RSPB Leighton Moss

Over the weekend, I went to RSPB Leighton Moss with a friend. It was their birthday get-away.
Besides the weather, we had great fun and saw quite alot considering it was late October and the hype of summer was long gone.

We went up on Friday evening and stayed in a cute little b&b called Plantation Cottage. There are only 2 rooms in the b&b which surprisingly wasn't awkward. We almost had our own personal service!

Bright and early on Saturday morning, we had a full English breakfast, cereal, toast, coffee and the trimmings and went straight out to the reserve.
It was incredibly misty!

But that didn't stop the wildlife from getting on with their day!
I never realised how large swans were until I saw them flying across the lake...

The picture isn't great but they were moving and there was alot of mist!

After a few hours moving from hide to hide, we started to feel a bit peckish. We headed back to the visitor centre and browsed their menu in the cafe. We weren't particularly hungery after such a large breakfast, so we settled for a fruit scone each!

The were delicious!
Near the visitor centre was a Huge viewing platform.

It was massive!
And the views were quite spectacular considering the mist was still lingering.

Down the path from the platform was a rather large spacious hide. This was the best spot to see the very elusive water rail, which is a small wading bird who's call sounds just like a squealing pig.

Soon it was too dark for us to do see much, so we headed back to the b&b.
Down the road from the b&b was a pub called The Ship Inn. We jokingly called them The Ship Out as they were out of most things on their menu!
Besides that, the food was very tasty!

Before leaving the Plantation Cottage Sunday morning, we waved goodbye to comfy room...

and the handsome looking horse!

On Sunday, we thought we would investigate the other hides RSPB Leighton Moss managed. These hides were overlooking morecambe bay a mile or so down the road from the main reserve.

We were hoping to watch the tide come in but it turns out, we were completely in the wrong place!

It looks bare of wildlife but trust me, it was full of it!
I must admit, they do have some very nice hides!

Discovering there were no free parking spaces in the reserve car park, we went up to Eaves Wood for a bit of a wander. It was an incredibly peaceful wood, the air filled with birdsong.

Heading back to the reserve, hoping to find a parking space, our patience was rewarded; there was only 1 available space!

Failing to see the Beaded tits on Saturday, we tried again...

However, it was a bit late in the day so we never did see them.
Sunday was the same as Saturday; same hides, same birds but a completely different adventure!

Price of my Pig

Yesterday, I went ceilidh dancing with 3 other friends, it was great fun having so many people go along!

Of course, ceilidh is a very energetic dance and if you are unfit or simply small like me, it can be very exhausting work trying to keep up!

Occasionally, it was good to simply sit out the odd dance to catch your breath and listen to the band. This month, it was a band called Price of my Pig!

As usual, during the interval, the raffle prizes were brought out, pints of lemonade were bought, alongside the raffle tickets.
We thought we had no chance of winning but yellow ticket number 48 was pulled out of the bag and it was at last our turn to pick a prize!

The most obvious prize was the pig stack door stop. Obviously brought in by the band as a joke!

After the last dance, the band continued to play and anyone who wanted to carry on dancing, free-styled!

Adel Dam and the Golden acre

Today, I went to Yorkshires Wildlife Trusts, Adel Dam Nature Reserve.
It's a diddy little reserve, adjoining onto The golden Ache, just outside of Leeds.

But first, my friend and I needed to make my way to the reserve. It appears that on any pleasant day, a large proportion of Leeds residents flock there...

There were some lovely area's though, like this view from a bridge over a small lake.

Or this wooded path.

Eventually, we found our way to the reserve.

It was very peaceful and quiet, away from all the screaming children running throughout the woodland and open fields of the Golden Ache.

There were some fun pathways dotted around this small area of wilderness!

At a small hide, hidden away in the trees, we were able to watch the birds feeding alongside a pond.

Nothing came to the pond but I'm sure during spring, there will be ducklings swimming around!

Soon, it was time for lunch! Fortunately, there was a small cafe in the grounds of the Golden Ache so that's where we went!
I had a MASSIVE hot dog with fried onions. It was delicious!

Still being a bit peckish afterwards, we had a small pudding. I bought a large cookie, whilst my friend got a magnificent slice of carrot cake.

I nibbled a bit off whilst they weren't looking!

After lunch, we went for a proper walk round Golden Ache itself. In the heart of the park, is a large lake filled with black headed gulls in the winter plumage.
There was a kingfisher or two fishing round the edge of the lake near to where we were stood. They were magical to watch; a flash of blue darting from the bare branches of the trees!

We tried to avoid the main footpaths. Sometimes, the more interesting sights of nature can be seen when no one is looking!

It was interesting seeing what was overlooked. Dog owners on their phones, missing the opportunity to witness what wildlife their dog may startle. Or even what is beneath their very feet!

Tree stumps and compost heaps filled with fungi!
Simply wonderful!