RSPB Leighton Moss

Inspired to visit this reserve en route to the Lakes after seeing the spoonbills in Kathb’s journal - thanks Kath. I really liked this reserve, it has a real sense of well-cared-for-ness together with a good ambience, and although the weather was overcast with intermittent rain and the spoonbills were hiding their bills we had a day full of wonderful birds.
The buzz around the reserve was definitely centred on the fledging Marsh Harriers and we were lucky enough to see one of the juveniles from the 7 metre high sky tower (lottery funded facility - with great views) - it’s in the first extra, along with the Marsh Tit another new bird to us.
After lunch in the cafe - excellent cake! - we drove over to the estuary site, a short distance away, to see the spoonbills. Three sleeping spoonbills never budged in the good hour we were there, but so much to see from the Eric Morcambe Hide, delighted to have close views of a pair of avocet, what beautiful birds, godwit, redshank, egret - all in the second extra, sleeping spoonbill middle row left - might have another attempt to see the spoonbills bills on the way home!