Leighton Moss Bearded Reedlings

Bearded Reedlings or more commonly known as Bearded Tits, have over the last couple of days been appearing regularly at the grit trays located near the causeway hide at Leighton Moss Reserve, North Lancashire. With a weather forecast for a sunny morning and good light I thought I’d have a trip out and photograph these specialised reed birds that are only seen locally in any great numbers at this RSPB reserve. 

In order to photograph these birds you need to be in place just after sunrise as within an hour or so they soon disperse around the reserve. Arriving a little later than I intended, there are about ten or so people already watching two birds on the tables filling up with grit before they start looking for food, they use grit to help with digesting their main food source, seeds of the Common Reed Grass. 

Soon the unmistakable metallic “ching” call of a party of reedlings can be heard floating over the reserve, a group appear over the causeway path and they dive into the reeds next to the grit trays, this is when the best photo ops can present themselves as they jump back and forth between the reeds and the trays....but you’ve got to be quick to get an uncluttered reed shot.

Its now 10.15 am and the Bearded Tits have move away further into the reserve, I’ve shot over three hundred images in a period of just over fifteen minuets, its quite and hopefully I’ve managed to capture some images, which I have, so I decide to call time and visit the remainder of the reserve. 

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