RSPB Leighton Moss & Garden Blue Tits

Took a trip up to Leighton Moss to hopefully get some nice shots of the Marsh Harriers, a real frustrating trip as no matter where I went they were always out of range, so only managed record distant shots. Although I did witness a male and female mating and got some shots from a distance. But it was a lovley morning at one of my favourite places, saw and heard lots of warblers, Chiff Chaffs, Blackcaps, and got a nice clear shot at a singing Sedge Warbler.





A distant shot of a pair of Marsh Harriers mating, the first couple are the male approaching the awaiting female on a low tree





Landed and doing the 'business'



Job done and they are both back in the air



Spent a while watching a family of Greylags



Very cute goslings



A nice shot of a Greylag in the yellow iris



But it was the Harriers I wanted to capture and it was frustrating they never came in to range







Part 2 of this post, is the start of Operation Blue Tit, i have a pair of Blue Tits that have nested in a box on the back of the house. Over the coming weeks before they fledge I want to try and get some nice shots of them coming in to the box and leaving. My first attempt was in not so ideal conditions, a little gloomy which meant a high iso to achieve a fast shutter speed, but hopefully I will get some nice bright days to get some crisper shots..... watch this space

While the adults were away from the nest, had a quick check and was nicely surprised



Air brakes on as it nears the hole







Leaving with a poo sack



Coming in with a nice juicy catapillar



Meant to add the shots are through the conservatory window which does detract from the quality.

The Roof of England

My latest walk up in the Lake District was a monster one, about 13 miles with 4500ft of ascent across the roof of England, from Seathwaite I walked the Corridor Route up onto Lingmell, then up Lords Rake and the West Wall Traverse onto Scafell, then across to Scafell Pike. A cracker of a walk, in glorious weather, shorts and T Shirt all the way.

Early morning looking up Grains Gill



Stockley Bridge



Looking across Styhead Gill to Lingmell and Scafell Pike



Waterfalls on Styhead Gill, with Great End in the Background



Styhead Tarn



Lingmell and Piers Gill from the Corridor Route path



Great Gable across an un-named tarn



Lingmell across the same tarn



Looking back from the top of Lingmell to the Corridor route and Styhead tarn in the distance



the northern face of Scafell from the path beneath Pike Crags



Wastwater from the same point



At the foot of Lords Rake



The large chockstone is still wedged at the top



Looking back down Lords Rake



Lots of loose boulders in the Rake, scary!!



Scafell Pike from the West Wall Traverse



Surprisingly still some snow and ice in Deep Ghyll



Some big rocks in Deep Ghyll waiting to slide down, thankfully not while i was in there!!



Out the top of Deep Ghyll, looking back down



Wastwater and Burnmoor tarn from the top of Scafell



The valley of Mosedale from the top of Scafell



Scafell Pike from a very dry Foxes Tarn



Looking back at Scafell from the climb to the top of Scafell Pike



Scafell Pike summit trig point



Skiddaw and Blencathra in the distance from Scafell Pike



Great Gable and Kirk Fell from the descent of Scafell Pike



The north face of Great End and Central Gulley, a small patch of snow and ice still there, reminded me of when I ice climbed it a few winters ago



Waterfalls on Grains Gill



This was a lovely pool and waterfall, a bit warmer and I would have been in for a cooling dip



Lots of Spring Lambs at Seathwaite farm



So cute !!!

Nuthatch

I have somewhat neglected my blog over the last few months, as the Wildlife photography has unfortunately taken a bit of a back seat, but a few trips are planned over the coming months and I hope to get out and about a bit more so hopefully the pictures will apppear more often

I have been hopeful that I could attract nuthatches to my garden feeders as we are not far from woodland, so it was a nice surprise to see one feeding, and even better to grab some shots in the rather poor light.