Mike Chorley wrote:

---

Jonathan Platt wrote:

May be better to PM on this issue Rob, my fault for mentioning mammals on a birding forum!

Or continue on "Out of County" on the "Other Wildlife" thread. May be a minority of one but I find it quite interesting

---

Cheers guys, I've done exactly that

Jonathan Platt wrote:

May be better to PM on this issue Rob, my fault for mentioning mammals on a birding forum!

Or continue on "Out of County" on the "Other Wildlife" thread. May be a minority of one but I find it quite interesting

Rob Creek wrote:

---

Jonathan Platt wrote:

---

Worth keeping an eye out by Tim Jackson hide, there was a Stoat in partial ermine pelage when I was up there last week.

---

...a good sighting that Jonathan, I've seen one myself in that state (although not at L.Moss) and it is simply because the moult from full Ermine to familiar brown is alot slower in Spring than the reverse moult in Autumn due to the longer Photoperiod at this time of year.

---

I think it may be a little more complicated than that Rob. As I understand it temperature at the time of moult determines the extent of white in a Stoat's coat. Cool temps = less melanin produced = white coat. Fur is replaced unevenly during autumn moult, therefore varying temps can result in piedball individuals. White winter coats are also thought to be hereditary, and females are more likely to moult to ermine than males.

May be better to PM on this issue Rob, my fault for mentioning mammals on a birding forum!

Jonathan Platt wrote:

---

Worth keeping an eye out by Tim Jackson hide, there was a Stoat in partial ermine pelage when I was up there last week.

---

...a good sighting that Jonathan, I've seen one myself in that state (although not at L.Moss) and it is simply because the moult from full Ermine to familiar brown is alot slower in Spring than the reverse moult in Autumn due to the longer Photoperiod at this time of year.

Worth keeping an eye out by Tim Jackson hide, there was a Stoat in partial ermine pelage when I was up there last week.

Sunday visit in the quality company of Simon Gough.

This place never fails to produce some fantastic sightings including a Lifer for me, and a whole plethora of species including 16 of our Wildfowl
European White-fronted Goose - 5 (a Lifer for us both)
Couldn't see them at first as they were feeding just beyond one of the ridges at the end of the field near the level crossing. Thanks to the 2 birders who assured us there were at least 3 birds present. Turned out to be 5 and in the end we got some spectacular views.

Greylag Goose - lots of them allover the reserve
Canada Goose - a few around
Pink-footed Goose - a few tiny skeins over, plus 1 feeding with Greylag's near Siskin Wood.
One of the staff told us a Tundra Bean Goose had been reported but he thought it is probably confused with the single Pink-footed Goose that's with the Greylag's. I suspect there probably was a Tundra Bean present.
Mute Swan -
Shelduck -
Mallard -
Tufted Duck -
Wigeon -
Pochard - 12
Teal - we tried to sift through the vast numbers for the Green-winged but no luck
Shoveler -
Pintail - approx 8
Gadwall -
Goldeneye - 1m / 3f
Red-Breasted Merganser - 1 pair dropped in at Allen Hide
Black-tailed Godwits - lots of them 50+ (Allen Hide)
Avocet - 15 (Allen Hide)
Dunlin - approx 8 (Allen Hide)
Spotted Redshank - 1 beautiful bird at Allen Hide
Redshank - quite a few about
Oystercatcher - quite a few around and very vocal
Curlew - 20+ in fields near the Geese
Lapwing - plenty about
Common Snipe - 12 (Lilian's Hide)
Great Crested Grebe
Little Egret - 10-15
Grey Heron - 3
Cormorant - of note 2 striking adults in breeding plumage infront of Public Hide right next to...
...2 Great Black-backed Gulls (2 also at Allen Hide)
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2
Herring Gull - a few about
Common Gull - 1 on a post infront of Lilian's Hide
Black-headed Gull - uncountable
Marsh Harrier - around 5 or 6 sightings, at least 3 individuals due to colouration differences
Sparrowhawk - 1 being tailed by a Jackdaw and a few small birds
Kestrel - 1
Common Buzzard - at least 6
1 of which was being guided away by a Raven, infact we thought it was 2 Buzzard at first
Plenty of Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie
Jay - 1
Mistle Thrush - 2
Song Thrush - 1
Fieldfare - approx 50-60 in field near the Geese
Redwing - approx 20 with the Fieldfare
(1 Redwing in shrubbery near Lilian's Hise)
Lots of Blackbird and Robin - including Simon's new hand fed friend
Marsh Tit - at least 6 individuals, 3 together near the car park feeding in brambles on railway embankment then 3 singles in various parts of reserve
Lots of Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit
Few Long-tailed Tit
Skylark - 8 then 2 over (calling)
Nuthatch - 1 in car park, 1 near feeding log
Treecreeper - 1 in Siskin Wood near Lower Hide
Lesser Redpoll - 2 together near the Treecreeper
Goldfinch and Chaffinch
House Sparrow - approx 10 in hedge along the Yealand Storrs road nearing reserve
Reed Bunting - some on feeders near Allen Hide, others on reserve
Goldcrest - 1
Wren - 2 seen, lots about
Dunnock - plenty about
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 on feeder near reception
Lots of friendly Pheasant
Starling - not many, probably 40-50 at most and not all at once

Plenty of other usuals including...Coot, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove and Feral Pigeon.
and Grey Squirrels and Common Rabbit

Never disappointed when we come here!

Birds heard only...
Green Woodpecker - heard 4 or 5 times near level crossing and near Lilian's Hide
Cetti's Warbler - plenty heard on reserve and near Allen Hide
Water Rail - 1 heard squealing near Public Hide
Possible Tawny Owl heard too near Causeway


-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 9th of March 2015 03:44:13 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 9th of March 2015 08:11:52 PM

Couple of hours first thing before heading home to do work . Most of the waders were hunkered down under the far bank at Allens Hide but good views of
Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Dunlin
Small number of Ruff with two individuals showing significant size variation.
Male & Female Red Breasted Merganser
10 plus Pintails

3 European White Fronted a Geese in amongst the Greylags near the level crossing.

On the main reserve
Green winged Teal showing brilliantly well from Grisedale Hide
11 Snipe
2 Marsh Harriers
Marsh Tit on the feeders
Treecreeper
Nuthatch
Bittern
Out at 7 back by 11

Treated myself to a day out here on Friday; an absolutely stunning day it was too, bright sunshine and blue skies all day. Otters showing well pretty much all morning from the public and lower hides (first time I've ever seen wild otter), and as for the bird life, 55 species seen, with some of the highlights being:

Public hide / lower hide / woodland areas:

3 marsh harrier (all female, showing well all day, but to see 3 together felt a treat)
snipe
shoveler
teal (lots)
gadwall
tufted duck
c30 fieldfare making a hell of a racket
marsh tit
great spotted woodpecker
the robin that joined me in the lower hide; sadly, I had no mealworm to give it.

treecreeper and more marsh tit in trees on walk from Lilian's hide, and more snipe and a male goldeneye to be seen from it.


Salt marshes:

reed bunting around the feeders, males coming into their summer plumage
pintail
wigeon
shelduck
1 little egret
a couple of hundred lapwing (probably more)
plenty of redshank (one of whom was embroiled in a mighty battle with a lugworm; very amusing)
curlew
dunlin
1 spotted redshank
stunning views of a greenshank, one of my favourite birds; utterly beautiful.

In one of the fields in the walk back to the main part of the reserve from the salt marshes was a flock of roughly 100 greylag geese, which also included:
2 pink-footed geese
1 bean goose

An unusually very quiet day, plus I didn't get round to the saltmarshes. Dispite this, still managed over 50 species including lesser redpoll, little egret, water rail, marsh harrier, goldcrests very close to 3ft (they sneaked up at my side while I was crouched down to take pictures of marsh tits), treecreeper, a very freindly nuthatch, common snipes, a common gull and a jay. All water levels were a tad higher then normal. Recently but not seen since Sunday was tree sparrows and firecrest. These are a very hit and miss from what I was told. Otters showed well through the day too. Ps. Not forgetting the 10% off the cafe if you use public transport to get there...

Bittern showing well from Public Hide
3 Water Rail near the bridge on the public Causeway and 2 further squealing elsewhere
Cetti's warbler - along causeway
4 Bearded Tit also along causeway
20 Snipe flew around public mere
2 Marsh tit and Great spotted Woodpecker - visitor centres

Good numbers of Greylag, Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall on the open water

Didn't get to the Salt Marsh as the road was closed at the level crossing (so the sign said)

Sunday 28th December from 9am-3pm 1+ Bittern showing well from the public hide at 9:45. It barely moved for a couple of hours giving great views for many. It then flew to the distant reedbeds at 2.30. Lifer for me :) 1f Bearded tit feeding at the grit tray at 2.40. Another lifer :) In addition: Fieldfare around car park Great Spotted woodpecker Marsh tit Marsh harrier Redshank Little egret Curlew Water Rail Red-breasted merganser Snipe Wigeon Nuthatch Treecreeper Shoveler Shelduck Teal Lapwing Reed Bunting Pink-footed goose Goldcrest Bullfinch 6 otter giving great views from lower hide, in 2 separate groups of 3.

Great and lengthy views of 3 Otters playing and fishing from Public Hide 9.45am ish this morning. Well worth a visit, really nice to see; one caught an eel that seemed almost as long as it was.

Bittern from Public Hide also.

1 m. Bearded Tit on Trays.

1 m Marsh Harrier over Causeway.

Not a great day for birds with nothing unusual for the site, but fantastic vies of up to 3 Otters from Lower and Public hides. Starling roost is building - certainly a sizeable flock now - and there was a bit of a display over the eastern end of the reserve, but over very quickly. Felt a bit sorry for the folks waiting on the footpath by the road who missed it all.

Bumper day at Leighton Moss 10am - 5.30pm. 55 species seen, 4 more heard only

Bearded Tit 9 - 3 males and 6 females/juveniles taking grit not from the trays but from the path
Bittern 2 from the Public Hide in different locations, one or the other showing well for all and one in flight
Water Rail 2 sometimes showing at the same time as the Bitterns
Marsh harrier 1 but more about according to others
Marsh Tit 2 (see em every day
)
Whooper Swans 9 over
Pink-footed Geese skein of 109 over

Mammals:
Otters 2, maybe 3 - my first ever!
Red Deer stag Griszedale hide
Rabbits in field near VC
Grey Squirrel
Martin Hughes-Games in a Land Rover coming down the Causeway

At Eric Morecombe/Allen Hide:

Red-breasted Merganser 3
Dunlin
Kingfisher
Pintail 12
Great White Egret

Thanks for this Rob. I was just wondering if we could document it as October records are always noteworthy. Most of the very late records on Heysham outfalls tend to be juv Arctics. Common Tern is like rocking horse dung up here these days in contrast to the significant spring Arctic passage

On past experience, I suspect at least one tern spp will appear on Heysham outfalls after Monday night's storm but it all depends on the track - we need a good dose of SW/W for the main target - Leach's Petrel. This autumn has been very unusual with a complete lack of onshore strong winds so far (today is still too southerly) - I've done no/had no incentive to do any seawatching at all!

Pete,
Just incase you weren't aware, Commic is an fairly old term used for unidentified Terns of COMMon / arctIC species, and to be honest it is still difficult even for experts with these 2 (I've got it wrong on many occasions) as there is some overlap between the tail fork /streamers, the bill colour, and the outer edge wing colours, all giving rise to ID confusion.

Out of interest though...
There was a possibility a few years back of a real COMMIC TERN in Weymouth. Apparently an Arctic Tern decided to set up territory in the Common Tern colony. It bred with a Common, the egg hatched but never fledged.

Pete Marsh wrote:

---

Thanks Steven
PMrsh123@aol.com

---

Pete, out & about at the moment so probably wont be until later this evening when I send it to you.

Thanks Steven
PMrsh123@aol.com

Pete Marsh wrote:

---

Hi Steven
Please could you elaborate on the tern spp. Thanks.

---

Hi Pete, if you send me your email address then I can send you the one & only pic I got as it flew away from me towards the sun.

Hi Steven
Please could you elaborate on the tern spp. Thanks.

all day here, 60 species seen.

1 marsh harrier
1 peregrine falcon
3-4 buzzard
2 kestrel
4 raven
1 bearded tit female, flew past me a couple of times across the causeway, several more heard even at 6pm, none seen on the grit trays
plenty of water rails heard all around, 1 seen from lillians hide.
tern species seen briefly over the causeway, put it down as a comic.
3-4 marsh tit
4 nuthatch
1 bullfinch
1 chiffchaff, singing
several tit flocks around containing the usual tits plus goldcrests
several snipe around & over, no signs of yesterdays jack snipe
no signs of any bitterns for me.

eric mocambe hide..

1 great white egret
10 dunlin
4 greenshank
hundreds of black tailed godwit
several redshank & lapwing
teal, wigeon & shoveler
2 stonechat along the fence line of the field before the car park

plus all the usuals around inc little egrets scattered around & going to roost.

A brief visit this morning mainly watching the Red deer at the Grizedale hide [5 stags and 9 hinds seen]. Also taking grit from the causeway were 9 Bearded tits with 2-3 more just in the reeds, down to 20' at one point and plenty of photo's were being taken by the small crowd watching. Great views of a Bittern from the public hide and again later over the causeway. Also just a bit further down the causeway from the public hide where the work was being done a large Otter ran across the flattened reeds and into the reedbed. Apart from the usual birds about I also saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Redwings, Goldcrest, Treecreeper and a Raven. A decent mornings visit.

Last minute decision to come here was a good one, met some nice people here yet again, and some familiar faces, non forum members I think. Thick fog virtually all the way from Denton to Lancaster (and various parts of the reserve you could see was foggy on approach) but soon cleared and brightened up, managed a reserve time of 7.45am until 6.25pm, and clocked up a 58 bird species tally, 64 counting mammals.

Highlights included...

-Bearded Tits at grit trays - 2 gorgeous adults 1m 1f
(A sharp-eyed birder pointed out a 3rd bird appearing briefly trying to get on the grit tray but the male was quick to dart into the reeds to see it off)
-Reed Bunting approx total 30+, at one point 11 together on the causeway path near the hide, one birder said he had some juv Bearded Tits with them on the path, personally I only saw Reed Buntings.

-Otters 4 (2 ad 2 large pups) a LIFER for me, never seen wild Otter in my 42yrs and I was almost reduced to tears as this sighting will live long in my memory!!!
First Otter seen at Lower Hide, large, long and a bulky robust head, in my view was the Dog (although you can get large females) caught at least 4 or 5 Eels in about 20mins, and by the looks of some of my photos he also managed a couple of good sized fish. After showing really well for approx 3/4hr he swam over towards Public Hide, where I went to watch him some more, and I was in total disbelief as another slightly less built Otter appeared, presumably the bitch, and as if that wasn't enough the 2 pups appeared near the far bank opposite the hide and put on a show squabbling together, Lump in the throat stuff! and it also made my day after advising the couple with the young son desperate to see an Otter that it was probably worth them walking 100yds back to Public hide as the probable male had swam over that direction. Seemed it meant a lot to them too as it did to me.

-1 Bittern flying over the lake from Public Hide
Plenty of Ducks including
-Teal
-Shoveler
-Mallard
-Gadwall
-Not many Wigeon
-only a handful of Tufted Duck
-1 female Pochard, constantly diving from Public Hide, ironically same as my last visit.
-Great White Egret 2 seen on the reserve
-Little Egret approx 10
-Grey Heron - 5 or 6
-Cormorant - plenty around both on reserve and over in groups
-Water Rail - showing well at 3 hides, probably 6 in total
-Common Snipe - 9 in total
-Ruff - 2 feeding alongside Red Deer
-Black-tailed Godwit - 4
-Curlew - 1 flying low and calling over Grisedale hide
-Lapwing in decent numbers
-plenty of Mute Swan
-Buzzard 8 (at 1 point there were 6 circling together)
-Marsh Harrier
(1 showed for less than a minute, started rising then stooping quickly with a bit of a turn in a possible skydance which I thought was a bit unusual to display for a mate in October if that's what I saw)
-3 Raven ...1 circling in tandem with a Buzzard
-Carrion Crows around the reserve in good numbers
-Jay 1
-Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
-Meadow Pipits ... a few over various parts of the reserve
-Redwing 1 low over causeway, easily told by its slender body and fast flapping slender almost pointed wings
-Mistle Thrush 1 along path from Lilian's to log feeders
-Nuthatch 2 up close
-Marsh Tit 1 albeit briefly
-Coal Tit
-Greenfinch 1
-Goldfinch 1
-Goldcrest 4 together, possible family group as 2 we're definitely juv looking,
-Starling in various sized flocks over the reserve
-Red Deer colony showing very well at Grisedale, 2 large Stags bellowing and chasing females, then disappearing into the marsh then re-emerging somewhere else. Good to watch our largest UK land Mammal in the Rut!

As a general observation...lots of Robin, Wren and Pheasant, they were everywhere. Managed to hand feed 1 Robin and 2 Pheasants. Also Cetti's Warbler heard in good voice in a few locations over the reed beds.
Also lots of the usual Gulls, water birds and garden birds around.

At Allen and Eric Morecambe hides.
-lots of Pink-footed Geese coming into land and a lot over
-Lots of Greylag Geese (and on main reserve)
-More Mute Swan
-a small flock of Whooper Swans flew in, very noisy
-Red-breasted Merganser 3 on far pool but too far for a photo in dwindling light and setting sun glare
-Kingfisher 2 (1m 1f) both active infront of both hides and flying up the middle banking
-Oystercatcher, small group with Lapwing and Gulls on far side of 1 of the pools
-Little Egret ...think I counted approx 20 or more
-Great White Egret - at least 4 birds, possibly more too far out to tell

Mammals...
-Eurasian Otter 4
-Red Deer herd
-Grey Squirrel
-Wood Mouse feeding with garden birds on log darting in and out quickly
-Field Vole 1 (again very briefly at next feeding log)
-Common Shrew (possibly a bit big for Pygmy Shrew) ran out onto path near Tim Jackson hide, stopped to nibble on something so I clocked it was definitely a Shrew then sped off all in under a few seconds

A day to remember with some of the best sightings I've ever had here!
Cheers
Rob

Apologies for the edits but IOS 8.0.2 does what it wants, and the cursor position when posting can overlap something I've already written so it's a bit annoying!





-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 13th of October 2014 07:02:58 PM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 13th of October 2014 07:07:34 PM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 13th of October 2014 07:14:19 PM

Inspired by Mark's post from yesterday I decided on a whim to head for Leighton Moss today. I arrived at 8 and the sun was climbing in a blue sky, and it felt like a good decision just on that basis, but within an hour I'd seen 2 bird lifers and my first Otter, so not half bad!

At Lilian's initially were 4 Little Stint and a few Ruff, plus around 250 Black-tailed Godwit. Happy the Stints were there for later I went to the Causeway and there were pings coming from all over the shop. No Bearded Tits apparent to start with, so I went into the Public Hide where a very nice lady said "There's an Otter over there." Wow, what a bonus!

Walking back to the grit trays I disturbed a bird on my right and when it settled, there I was with 3 Bearded Tits 20 feet away, 2 males and a female on top of a bush clear against a blue sky. Absolutely outstanding, worth the trip plus the last time I went and missed them. They were so gorgeous! I shouldn't gloat but 4 guys were stood staring intently at the trays 50 yards away completely oblivious. They were on the trays later, nobody missed out don't worry...

As I got to the house by the road a Marsh Tit dropped onto the tree in front of me. Second lifer in 5 minutes and another bird that had sensed my desperation on my first visit to the reserve earlier in the year! Saw another on the path just off the road, showing brilliantly. I hadn't realised they are bigger than a Blue Tit, also saw a Coal Tit about and can completely understand the 2 being confused on fleeting views. The call was a bit like a Blue Tit too for me. These impressions are what the internet or books can't totally give you and it was great to compare the various species with each other.

Back at Lilian's there were now 5 Little Stint and a juvenile Water Rail fed in front of the hide in clear view, great to see. Also a Great White Egret in full view looking good. Saw a skein of 65 or so Pink Footed Geese over and then went over to Grizedale Hide. Only a male Red Deer of note from there but did see a flock of 12 Bearded Tits up over the reedbed with their fluttering flight and calls a real delight. Also clocked a male bird in flight over the reeds walking back. 2 adult Water Rail showed superbly in a channel heading back and also saw 250+ Pink Foots in 5 skeins over.

After this I went down to the Allen and Morecambe Hides, missed a Cetti's Warbler that was down there but my highlight was picking out a Curlew Sandpiper amongst 50 or so Dunlin on the mud, really chuffed with that. It was a clean juvenile and showed really well right in front of the Morecambe Hide, literally right below the windows. Another Great White Egret was down there plus 3 Greenshank amongst the more common waders. The other great sight was 2 Spotted Redshank literally tailing a Pintail through the water, obviously utilising the work of the duck in disturbing the mud. Comical though, like little flunkeys following the big chief. A Kingfisher showed well down there too.

I spent the rest of my time at Lilian's Hide, where there were now 2 Great Whites, still hundreds of Godwits, numerous Snipe and up to 10 Ruff and the 5 Little Stints fed in front of the hide for a few minutes, allowing me to pick out their juvenile plumage with the white tramlines on their back. A Dunlin joined them at one point, a useful comparison. They had over a dozen Little Stints there in the week, the story was that half of them had left when the BBC turned up to start putting in fixtures for Autumnwatch. Not sure if it was just sour grapes for the real invasion to come...

The conditions for waders were perfect really and with the other super habitats I saw 55 species today without really trying that hard, it was awesome!



-- Edited by Simon Gough on Saturday 27th of September 2014 08:45:48 PM

9.00 - 13.00pm of note

Marsh Tit 3, more heard
Bearded Tit 10, feeding on seeds on the causway path in the sunshine
Green woodpecker
Ruff
Dunlin
Little Stint 7, never seen so many before in 1 flock
Scaup
Great White Egret

All seen from Lillian's, Public And Lower hides

I just had an email from leighton moss rspb confirming my find has been accepted. The bird is still on site today and is giving good views.

Yesterday afternoon from lillians hide

Very low water levels Wadertatstic.


All the previous birds mentioned were on show plus I managed to find a Pectoral sandpiper in there too. I would of rather found it in Gm but there you go.

An enjoyable day visit for 11 members of Wigan RSPB. With lunch at Jenny Brown's point where
Allan Rimmer and wife joined us.
Some good sightings included:
Marsh Harrier....3... no adult male seen.
Buzzards...7 ...party of 6 up at once
Kestrel...1
Great White Egret....3 seen together.
Little Egret....3
Little Stint....3
Ruff...3 + a few more at shore.
Water Rail...3.... great views of 2 together squealing. Plus 2 more seen by Neil.
Snipe...6 at least.
The main flocks at the reserve were Teal....c300 and Black-tailed Godwit c170
Wigeon, Gadwall, Pintail, in number. A few Shoveler and 1 Pochard at least.
Mute Swan... 5 cygnet and an adult pair.

On the shore:
Oystercatcher ...c2000
Curlew...c180
Redshank...c35
Dunlin...12
Shelduck....7
Ruff ...a few
Wimbrel....1
A party of Great Crested Grebe...c10 were at sea, and 3 Wigeon also.

-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 14th of September 2014 08:32:55 AM

Karen F., Riggers, John R. and self.

Showery and fairly quiet by Leighton Moss standars (at least bird-wise )
Tour of Public, Lower, Lillian's, Eric Morcambe and Allen Hides.

Lower Hide:
Little Egret 1 immature
Mute Swan 9 inc 7 cygnets
Buzzard over field behind the hide.
Mixed flock of Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins feeding in the area directly in front of the hide

Public:
Greenshank 6

Lillian's
Marsh Harrier 1
Water Rail 1 heard
Mixed flock of Sand Martins, Swallows and Swifts

Eric Morcambe/Allen
Black-tailed Godwit
Redshank
Greenshank 6

Great White Egret tucked in at the back of Lillian's, viewable from the path back towards main reception from causeway

Highlight of the visit Otter playing/hunting for at least 30 mins viewed from Public Hide. Had apparently been showing well for a good half hour before we got there at 11.30a.m

Beautiful morning at Leighton Moss from 0815 at Eric Morecambe. The western end of the main reserve was closed for trimming vegetation, which meant the Public Hide and the causeway were inevitably very busy. Didn't have time to walk down to Lower Hide.

Of note:

Eric M:

Over 300 Redshank, similar number of Dunlin, 4 Black Tailed Godwit, 2 Little Egret, up to 5 distant Little Ringed Plover, single Greenshank showed really well, several Lapwing, Pied Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier over.

On the track to the Allen and Eric M hides, through the reedbed, the area was alive with Sedge Warblers - adults and juveniles, the latter confiding to the extent of naivety! A single Reed Warbler showed really well too, and a Cetti's called once. Also LInnet, Wren, Goldfinches and a juvenile Robin. It was a really beautiful walk through that section, and those who tramped through with their eyes on the hides really missed something!


Lilian and Public:
of note
Great White Egret - 1
Marsh Harrier - 3
Buzzard - 2
Greenshank - 3 camouflaged against the rock island at Public.
Great Black Backed Gull - 2
Mute Swan -2 and 7 cygnets.
Reed Warbler - 1


Water Rail were seen at both locations before I arrived!

Jenny Brown Point at high tide:
Uncountable Oystercatchers, and further away, plenty of Curlew, Black Headed Gulls.
4 Redshank
12 Greylag Geese
Approx 25 Swallows
4 Sand Martin
2 Greenfinch
1 Raven

Walked on to Jack Scout for the first time. Lovely clifftop area which held plenty of Goldfinch, and a Green Woodpecker was heard.

What a great area for varied habitat around Sliverdale!

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 28th of July 2014 09:37:18 PM

Thanks for that Andy, will know for next time.

The road to Eric Morecambe & Allen Hides:-


Leave the Leighton Moss car park and drive up towards Silverdale and turn left onto Slackwood Lane.

Follow this for a couple of hundred yards and turn left onto New Road.

Drive down New Road, over the level crossing then take the first right up a stone road (about 200 yards).

Follow the stone road under the railway bridge past a sharp left hand bend and into the car park.

A footpath leads to the two hides (about 300 yards).

Great day at L.Moss with 55 species seen. (56...see below)

Of note on main reserve...
2 Great White Egrets (1 at Lower, 1 at Lilian's Hide, although same as Steve's post 3 reported)

1 Water Rail and a chick kept making a star appearance
1 female Pochard constantly diving
1 Buzzard
3 Marsh Harriers (2 showing well for photos at Public and Lower Hide)
2 female Shoveler
2 female Tufted Ducks
1 Raven
1 Swallow at Lilian's Hide, more at Grizedale Hide, possibly 15
A few House Martins
Possibly 5 or 6 Snipe (Kept being driven off by Lapwing so not sure)
2 Cormorant having a feast of fish with dropping water levels
1 Reed Warbler (more heard)
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Treecreeper
1 Nuthatch
1 Marsh Tit up close at feeders
1 Coal Tit
2 Greylag Geese
Great Black-backed Gulls
Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Herring Gulls
Black-headed Gulls
plus a lot of usuals

Always meet nice people at Leighton Moss, good to talk to people here.

Silverdale Beach...(not Hides)
1 Redshank
Few Great Black-backed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Countless Oystercatcher, Curlew, Black-headed Gulls, and what I think were Black-tailed Godwits.
There were possibly more Redshank out on the vast mud flats but there were so many birds I couldn't tell how many. Vast majority were of the afore mentioned.

Funny but all the years I've been coming here and I've never found the Eric Morecambe or Allen Hide. I've always ended up on the driveway to the beach with the cattle grid at the bottom!
Would live to know where I'm going wrong.

p.s. I'm not sure how I reached the conclusion that the Water Rail was female, and I've just noticed a female Wigeon in 1 of the shots of the Egret so species tally is 56.

Cheers
Rob

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 27th of July 2014 02:31:52 AM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 27th of July 2014 09:35:46 AM

a day out with friends from the rspb, 9-5pm 59 species seen.

very quiet around the reserve highlights being...

2 great white egrets, 3 reported
few little egrets
3-4 marsh harriers
3 buzzards
3 wigeon
1 pochard
1 great crested grebe
lots of coots
several tufted ducks & gadwalls
1 great spotted woodpecker
1 treecreeper
several nuthatches
2-3 marsh tits
reed warblers seen & heard
just 2 chiffchaffs, no other warblers (blackcaps, willow warblers or whitethroats) seen or heard.
swifts, swallows & sand martins over.

eric morcambe hide...

fantastic views of a water rail right outside the hide next to the measuring post.
1 spotted redshank
8 greenshanks
3 little ringed plovers
7 snipe
3 ruff
5 little egrets
lots of redshanks, dunlins & black tailed godwits
lapwings & oystercatchers
1 kestrel
1 peregrine falcon
several sedge warblers around.

Ran a sponsored birdrace raising money for the RSPB. Chose LM as we thought we'd get a good variety of species, and it didn't disappoint, in excellent weather. 76 spp seen, lots of money raised! (That 76 includes white-winged black tern, coomon tern and great-crested grebe, which we saw at Elton Resr on our way back)

Several warblers seen and/or heard inclu blackcap, chiffchaff, whitethroat + reed, sedge, willow, cetti's warblers.
2+ marsh harrier (1m, 1 female type)
Lots of avocets with some seriously cute chicks
Flock of black-tailed godwit
Most common wildfowl seen
Marsh tit on the way to Tim'Jackson's and Griesdale Hide
Little gull reported earlier.

Lots of moths (thanks to the lady who showed us the stunners that had been caught in the moth crop - slap in the face for those who think moths are dull)
Butterflies included large white, peacock, brimstone, orange tip etc
And a stoat near the salt marsh hides

Thanks to the RSPB staff/vols for their help. Great day, and all for a great cause.

here all day, 69 species seen.

eric morcambe & allen hides...

1 spoonbill, a little distant but you could still tell what it was
1 little gull
70+ avocets, only seen 2 chicks.
1 dunlin
1 merlin chasing a small bird with no success.
1 raven.

main reserve...

3-4 marsh harriers
2 buzzards
2 bar headed geese flying around in circles a lot.
at least 4 marsh tits
200+ black tailed godwits
1 spotted redshank in full summer plumage.
4 little egrets
1 great spotted woodpecker
2 treecreepers
several nuthatches
very few ducks around, a male garganey was seen early morning but never relocated.
cormorant struggling to eat an eel but swallowed it eventually !
lots of warblers all around espeacially sedge warblers, cettis warbler heard on a couple of occasions.
hundreds of swifts around with several swallows, house martins & sand martins.
plus all the usuals


2 red deer, tim Jackson hide.

-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 10th of May 2014 10:51:25 PM

Cracking stroll around the reserve today with the family and nice to bump into Simon and Melanie in the shop front before we departed. Also picked up a copy of the 2013 Heysham Annual Bird Report, hot off the press!? Always great to catch up with Pete Marsh' year at the reserve

Strolling along the paths between the entrance and Grisedale I heard three different Cetti's Warbler, seeing one individual on two occasions, the second instance of over 30 seconds which is remarkable for normal acquaintances with this species!? Also plenty of Swifts high in the sky for those willing to look for them. Watched two pairs of Marsh Harriers, witnessing a rather ungraceful food pass, which was more of a food dump!?

On the path was joined by a few Mallard, who were quite content to join us along the path for a considerable distance, with a pair of Marsh Tit coming close for inspection of myself and my son, who i still getting to grips with his binoculars, though at 2.5 years it is understandable, haha.....

On the pools there were plenty of spring chicks, with Greylag Goose, Moorhen, Mallard and Lapwing youngsters about to name a few. Also of note were two male Garganey , one only feeding for 1 minutes before departing with a few Wigeon. But the other happily stayed put for the cameras whilst I had a spot of lunch watching it. Also heard a lone Reed Warbler, along with multiple Sedge Warblers.

Down at the Eric Morecombe complex, with its spanking new hides, there are now Avocets everywhere and to be fair they must have been the most numerous species of wader down there, with few other species about. 30-40 Black-tailed Godwits, 30+ Redshank and well over 50 Avocet. Didn't get chance to hang about much, as babies tired, but had two other Cetti's Warbler here to (one by car park and one by furthest hide). A few Little Egrets for good measure and a distant Raven and Buzzard.

All in all, a pleasant morning strolling with the family around the extensive reedbeds and surrounding features. Also popped in to check on the Lady's Slipper Orchid site, but no sign yet, perhaps a little early, so hopefully will be in full bloom in a month or so.............

Visited this a.m. at Morcambe hides at least 20 Avocets on nests protected by electric fence, also many Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank plus Pintail, Gadwall, Teal and Shellduck.
From Grisedale pair of Gargany and Greenshank were the best birds, Cettis Warbler heard. From public hide 1 Black Tern . Also near grit trays could hear Bearded Tit but they were not seen but low over my head was a fabulous male Marsh Harrier.
Cheers Ian

9th March

1 Spotted Redshank Allen Pools, amongst good numbers of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits

A Spoonbill was reported from Grizedale Hide on 8th March

Very close views of Long Tailed Duck from Lower Hide, reports of Firecrest on the foot path from the causeway to Lower Hide. Dredging going on in front of Public Hide but plenty of Ducks gathered around the dredger feeding, Marsh Tits around Lillians along with Gold Crest, Water Rail on causeway to Allen's and Mash Harrier showing well, and 4 Pintail at a windy Eric Morecambe Hide along with large flock of Reed Bunting.

Monday 10th February - an early start in the hope of catching up with the Ross's Gull that had been on the Public pool until sunset on Sunday 9th. No luck there but a decent selection of other species including:- from the public hide, the still present Scaup(f) and Long-tailed Duck(f). Kingfisher from the causeway, the Marsh Tit flock on the path to the Lower hide and a pair of Goosander from the hide. Eric Morcambe hide, luckily I did have my wellies !!! - of interest 3 Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Dunlin and a Merlin sitting up on a post close to the hide.

Very late report for 07/02/14 10.30am - 4pm
Fantastic day out on the reserve in surprisingly good weather

My first ever wild Otters (2) seen feeding and playing from Lower Hide
4-5 Marsh Harrier
7 Marsh Tit (2 at the feeding station and a small flock of 5 in bushes by the track to lower hide)
1 Scaup (f, Public Hide)
1 Long-Tailed Duck (f, Lower Hide)
Good numbers of Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Coot, Greylag Goose and Black-Headed Gull on the water.
1 Little Egret
1 Nuthatch

Allen Hide (Morecambe hide was inaccessible without wellies ... or stilts)
8-9 Pintail
1 Spotted Redshank
9 Redshank
10 Shelduck
Large flock of Curlew

(I'm sure there was a lot more out there, but the sun meant that most birds were only visible in silhouette)

here all day, 67 species seen, highlights...

1 pair of bearded tits on the grit trays around 10am, further along the causeway where the inflow channel is another 2 were seen buts lots more heard pinging away
1 kingfisher was also seen at the inflow channel.
1 female scaup, public hide.
1 long tailed duck, lillians hide.
2-3 marsh harrriers
2 buzzards
1 sparrowhawk
2-4 marsh tits
1 nuthatch
1 great spotted woodpecker
several little egrets around & several snipe flying around.
lots of water rails heard all around, eventually got to see one off them.
plus all usual wildfowl & woodland birds around.

morcambe & allen hides. which are now, no wellies needed !

1 spotted redshank
1 greenshank
1 ruff
3 black tailed godwit
4 dunlin
pair of red breasted mergansers
1 raven.
lots of lapwings, plenty of redshanks.
plus usual wildfowl.

cettis warbler heard only in 2 areas along the causeway.

a great day out

Short visit to Causeway / Public Hide this morning to beat the weather - then Morecambe Hide as rain closed in.

Causeway / Public Hide highlights:
Female Scaup
Bearded Reedling - saw 1 male and heard 2 or 3 others
Marsh Harrier 1 male and 1 female

Morecambe Hide highlights:
Kingfisher
Pair Red-breasted Merganser


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 1st of January 2014 12:56:22 PM

Saturday 30th Nov.

Of note:
Many Duck species (some in big numbers) including...
Mallard
Teal
Wigeon
Pintail
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
Goldeneye
Shelduck
...and the female Long Tailed Duck still present

Kept a look out for the Red Breasted Mergansers but the closest I got were a few Goosanders.

Other birds of note:
1 Goldcrest
1 Buzzard
1 Little Grebe
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Nuthatch and 2 Marsh Tits along with usuals very active at a floor log near Lilian's Hide where some photographers had placed nuts in the bark ridges.
A couple of Redwings
No sign of the Bearded Tits

p.s. the Willow Tits have gone now


-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 1st of December 2013 07:19:15 PM

Great day birding yesterday

Bittern seen twice - once flushed and flew low over causeway just beyond the public hide where there is open water views either side of the causeway (there are a couple of small boats on the one side) at 09.20am and again seen flying across from the Lower Hide around 15:10pm

4+ Bearded Reedlings at their usual spot (but feeding on grit on the causeway, not at the tables) ~09:45am

Kingfisher performing well throughout the day again just beyond the public hide (same spot as the Bittern)

Other highlights include repeated views of Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, and loads of Fieldfare, Redwing, Nuthatch, various woodland passerines, water rails vocal throughout the day at various locations ... fantastic reserve!

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 24th of November 2013 10:29:57 AM

Good day out with Leigh Ornithological Society at Leighton Moss today despite dull, foggy weather and drizzle. Highlights were the two Bearded Tits (m & f) on the grit trays along the causeway - seen on two different occasions at about 9:30 and 10:00 am. The second time they were bothered by a Wren for a few seconds. Other highlights included the female Long-tailed Duck and a Marsh Harrier at Lillian's Hide and a kingfisher, several Spotted Redshank and Snipe out in the open at Allen Hide.

Counting everything, 53 species seen in total, so a good day's birding.

Car park was filling up at 8.30 with most people heading for the causeway. Rather oddly the hides around the visitors centre were initially empty. On return lots more people. Main things were the Long Tailed Duck and Marsh Harriers among the more usual residents. Eric Morecombe gave better but again the car park filled up early, 3 Red Breasted Merganser displaying, Quite a few Pintail and Shelducks among others. Clearly becoming quite popular after Autumnwatch.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Rob Creek wrote:

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Other birds of note :

- pair of Willow Tits at feeders

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Willow Tits Rob???

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My apologies, I thought I'd already done it, I've misidentified the 2 birds on the feeders as Willow Tits, they are infact Marsh Tits.
Cheers