Hello folks, well, Jim, Mike and I made it back to Cumbria and Leighton Moss although somebody ! overslept and then got delayed on the wretched M6 due to an accident that closed the lanes Northbound and it ended up taking Jim 4 hours to get there from North of Manchester arriving around noon; meanwhile, Mike and I managed to beat the closure although traffic was quite heavy generally. We arrived just before 9am and did a quick inspection of the reserve by reception area to assess the water levels ...........before heading straight back to the car for our wellies !! To put it simply, water was higher than the bad storm two years ago and you couldn't get far unless you had the wellies. Once pathways, they had now become wide canals !! Swans were swimming up the footpaths and wetland intermingled with pathways so you had to ensure you stuck to the middle of the path for fear of dropping into the wetland LOL However, we managed pretty well and whenever there is a challenge there is always plenty of jocularity to be had especially when forumates meet up !
Without further ado here are a few photos to start off this thread; Jim will add his too and we will put them up in batches so not to overload you all !
First, an idea of the flooded paths, deeper in some parts than others and we didn't attempt to go to the far hide (Lower Hide) as we heard it would be over your wellies !
Just quick snaps taken on my mobile ............ This is the path by the feeding logs not far from Sky Tower
the turn off for Tim Jackson or Grisedale Hides
Towards Grisedale Hide
Two unnamed lunatics on the Causeway lol
Swans thinking the public pathway was a river lol
Feeding log area heading towards Sky Tower and reception
always plenty of robins to feed so we had taken mealworms and a mixed bag of peanuts, sun-hearts, suet pellets, kibbled nuts and mixed seed for the Mallards
the birds at the far end of the reserve were eager to have a share of the food - being flooded everywhere, I could only find the wooden bench suitable to put down some bird food
some would knock others off the bench to get to the food lol
ok that will do for now, I just wanted to set the scene and will add more later - over to you Jim !!
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Regards, Hazel
I think the Robin with attitude is pleading for tiny wellies. I was with you two years ago when the water levels were high but not this bad. I recall that many of the Robins were displaced from their territories because of the water and as a result were packed into tiny areas causing lots of disputes. This must be far worse for them. You should have a kilo of mealies delivered to reception!
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
Good stuff, Hazel. I like the comparison between the Marsh Tit and The Coal Tit.
Hope you have another good day in the floods and the cold. LOL
BTW Cattle Egret.
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Tony
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