On Friday we progressed northwards on the M5 much like a snail would, on account of a succession of roadworks and heavy traffic. After 7 hours we arrived at the Plough Inn at Lupton, not far from Morecambe Bay.
On Saturday we went to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve. The reed beds were bright green.
We watched marsh harriers, five at a time, and adult and young whitethroats. Lots of reed warblers. An osprey circled high above.
We had to be careful not to squash tiny froglets and toadlets that were crossing the path – hundreds of them.
Then we went to the Morecambe Bay reserve, just down the road, and saw the black-headed gull colony, where there was lots of territorial squabbling among the gulls, and some avocets.
Things seen on Saturday:
marsh harrier
osprey
heron
black-tailed godwit
lapwing
avocet
redshank
oystercatcher
curlew
water rail
moorhen
coot
black-headed gull and young
shelduck
shovelers
gadwall
tufted duck
little grebe
great-crested grebe
greylag goose
mute swan
cormorant
little egret
marsh tit
great tit
bluetit
reed bunting
sedge warbler
whitethroat
willow warbler
reed warbler
tree creeper
nuthatch
great spotted woodpecker
bullfinch
goldfinch
pheasant
swift
swallow
pied wagtail
dunnock
robin
blackbird
woodmouse
rabbit