Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Stumpy and Friends

 

After the recent downpours the weather gods smiled upon us and we decided to really push our luck and head north to Leighton Moss.

Basically Leighton Moss is a deservedly popular RSPB reserve located in one of the most wildlife rich areas of the country. However 99% of its visitor's appear to be blissfully ignorant and are happy to rush along from one hide to the next.

Following the hide based discussions I’m now an expert on the regeneration of Glasgow and bird-watching in Goa. Considering the amount of noise it’s surprising that 3 Otters, a Red Deer, an Osprey, 2 Marsh Harriers and 12 Greenshank hadn’t found somewhere quieter to go.

Other highlights included the Bladderwort flowering in one of the pools to the east of the causeway, Jew’s Ear fungi, a yet to be identified bizarre looking orange fungus and the partially parasitic Eyebright growing along the footpath edges

 

Jew's Ear fungi

Jew’s Ear fungi

Unknown fungi

Unidentified fungus

Eyebright

Eyebright

 

Later in the afternoon we decided to give the Morecambe bay hides a miss and headed over to Gait Barrows to catch up with the Common Lizards.

Common Lizard

Male Common Lizard

Common Lizard

Female Common Lizard

Common Lizard with regrown tail

Stumpy or the lizard that got away, shed its tail and grew another.

Immature Common Lizard

Young Common Lizard

Common Lizards

Female Common Lizard and young

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