post from yesterday 2/9. here with the rspb volunteers from the manchester peregrines project,very enjoyable company birds seen.... at least 2 marsh harriers marsh tit at feeders also nuthatch & usual finches/tits. black tailed godwits (over) little egret wigeon,pintails,pochard,shovelers,teals,gadwalls all starting to build up lots off coots around swallows,house & sand martins all over plus all usuals in and around the reserve also a nice family off chiffchaffs, at least 3 juveniles + plenty more around no otters for us
jo,thank you for a lovely day out and very nice to meet you all,hope to see you all again soon.
5 of us had a good day out, and finished with a meal at Arnside.
Not a lot about really. No small birds, and the usual on the pools. Loads of Redshank a few greenshank 1 spotted Redshank 1 Snipe 1 Bittern seen flying from Lilians's Hids(note by of course) Fantastic views of a couple of Marsh Harriers from most hides, but especially public and Lower Hides.
am/pm black tailed godwit-200+ dunlin-10 spotted redshank-1 summer plumage asleepno pics redshank-100 little egret-3 no marsh harriers about 6 red deer not a lot elsein fact apart from the stuff on the coast pools,there is more in rammies at penny than the whole of the reserve
Hi Joe I did not know that the female was radio tagged and certainly did not see it when I was watching her today.
The hawk with the jesses was smaller than a Marsh harrier and larger than a Sparrowhawk. Various suggestions from the other birders in the hide included Goshawk but I think it was an escapee and so did some of the others as we saw the bird again as we left the hide and it was definitely trailing jesses.
Just missed an Osprey this morning which was seen from the lower hide early on.
Birds seen; Numerous sightings from all the hides of at least 2 male and 1 female Marsh harriers 3 Little Egrets 4 Buzzards Treecreeper GS Woodpecker Tawny Owl Sparrowhawk A large hawk trailing jesse's was soaring high above the reserve, seen from the Grisedale hide Plenty of Sedge, Reed and Willow warblers 2 Juv Blackcaps Bullfinch Marsh tit The usual ducks and grebes
3 Red deer [f] Stoat seen near the house at the top of the causeway
Steve, where did you get the beardies this time of year?
joe,they were at lower hide. also had good views (for a change) as i normally only get a quick glimpse. it also says on the rspb recent sightings that 1f & 1juv both unringed have been seen the same area.
good day today in the hot sunshine, 52 species seen. highlights being... 4 marsh harriers 2m 2f 2 bearded tits 1f 1juvenille 1 marsh tit 2 little egrets no signs off the ospreys that have been seen earlier in the week 2 ravens 6 buzzards 3 oystercatchers reed warblers, sedge warblers, blackcaps, chiffchaffs & willow warblers all over swifts, sand martins & swallows all over apart from the hundreds off coots,not much duck wise. tufted ducks with juvenilles 2 pochards, 2 wigeon, 3 teal, plenty off greylag goose, several canada goose several pairs off great crested grebe pair g-b-b gulls with 1 juvenile, plenty off b-h gulls few with juveniles plus usual birds around feeding station & reserve
also had 5 red deer, family off stoats seen 4 together but could hear more in the long grass, 1 shrew on top off one of the bearded tit wigwams 1 mink on causeway close to public hide, did let the staff know.
very windy today ,but at least the sun was shinning. 63 psecies seen 1 great white egret, (griesdale hide) also 10 red deer 1 little egret, 1 little gull, 20+ avocet, 50+ black tailed godwit, 1 redshank 1 common gull, lots off black headed gulls & shellduck (allen & eric morcambe hide) at least 4 marsh harriers (2m 2f) 3 bearded tits plenty off buzzards about, no peregrines lots off reed & sedge warblers, whitethroats, willow warblers, chiffchaffs, blackcaps lots off swifts, house martins & swallows all usual ducks about, garganey has been seen today but not by me great spotted woodpeckers, treecreepers, + all usual birds around the feeders and around the reserve. good day
Garganey - M at least one showing very well calling and displaying and flying around the complex of pools in front of Grisedale Ruff - with a hint of its, err, Ruff Redshank x2 Marsh Harrier - males x2 after the rain Black Tern - swiftly through during nasty rain shower - nice surprise Many Shovelers, Shelduck, Godwits, Gadwall, Pochard, Lapwing etc and 12 Red Deer hinds before the rain sent them back into the reed beds
One of the GBB patrolling the reserve seemed to spook the various nesting birds more than the Marsh Harriers...
Quick visit on the way home from a weeks fantastic birding in Scotland 1 wood sandpiper 1 male garganey sedge and reed warblers 1 whitethrote 2 male marsh harriers 1 female marsh harrier 2 buzzard 50 black tailed godwits 1 redshank 6 red dear all viewed from im griesdale hide
A quick visit to Leighton Moss subsequent to the Lune Estuary Kentish Plover in the hope of seeing the reported Osprey - no luck in that department but we had cracking views of 2 Male Marsh Harriers over Island Mere where John B also had his first Swifts of the year. We also observed the Warton Peregrines. ... and so to Bramhall.
my 1st visit today .. cracking day highlights being marsh harrier (m.f) lesser white throat.. little egret .. ruff ..Spotted redshank..Gaganey..Mediterranean gull.. 69 different speices of birds seen .. cheers lee oh and 2 otters !!!!
Good views of Marsh Harriers today from causeway, however, after a brief visit to warton crag I learned that the ravens have raided the peregrine nest. Both peregrines were present and calling to each other, and the locals are hopeful another clutch is attempted.
My first 'proper' visit here today (not counting last weeks brief, rain sodden visit) with my mum for company.
The weather could not have been better and the birds certainly didn't disappoint.
First call in was the Tim Jackson hide and here we were treated to excellent views of 4 Red Deer basking in the morning sunshine across from the hide.
Next stop was the Grizedale hide where I was trying to track down the Garganey that had been reported a few days before (I later found out that they were seen again here late in the afternoon) without luck. Two distant soaring Marsh Harriers were seen here displaying at a great height.
After a bit of lunch we went over to the Public hide where we were treated to an excellent display by upto 5 Marsh Harriers at once in the sky. At one point, all the Black headed gulls in front of the hide suddenly fell silent and moments later a Marsh Harrier glided straight over the top of the hide at very low level giving fantastic views for everyone there.
Following that, it was a quick visit to the Allen hide and Eric Morecambe hide where there were easily 1500+ Black tail Godwits present along with upto 400 Redshank and around 10 Avocet.
A quick visit on the way home to Warton Crag for the Peregrines saw the end of a really enjoyable day!!
Iain Johnson and I on a mega twitch this morning called in at Warton for the Shorelark, I'm pretty sure this is round the back of the Crag but forgive me if I'm wrong!
Anyway despite there being a stock car race meeting, about to take place, the Shorelark showed extremely well for us near the bench and off we raced towards Southport!
weekend visit Friday,Saturday and Sunday very quiet weekend, three visit to eric m and i would swear the same birds in the same positions.
Highlights marsh harrier f lots of very vocal marsh tits with very close views (two feet) redwing little egret ONE greenshank ONE sparrowhawks goldcrest treecreeper One very week boom from the bittern on sunday(causeway) no otters but plenty of if you had been here last week three in front of lower, one at same time at another hide and none with a broken tail (called kinky) so that makes five. best spot was two male bearded as i left the lower hide sat on reeds very close for what seemed like ages in the past it as been March that numbers of Bitters (five) have circled the moss gull calling at dusk so anybody up should keep eyes to the skys
Morecambe Bay rather fogbound; however a quick visit to Leighton Moss found a female Marsh Harrier (reported previous day on RSPB website), also 2 Little Egret.
This slightly off-topic subject could run and run and is one I have pondered over at length given the comments on various recent threads throughout the Manchester Birding forum. If we feel the need to comment further then perhaps a thread in the discussion section?
Anyway, I can't resist one last comment. If we're saying prams shouldn't be in hides, are we therefore implying that birders with babies should leave them outside (and perhaps be subject to storks stealing them in spring) or that they should stay away from any sites with hides until the children are old enough to walk for themselves? Just a thought, answers on another thread please (still no smileys...)
People with kids like nature to.Perhaps they should all have stayed at home on their play stations instead of getting out into the fresh air and taking a interest in the birds. Kids throwing stones is not on, nor prams in hides.
Made the mistake of visiting yesterday. If anyone else is thinking of making a Sunday visit: DON'T. The causeway was full of parents with 5 year olds having fun throwing rocks onto the ice and every hide except lower was full of prams and squalling infants (I kid you not). Sensibly the rails, Bitterns and Beardies all stayed deep in the reeds cowering from the general racket. Not even a consolation Marsh Tit.
Excellent visit to leighton moss today. We got there at first light and went straight to allen and morcambe hides. Not much to be seen as water was completely frozen but did see curlew and a peregrine. From lillians hide 2 water rails followed by great view of a bittern walking along edge of reeds straight after leaving lillians saw 3 waxwings and managed to get few pics Pair of bearded tits also showing realy well on grit trays near public hide. Lots of woodland birds around with robins everywhere posing for pics and buzzard seen along path that cuts off just before lower hide. Great start to new year
My turn to visit with Simon today, pretty much the same as all the other posts recently.
All the birds were very obliging, we got to Warton Cragg and immediately there was a Peregrine cleaning his talons ...met Paul and Sue later they said when they visited earlier, the bird had bought something in.
Lillians hide....Bittern and Water Rail, the hide was busy but not heaving.
Feeding station....Bullfinch, Marsh Tits, and all the usual suspects. Three Waxwings also there Treecreeper, Robins etc along the walkways Along the causeway, male and female Bearded Tits came onto the grit trays just as we arrived.
Public hide....nowt, all the ducks were concentrated way, way over to the right,Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon and Pochard.
Leighton Moss is ludicrously busy, never seen it like this! There were 2 Bittern showing from Lillian's hide as well as a Water Rail. The RSPB had been putting bait out on the left of the hide where the stream flows in and the Water Rail and a Bittern were feeding there. Also, inside Lillian's was a Robin, that flew into a window and dazed itself. It took a good 20 minutes to come around! Because of a shoot up on the hill behind Public Hide, there were less ducks than usual. However, still a fair few teal, a Goosander, a few Gadwall, a few Tufties and at least 1 Pochard. Around the visitor centre, there was a big Siskin flock with about 3 Redpoll and supposedly some waxies. They were put down in the book at around 11:00 but by the time I got there at 11:30 there was no sign. At least 4 Fieldfare in the orchard near the beginning of the causeway.
Janice & I agree. it was very busy today at the reserve. We probably saw you all during the day, especially when we were crammed into Lillian's hide watching the bitterns and water rails.Our paths must of crossed at some point. 1 fem Bearded Tit on grit tray for several minutes on the causeway late afternoon. It was worth the run up and we checked out Wharton Cragg to check on the Jackdaws, Peregrine (1 only showing) giving excellent ariel displays in the vast number of Corvids. Raven was present as well. Barbon valley produced a single Green Woodpecker GS Woody 12 Fieldfares 1 pair of Tawny Owls flying among the trees along the road when leaving Barbon village.
After reading previous posts decided to visit today with Peter & Norma Johnson. Never seen it so busy, even the large overspill car park was full with many cars parking along road outside. Worth it though with fantastic views of 2 Bittern from Lillian's also Water Rail here. Around feeders and along paths loads of the common Finches and Tits but also excellent views of Marsh Tits, Nuthatch and Siskin. The reserve was pretty much frozen with open water only from public hide, this had all the usual Ducks on it. Best bird from Morcambe complex was a Whooper Swan with 2 Mute. Cheers Ian
I too had the morning up north today - started as usual at Warton Crag where I watched the Peregrine pair flying around together, occasionally resting, for 20 minutes or so.
From Lillian's the Bittern was showing very well on the reedy area to the left of the hide - it was tucking into the small fish that are being put out by the wardens. In the wood next to Lillian's a flock of 15 + Siskin and 3 Lesser Redpoll. On to the causeway, no sign of the Waxies but several Blackbirds and Fieldfare were eating the apples on the ground in the garden of the cottage - also 4 Bullfinch in the surrounding trees. From the public hide lots of birds on the patch of water where the ice had cleared including Teal, Shoveller, Pochard, Wigeon, Cormorant and Gadwall and finally Marsh Tit on the feeders near reception along with Coal, Great and Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Greenfinch. Just as I was leaving c20 Pink feet went over.
2 Bitterns - one on the ice from Lillians Hide, and one flew directly over my head near the Keepers Cottage. 1 Water Rail 3 Marsh Tits and a Treecreeper from the layby overlooking Island Mere 20+ Siskin A handful of Wigeon were sleeping with Pochard, Goldeneye, Gadwall and Teal on the mere, seen from Public Hide.
Morecambe Complex:
1 Spotted Redshank 1 Greenshank 4 Little Egret 5 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Curlew 1 Kingfisher 1 Buzzard 20 or so Pinkfeet on the marsh with Greylags
(Glad I didn`t take your advice Mr Hammond not to bother with the Morecambe hides; the saltmarsh pools were the highlight of the day. Sorry they were quiet for you ! )
Yep missed each other again, lol, what a day though, such prolonged views of bitterns today and so many, it makes you think how many there actually are? pity theres no waders at eric morcambe cause of the ice but bitterns, bearded tits and water rails showing superbly, great day, i dipped on the Dave thacker though, very illusive
Ps, Are you following me or am i following you?
Dave Thacker wrote:
Dennis, We are like ships in the night, that's the second time that we have been at Leighton on the same day and missed each other.
An exceptional 5 hours birding at Leighton today.
Within 5 minutes of leaving the car park I was watching a Bittern and a Water rail beside the reeds about 60m left of Lillian's hide. Another Bittern walked across the ice right in front of the hide. On the path to the Grizedale hide was another Water rail and I could hear Bearded tits deep in the reeds and they eventually flew up into the open and I briefly saw flying towards the Lillian hide. A single Little Egret was at the Grizedale hide and not much else. A walk down the causeway to the grit trays, I only had to wait for a couple of minutes when 3 Bearded tits turned up. One went on the tray and had coloured rings different to the bird Dennis saw and the other two stayed at the edge of the reeds. Excellent views Three more Bitterns were at the Public hide and some photographers from Scotland who had never seen a Bittern before got some cracking shots. Apart from the usual, other birds seen were; 4 Marsh tits on the feeders 2 Buzzards Sparrowhawk 5 Jays
-- Edited by Dave Thacker on Wednesday 29th of December 2010 09:56:48 PM
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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................
There is still plenty of frozen water but the edges are beginning to thaw out. I've no idea how long it will last but the next couple of days are going to be mild so I wouldn't leave it too long before you visit. Hope you see one
Could anyone make an estimate as to how long Leighton Moss will be iced over, and how long the Bitterns will be slightly easier to spot? I'm keen to see one, but I can't get out to Leighton Moss until later and was wondering whether it they would be out at that point. Cheers, Joe
Dennis, We are like ships in the night, that's the second time that we have been at Leighton on the same day and missed each other.
An exceptional 5 hours birding at Leighton today.
Within 5 minutes of leaving the car park I was watching a Bittern and a Water rail beside the reeds about 60m left of Lillian's hide. Another Bittern walked across the ice right in front of the hide. On the path to the Grizedale hide was another Water rail and I could hear Bearded tits deep in the reeds and they eventually flew up into the open and I briefly saw flying towards the Lillian hide. A single Little Egret was at the Grizedale hide and not much else. A walk down the causeway to the grit trays, I only had to wait for a couple of minutes when 3 Bearded tits turned up. One went on the tray and had coloured rings different to the bird Dennis saw and the other two stayed at the edge of the reeds. Excellent views Three more Bitterns were at the Public hide and some photographers from Scotland who had never seen a Bittern before got some cracking shots. Apart from the usual, other birds seen were; 4 Marsh tits on the feeders 2 Buzzards Sparrowhawk 5 Jays
-- Edited by Dave Thacker on Wednesday 29th of December 2010 09:56:48 PM
superb days birding today, three seperate bitterns seen today together from lillians hide giving very long great views, most probably 4 but can only confirm 3 for certain, also 2 water rails showing well and a single bearded tit seen to the left of lillians, the bird was showing a red ring over a blue/light grey blue band, sparrowhawk and buzzards flying over too, 2 peregrines flying together at warton showing well and chasing the jackdaws at one point, water still mostly frozen though i did throw out a full loaf of bread and 6 fatballs to help keep them going,
Waters still frozen from the eric morcambe hides, no waders there
On the way home around 30 waxwings at lancaster services on M6 south bound side today at 4ish
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Wednesday 29th of December 2010 05:44:41 PM
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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................
Yep, i already read that you reported they were together on oct 28th but we did not know they were still together now as there have been no furthur updates since yours, only when they were first reported being seen together on oct 25th by Graham Beverley, they was only together for 3 days then, i can now confirm that the new male bird seen in oct is still around now, almost 2 months later and they have been seen together this sunday and also very regular by the local birders who watch these birds often, very nice to see that these birds are staying together and hopefully next year they will produce some more of these magnificant birds, i never get bored of watching them, Superb
Best wishes Den
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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................