Bittern #54

Our first day in the Lakes and we dropped in at RSPB Leighton Moss on the way up. I wanted to see a Bittern as now is the time that they are most visible with their feeding runs. 
The volunteers were out in force doing a bittern survey trying to determine just how many nests there might be onsite. Lower hide saw no sightings all morning and it seems like they were all over on the other reed bed at Barrow Scout. But we did see an osprey briefly and at some distance which was nice. 
After lunch we headed over to the other end of the reserve at Grisedale hide. Almost as soon as we arrived there was a cry of "bittern", but I couldn't focus on it in time - drat! 
We stayed another hour and the volunteer I spoke to was about to leave and joked that there would probably be a bittern along in a few minutes and that's exactly what happened!  I feel quite sorry for her as she'd been onsite for nearly 8 hours and hadn't see one all day. She arrived after us so missed the first one. 

Met up with Mum and brother this evening for a lovely meal, but the weather looks set to rain all day tomorrow - well we are in the Lake after all :) 

After managing to just about catch up with your journals these past couple of days, I'll now probably be falling behind again whilst we are away, but will hopefully catch up again soon after we get back, Please bear with me.