Saltmarsh

I spent a couple of hours this morning at the saltmarsh reserve near RSPB Leighton Moss. When I arrived it was very quiet, and high water levels suggested that I wouldn’t see many birds. But then a hunting peregrine, which was spectacular to watch, had everything up on the main saltmarsh beyond the big pools, and large groups of waders fled towards the hide. It turned into a really good morning.

In the main image, there are five species of bird. Mainly redshank, with lapwing, starling, black tailed godwit, and a ruff.

In the extra, on the horizon, tractors and people way out towards the sea in Morecambe Bay cockle fishing. . It is almost exactly 20 years ago that 21 people from China, all here illegally, lost their lives cockle fishing out in the Bay. If you’re out cockle fishing here you’ve got to know your tides and the sands and have the right equipment.