experience here myself! It’s been a pleasure writing the blogs for you and following nature’s story through spring and summer. I’ve also enjoyed the many other fantastic opportunities in the visitor officer intern’s role too such as radio interviews, external events and of course welcoming all the visitors through our front door at the visitor centre! I will be sad to leave this beautiful place, not just Leighton Moss but the surrounding areas of Silverdale, Arnside, Warton Crag and Morecambe Bay too. It’s a special place that I hope to come back to and I’m already thinking of next year’s holidays! I’ve been really lucky to call Leighton Moss my home for six months.
However, a new adventure lies just around the bend: I will be going on to do the second half of my internship at RSPB Coombes Valley near Leek in Staffordshire until March next year and I’m looking forward to this.
So, that’s all folks, from me.
Thanks for following!
Audrey