From Lillian's Hide All eyes were intent on snipe, closest to the hide but camouflaged in reed-stubble. Water-birds were hunkered-down, roosting and preening. A peaceful scene, then whoosh- up they went in a moment of panic. Alighting on the water, they became distinct. Courtship pairs in their best breeding plumage; pintail, gadwall, wigeon, shoveller and mallard. White feathers drifted on the water where it met the reeds, discards from preening.
The boom of bittern drifts over the reed-beds, not loud but audible. It's the warmest day of the year, so far this spring. Green woodpecker are vocal. I love woodland as winter transitions into spring, with the coming of tree-flowers. Leighton Moss is wetland habitat so there are alder, willow and birch trees. I find a sole willow with catkins gleaming white but not yet open. Many are yet to come. Birch catkins are later too but the trees are glorious with silvery trunks and a crown of amethyst. Alder show in infinite variety. Often, mature trees have a purplish hue, with a crown dense with catkins that flower later than hazel. But bright sunlight shows a cluster of mature alder looking more golden. I always hope to find siskin feeding amidst alder cones and the trees show last summer's cones bursting open, new male catkins with some already opening, beside small, discreet female catkins. They show against a foil of blue sky, deeper blue fading to ice-blue.
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