I must start this with a full front page apology after using "cake o clock" with out reference Craggy, who inspired my usage in my last report.  I received a legal writ by text.  

It has been a whopping 16 months since I had last visited Leighton Moss, the biggest gap since I have started birding "properly." "Properly" might be a debatable adverb to some with my list of plastic bags and other junk.  I first visited  Leighton Moss in August 2005, then May 2009, February 2010, October 2010  and then more regular.  In 2013 and 2014 probably visited nearly every month. It can have more often than not dull days but the good days can be superb and uncomparable to anywhere else in Lancashire.  

I had arrived at the Eric Morecambe complex and the Black Headed Gull colony was noisy.  Chicks of various ages were present but within minutes of my arrival they were under attack by their larger relatives.  Lesser Black Backed Gulls would swoop down and snatch a chick and either just swallow it mid air or take it to the side to be dunked in water and swallowed.  A Great Black Backed Gull swam across from one island totally unfazed by the dive bombing adult Black Headed Gulls and ransacked the island.  It just picked "things" up and swallowed, small chicks and eggs just downed.  The adult Black Headed Gulls were furious but they could not really do much as their brutal larger relative searched and swallowed.  I am not sure how many nests had been obliterated but the worst was yet to come.  A ready to fledge juvenile was caught, killed and then left there as the Black Headed Gull adults finally drove the Brute off.  I saw an adult Blacki Headed Gull drive a chick into vegetation so it would be saved.   There were no wader chicks, I guess we may have the answer to why not.  A couple of Marsh Harriers came into the colony and also took some young.   I decided not to stay longer than 3 hours as wherever I go I see predators taking eggs and small chicks.  I feel like the grim reaper for nesting birds.    

I had arrived just after 12 and it was 3.  Panic mode as cake o clock could see me consume a silver medal cake rather than the gold!  A Mediterranean Gull, Little gull and in the distance 3 Spoonbill sleeping were the main stars.  Avocet, Redshank, Lapwing, approx 40 Bar Tailed Godwits and 140min Knot also arrived with the hightide and 200 plus Black Tailed Godwits. 

On arrival at the main site I had my butties in the cafe followed a hot drink and a mint tiffin type thing.  First stop was the Sky Tower and the views were glorious over the reserve.  The various wetland warblers were in song.

Walking to the Grisedale Hide I bumped into someone I saw at Martin Mere at the end of the day but didn't talk to.  He was distinct and he he remembered seeing me too.  He was visiting from California and headed off to the Lakes, Yorkshire over the next week so I gave him some tips.  He had missed the Mediterranean Gulls at Martin Mere and would have liked to see The Corn Buntings at Curlew lane but alas it wasn't to be.  We watched an Osprey as we talked and heard Bearded Tits ping but never showed.  A Reed Warbler would show very well too.  He was lucky enough to have seen a Marsh Tit on sites.  I caught side of a Hobby! 

On to the Jackson and Grisedale Hides where a Great Egret displayed partial summer plumage or had just come out as it's beak was half yellow and black.  An Osprey fished successfully and sat on the dead tree but the adult Great Black Backed Gulls nesting on a platform nearby drove it away.  The platform was built for Osprey's to nest so talk about some serious gaslighting!   The Osprey would rarely land there.  

 Onto Lillians and a family of Mute Swans looked pretty in the late afternoon sun.  I could hear an occasional Bittern boom but not seen one yet today.    Onto the Public and the Lower Hides , and in the middle of the 2 hides I came across a young Red Deer Stag feeding which was metres away from me.  What a day t was so far!   Probably one of the best Leighton Moss visits ever I have experienced and I stayed on until after 8pm.   

Mute Swan

Greylag

Canada Geese

Shelduck

Pochard

Tufted Duck

Shoveler

Gadwall

Mallard

Teal

Pheasant

Little Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Collared Dove

Woodpigeon

Feral Pigeon

Water Rail

Moorhen

Coot

Avocet

Oystercatcher

Curlew

Black Tailed Godwit

Bar Tailed Godwit

Knot

Lapwing

Redshank

Little Gull

Black Headed Gull

Mediterranean Gull

Lesser Black Backed Gul 

Herring Gull

Great Black Backed Gull

Cormorant

Little Egret

Great Egret

Grey Heron

Bittern heard only

Spoonbill

Marsh Harrier

Buzzard

Osprey

 Kestrel

Hobby

Magpie

Jackdaw

Rook

Raven

Carrion Crow

Jay

Skylark

Sedge Warbler

Reed Warbler

 Cetti's Warbler

Blackcap

Whitethroat

Willow Warbler

Chiffchaff

House Martin

Sand Martin

Swallow

Wren

 Starling

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Blackbird

Robin

Stonechat

Dunnock

House Sparrow

Pied Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

Chaffinch

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Linnet

Reed Bunting

 Bearded Tit

great Tit

Blue Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Treecreeper

Nuthatch

Great Spotted Woodpecker