A few pics from Leighton Moss today

Started off at the salt marshes this morning where we met up with Jim x 2   !!     We were lucky enough to be there when the first Avocets arrived on reserve this year although a little distant so had to hard crop these shots......   there were four Avocets amongst the Lapwing flock but only managed to get either one or three in same pic...

There were numerous ducks and waders around although some were distant for camera lenses ...... however, the Pintail and Goosander came a bit closer .....

Mrs Pintail ......

Goosander who'd just returned from the hairdressers .......   looking very smart 

On to the main reserve and an obliging Treecreeper posed for the camera ...............   it is there each day by one of the feeding logs

showing that specially curved bill which can seek out insects in the crevices ....... 

At Grisedale hide there were 4 Great Egrets showing, some more distant than others but they kept taking off and coming back again !

Almost colliding in the air as they followed one another ...............…     unfortunately the sun was straight in front of the lens ...

and what a strange shape they look sometimes as they peer downwards  !.............    like an arrow aiming at a target 

Someone was perched distantly in one of the trees  .....................  !

then she took flight ......                    hard cropped but she is a beauty of a bird 

Great Egret's smaller grumpy cousin was on Grisedale pools too complaining bitterly when other egrets came close to his area 

but it wasn't going to take on the big brother 

A lovely snipe came out into the open 

Goodbye G.Egret as it headed off towards the salt marsh to join the others ...........