Moorhen

Leighton Moss

It was a bit of a dull day, so I've brightened this up a little, while staying true to the colours of the moorhen.

I had a quick visit to Leighton Moss after work. Sand martins have arrived in force, there were hundreds of birds catching insects over the lagoons and reedbeds. That's 111 on the 2011 year list.

Then as I was walking back up the causeway, my eye was caught by the erratic flight of a raptor. It was a female marsh harrier, and then there was a second bird, a male. They were engaged in an aerial ballet, displaying to one another, rising and plunging and flying loops. Spectacular and a great end to the week - and number 112 on the year list.