A day off and wall to wall sunshine forecast so I decided to have a day out.  The options were limited but with Leighton Moss and the Silverdale area offering Water Pipit, Jack Snipe, Hawfinch, Ring-necked Duck and a Great Northern Diver it was almost certainly the place to choose.  I was going to stop off to see the Great Northern Diver first at Pine Lake but the rather cold temperatures and arrival at sunrise was a great and rare combination to see the nature reserve in its golden winter splendor.  In fact, the temperature was 1 degree cooler here than in Rossendale and the M6 near Preston.  

First stop was straight up the Sky Tower whose steps were icy.  The view looked fabulous with the golden reed beds and icy blue waters bathed in the early morning sun.  I could see and hear dozens of Teal causing a commotion as the sun rose.   Mute Swan, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Graylag, Little Grebe, Snipe, Marsh Harrier and a Grey Wagtail were all on view and very active.    I wandered off to the Causeway hide to see the view from there where along the way I encountered Bullfinch, cooing Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch and Siskin in the trees.  A very good view of a Cettis Warbler didnt result in a photograph and the Water Rails just squealed from the reedbeds never showing today.

From the Causeway Hide Gadwall showed in front of the hide.  Moorhen, Coot, 31 Mute Swans, Cormorants, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe enjoyed the water body.  The Ring-Necked Duck was very far away sadly but it is probably a returning bird from previous years.  Out of nowhere 1 of the 2 other men sat in the hide shouted Bittern and one flew across right to left.  Would I have further luck?

A Great Black Backed Gull had a stained red beak.  It looks liked it had a good feed and arrived at its island behaving calling.  It was claiming its spot for the spring.  Other signs of spring included calling Skylark, Oystercatchers and Curlews over the Causeway hide, Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, Greenfinch wheezing and a Bittern or 3 tuning up.  Song Thrush, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock were in song too.  

I headed off to Gait Barrows In search of Hawfinch.  Flocks of Hawfinch were showing very well apparently., I bumped into a Leighton Moss regular had he had seen 4 but after 20 attempts.   It wasnt long before I managed to spot 2 in flight but I wanted a better view.  I came across my first singing Goldcrest too.  The next 3 hours I spent walking around Gait Barrows first to Haweswater where a female Goosander landed.  Teal, Water Rail could be heard.   There were many Bullfinches encountered on the visit.  I shifted my search to the Limestone pavements which were beautiful and unique and after 3 hours I decided to head back to Leighton Moss.

I stopped off at the Morecambe and Allen Hides where a Jack Snipe was pointed out to me on arrival.  It bobbed up and down on an island.  Shelduck, Grey heron, Wigeon, Shoveler, Black Tailed Godwit, Redshank, Lapwing, Snipe were seen here.

Back off to the Main Reserve and straight to the café which was very busy.  A cup of tea and a chocolate orange cake with cream was a well-deserved treat.  

I headed to the Grizedale where Water Pipits were seen but not today.  Another walk around to see if anything else could be seen and luckily a Marsh Tit showed.  At Lillians hide someone mentioned the 2 Red Deer showing at Jackson Hide.  I replied I was told nothing was there so decided not to stop.  I was advised not to go back that way because as soon as I'd arrive someone would say "there were Red Deer on view 30 seconds ago!"    Strangely I missed any Egrets today and the only bird of prey species seen were Marsh Harriers.  I had 30 minutes but decided to stay on the reserve.  The Great Northern diver would have to wait until next time.   

Canada Goose

Graylag

Pink Footed Geese

Mute Swan

Shelduck

Gadwall

Shoveler

Wigeon

Mallard

Pintail

Teal

Pochard

Tufted Duck

Ring Necked Duck

Goosander

Pheasant

Feral Pigeon

Woodpigeon

Collared Dove

Coot

Moorhen

Great Crested Grebe

Little Grebe

Oystercatcher

Lapwing

Black Tailed Godwit

Curlew

Snipe

Jack Snipe

Black Headed Gull

Herring Gull

Lesser Black Backed Gull

Great Black Backed Gull

Bittern

Grey heron

Marsh harrier

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Jay

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

Raven

Coal Tit

Blue Tit

Great tit

Marsh Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Skylark

Cettis Warbler

Goldcrest

Nuthatch

Treecreeper

Wren 

Starling

Mistle Thrush

Fieldfare

Blackbird

Song Thrush

Redwing

Robin

House Sparrow

Dunnock

Pied Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

Chaffinch

Hawfinch

Bullfinch

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Siskin

Reed Bunting