Redshank

For today's trip out, we visited RSPB Leighton Moss. It's just over an hour away, but we hoped it would be worth the journey.
What we didn't realise what that there had been a sighting of a Purple Heron, quite a rarity in these parts, so the reserve was busy, and Grisedale Hide was PACKED with serious birders. We only stayed about 15 minutes - patience is not my strong point, and we wouldn't have been able to see anyway there were so many people crammed in there!

Despite this minor setback, we continued our wander around the reserve and came upon some nice birds - marsh tit, juvenile wren and some sort of warbler I assume. And we watched an otter playing in the water and feeding for quite some time - just too distant for any decent shots though - that would have been my blip, had they been acceptable.
After a light lunch we went out to the Eric Morcambe Hide and saw a few more regulars - redshank, oystercatcher, white egret, cormorant, lapwing and a nice Merlin was around hunting, but it was very far away.

Overall, it was a lovely day and we got home just before the rain started, so that was a bonus.

I have a busy few weeks coming up - Sweden next week, a weekend with the in-laws in London over the BH, India, Croatia and then back to Sweden. Crikey, that's a lot isn't it!?  Oh well, I'm sure it will be fine  - off to do some packing. Hope to do some commenting later on this evening.