Sunday 20th August Early morning visit with Simon Gough, nice to see plenty of forum members inc Ian Lith, Chris and Vicky Harper, and Mark Burgess.
- Purple Heron (juvenile) It had flown to the salt marsh just before we arrived, then a birder told us he'd accidentally flushed it from there and he'd seen it fly back towards the reserve. We opted for the Tower, a good decision as Simon picked up on it and we watched it drop in at Grisedale Hide. It showed well for a while around 9.30am and from then on we only had brief views of it moving through the reeds with the occasional head popping up.
Other birds of note... - Little Egret 1 - Grey Heron 3 - Common Buzzard 2 - Common Snipe 11 incl a flock of 10 - Marsh Tit 1 - Cetti's Warbler 1 - Willow Warbler 1 - Chiffchaff 3 - Treecreeper 1 - Nuthatch 2 - Goldcrest 2 (incl a juv)
- Green Woodpecker, Water Rail, Tawny Owl and Great Spotted Woodpecker heard.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 21st of August 2017 02:11:51 PM
a couple of ok views of the purple heron this morning & early afternoon, but great views just after 5pm. 80+ little egret in the roost 1 marsh harrier 12 buzzard in the air at once 2 marsh tit at least 3 willow warbler with a tit flock 10 snipe 20+ black tailed godwit green woodpecker heard.
The Leighton moss hide and seek champion 2017 was seen yesterday for quite a few hours hiding and skulking in the reed edges the Juvenile purple Heron that was nice to see on the visit,its a good job as there was very little else apart from a brief Bittern in flight and a Marsh Harrier.The marsh complex was more or less devoid of birds which is a shame as it used to be brilliant for waders in the past.
And the rest as regards moth origin sites. I ran three acid moorland traps in north Lancashire as usual to add a bit of variety to the humdrum species recorded around Leighton 2CY Hobby early this morning was the reward at one site (Docker Moor)
Visited primarily for the moth morning with a phenomenal variety of local species caught overnight from the Moss, Gait Barrows and Warton Crag.
However in overcast and cool conditions the bird sightings included :-
Approx 30 black-tailed godwit and 1 x little egret on Griesdale. On the path to the hide families of wren, robin and blackbird were being harassed by an exceptionally active stoat climbing the trees.
Causeway to Lower Hide footpath sedge and reed warbler, very large flocks of swift, swallow and house martin over the water also 1x marsh harrier.
At the saltmarsh 20x redshank, smaller numbers of oystercatcher, 1x shelduck, 2x teal, 3x wigeon. Staff at the Moss reported only one avocet chick remaining now although not spotted on my flying visit. Also reports of 2x spoonbill beyond the Eric Morecambe pool. 1x green woodpecker in the fields between the Moss and the saltmarsh.
-- Edited by Jeff Gorse on Sunday 9th of July 2017 01:50:55 PM
-- Edited by Jeff Gorse on Sunday 9th of July 2017 02:10:29 PM
Excellent photographs Hazel! Most certainly the same bird present at Holden Wood/Haslingden Grane Reservoirs on Tuesday June 20. It was seen to leave west at about 4.30pm and turned up at Leighton Moss 2 hours later.
Yes I received an email from the observer the previous evening - unfortunately not seen until 2145 whence I phoned RBA. With something like this always best to put it on RBA from whom it rapidly circulates to other information sources. Fortunately this one has stayed. I didn't bother today - been lucky enough to see or find four at Leighton over the years. It certainly attracts this species in relation to its general rarity and what a fantastic bird for you to see! Nice pics!
Hi Pete, by the time I knew it was the Caspian Tern species, thanks to a more experienced birder who popped in to the hide shortly after I and another birder saw it (I am relatively new to birdwatching by 6 years so still learning) it had already gone out on the alerts and it also reported it to the RSPB staff quickly who were in the process of putting it up on their own social media feeds. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with bird alerts or confident enough in rare bird IDs but shortly after I was there, the folk in the know had already got the message out there. I just wanted to add photos for those interested. I believe from another bird watcher it had visited last evening but cannot confirm that.
Hi hazel. Please can I mention that there is usually mobile reception just outside this hide and a bird like this which is highly mobile could so easily have quickly disappeared. Fortunately Stuart from RBA appeared about 0845. Thanks very much - there has been quite a history of birds from this hide where the info has been slow to get out cos of lack of reception in or immediately outside the hide
Wednesday, 21st June (08.10am - 08.40am ) Wonderful views of a Caspian Tern from Causeway Hide which spent half an hour circling around the pool and diving for fish. It returned three more times that I heard of. Have added a few photos for you.
"Caspian Tern at NE end over Island Mere viewed from Storrs Lane laybe at 6.15 pm (yesterday 20 June) then flew towards causeway" SD 485 757 or LA5 0SS
Safe to assume it's the Holden Wood Reservoir individual which had flown West at 4:30 pm
Full day visit to Leighton Moss, Gait Barrows, Allen and Eric Morecambe hides and Warton Crag in what unfortunately transpired to be the perfect hayfever mix of hot sunshine and stiff breeze.
Leighton Moss - 5 x family of marsh tits and 6 x family group treecreepers foraging in the same trees along the path from Lilian's Hide to the other hides. 1 x great white egret from Lilian's, flock of approx. 30 black-tailed godwits and a handful of redshank from Grisedale early evening. Also good numbers willow, reed, sedge warbler, whitethroat, blackcap and chiffchaff throughout. 1x buzzard over causeway and lots of swift activity in the same area in the evening.
Allen & Eric Morecambe - startled to see how desiccated the area is - the pool next to the Eric Morecambe hide is all but desertified as the RSPB blog for Leighton Moss describes this week. Approx 6 pairs of avocet and 5 pairs oystercatcher, 2 x grey heron and 1 x little egret on the outer saltmarsh. Otherwise big multiple family group of feral greylag geese, 4 x shelduck and lots of black-headed gull nesting pairs. I did see 2 of the reported 3 spoonbills however these were from the train on the way in in the morning, feeding on one of the further pools next to the rail lines. Whitethroat and 1 x Cetti's warbler calling from near the car park area. Several pairs of lapwing in the fields across the dyke on the road onto the site, dabchick calling from the pond on the right at this point as well.
-- Edited by Jeff Gorse on Friday 26th of May 2017 09:34:19 PM
I made a short visit to the Eric Morecombe hide this afternoon on my way home from Cumbria and was greeted by the amazing site of 6 spoonbills. All were sleeping with their bills out of sight until a helicopter flew over when they all looked up and showed off those magnificent bills. Dead lucky! Also from the hide were plenty of avocet, a black tailed godwit a couple of shelduck and a good number of black headed gulls. On the track back to the car park I heard a grasshopper warbler reeling but it didn't show. There was at least one sedge warbler, a whitethroat, a chiffchaff or two, a willow warbler and to top it off a Cetti's warbler at the car park. On the drive away from the car patk I saw a marsh harrier quartering the marshes just off the main road.
"Stockport Birdwatching Society trip to Leighton Moss yesterday recorded 87 species (34 pairs of eyes make it easier to get a good count!)"
Three pairs of eyes here today didn't do as well although we didn't spend as much time or cover the whole reserve.
Highlights: Marsh Harrier 2 pairs with both males sky-dancing and combining to drive off a Common Buzzar Cattle Egret 2, off the reserve at Brow Foot Farm Black-tailed Godwit Pair of Treecreeper feeding young.
Reed Warbler Grasshopper Warbler Blackcap and Sand Martin were all year ticks for various members of the group
House Martin and Peregrine also seen as fly-overs in the area.
-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 23rd of April 2017 07:40:10 PM
Stockport Birdwatching Society trip to Leighton Moss yesterday recorded 87 species (34 pairs of eyes make it easier to get a good count!). Highlights included; Garganey (cracking male) Eider (from Jenny Browns Point) Great White Egret Cattle Egret Little Egret Marsh Harrier Avocet Black-tailed Godwit (well over 400 birds in stunning summer plumage) Bar-tailed Godwit Whimbrel (from Jenny Browns Point) Green Woodpecker (Jenny Brown Point) Wheatear Grasshopper Warbler (cracking views) Cetti's Warbler (ditto) Marsh Tit
Bearded Tit
-- Edited by Nick Hilton on Sunday 23rd of April 2017 05:29:51 PM
An absolutely fantastic top rated trip!! 67 species seen in total!
Started at the Saltmarsh (8am) Highlights were; Avocet, red breasted mergansers and a cetti's warbler along with 30 curlews in a field.
Griesdale hide produced little in the morning but I soon got the distant Garganey on my 3rd visit (long story) and a late staying pintail. The Tim Jackson had a great white egret that came fairly close and a distant green woodpecker that was seen calling from a dead branch in a tree. The Lillian hide was best for a little egret that was right in front of the hide in perfect light conditions! From the causeway hide the best bits was 500 sand martins split into two groups but alas- not one swallow was seen and The lower hide had a passing stock dove. Other super bits between the hides were a close nuthatch (which came out of nowhere), blackcap, Willow warbler, treecreeper close, Marsh tits (close again), marsh harrier and a buzzard.
Another highlight was my chocolate cake with custard- my tradition for every visit!!
I hope to post some pictures on Flickr (3 every) weekend if I can. I have over 500 to sort throught!! Ta!
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
3 Cettis Warbler, Singing Willow Warbler, Bittern, Goldcrest, 2 Water Rail, Male Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret, 12 Avocet 3 Red Breasted Merganser, Mediterranean Gull
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 29th of March 2017 05:52:09 PM
Very quiet bird wise today. Best bird I saw was a Greenshank on the outer pools where a couple of Avocets also put in an appearance. Nothing else out of the ordinary but good to see male and female Marsh Harriers. I can't remember the last time I saw a male.
__________________
No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
After needing to get out for the day, me and my friend decided to visit here at Leighton moss excluding the saltmarshes. It was largely quite but relaxing and peacefull though not good light for any decent pictures. The main highlights were a 70+ strong finch flock with mostly siskins, then goldfinch, lesser redpoll, and a couple of chaffinch and bullfinch with them down along the path to the lower hide. We found a couple of tame-like Marsh tits, blue tits, dunnocks and nuthatch that we had fun feeding along with the usual robins. 44 species were seen today. And that's me for now.... Thanks.
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
American Wigeon at Lower hide but distant Goldeneye female first seen this autumn at Lilians 2 male Bearded tits on grit tray around 9am Water rail seen at Lilians hide Marsh harrier female at Lower hide 4 snipe at Lilians hide 2 Great white egrets showed well at Lilians 7 Fieldfare Tom dickinson hide Red deer stag at Tom dickinson Marsh tit Lots of ducks includingTeal, Wigeon, pintail, Shoveler and Gadwall Lots of Robins taking food out of hand with pheasants
50 Redshanks, 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew and 10 Little Egrets.
Main Reserve
3 Great White Egrets (RSPB advise that 7 currently roost here overnight), 1m Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 2 Snipe and 4 Little Grebes.
The American Wigeon is still showing well from the Lower Hide. Marsh Tits are quite easy to find, especially near Lillian's and the Lower hide.
The big alders near Lillian's hide attracted Goldfinches and Siskins plus a single Lesser Redpoll.
After 2 vigils waiting for the Bearded Tits to emerge on the grit trays, then giving up and retiring to the cafe, there they were, on the monitor, which I hope was'nt live as it
American Wigeon showing well, albeit fairly distant, from the Lower Hide. Pretty quiet day in cool and damp weather. The best of the rest included Great White Egret, Water Rail, Marsh Tit, Whooper Swan, Siskin, Grey Plover and Greenshank. Waited by the Causeway grit trays for almost an hour and a half but no luck with any Bearded Tit.
Quick call in the Eric Morecambe and Allen hides, virtually void of birds bar a few distant Little Egrets and a Redshank so we only did 1 hide and proceeded to the reserve.
Of note... - no sign of the American Wigeon - 5 Great White Egret (3 in same view, 2 elsewhere, then 5 seen in the roost) - lots of Little Egret - 1 Water Rail at Lower Hide (others heard) - 2 Common Snipe - 1 Marsh Tit close up - 1 Bearded Tit over (others heard) - few Goldcrest around - constant stream of Redwing over - 3 different Cetti's Warbler heard - Yellow-browed Warbler heard only near junction of Causeway and Lower Hide path. - plenty of decent Wildfowl around including Pintail, Shoveler and Gadwall - female Sparrowhawk over the Causeway
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 31st of October 2016 02:24:32 PM
The American Wigeon was still showing well today, if a little distant when I saw it. It took a while as the pool was covered in mist from first light, only clearing around 9.30ish. Also present was a rather showy Water Rail. At least three Great White Egrets on site and a few Bearded Tits were pinging on the causeway. Lots of ducks around and more Pintail than I remember for a long while.
__________________
No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
Fantastic trip today with 56 species found mostly on the main reserve only (with exception of the skylark, greylag geese and lapwings on the saltmarsh viewed from the train). Several highlights include bearded tits on the grit trays, 3 water rails all in full view, I found the yellow browed warbler by the gate to the path from the causeway, we were alao just in time to view and take pictures of a cetti's warbler from a ringer close up, the American wigeon took some finding because it spent some time snoozing- but when he woke up gave us very distinct and fabulous views though not close (but was briefly flushed by a marsh harrier quite close before heading back after 2 mins.), at least 2 great white egrets were found, siskins, 3 nuthatch, close encounters of a treecreeper, pink footed geese over, goldcrest, redshanks, oystercatcher, and several snipes were also found from every hide except the lower hide. Any pictures from today and yesterday's trip will take me a few days to sort before I start adding them on Flickr. Many thanks for reading....
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
12 till 3:45 spent 30 mins at the salt marsh hide then spent the rest of the time on the main reserve mainly down by lower hide. salt marsh hides 2 snipe 1 sparrowhawk 2 greenshanks 9 red breasted mergansers + usual birds, redshank etc
main reserve 1 great white egret 2 snipe the american wigeon was seen from lower, at the very back of the pool but everything was put up by a marsh harrier and it ended up returning in the middle. 1/2 marsh harrier, 1 seen from lower hide then another seen from lilians so could be the same bird thought i heard a yellow browed warbler along the wooded path near lower hide but couldn't be certain due to people using calls. water rail heard from the causeway
Just over two and a half hours at Leighton Moss generated the following species list:
Pheasant Great Tit Robin Chaffinch Coal Tit Marsh Tit Blue Tit Mallard Goldfinch Carrion Crow Black-headed Gull Mute Swan Teal Coot Pintail Shoveler Dabchick Grey Heron Wigeon Gadwall Moorhen Cetti's Warbler (heard) Cormorant Great White Egret Snipe Pink-footed Goose (two separate chevrons of c. 30 overflying) Little Egret Marsh Harrier Nuthatch Redshank Raven (overflying)
I looked for Yellow-browed Warbler but without success. I didn't meet anyone who had seen one although it was reported that one was heard singing from the causeway. It seems too that the American Wigeon hasn't been seen since yesterday afternoon when it was put up by an overflying Marsh Harrier.
Fantastic day spent here today in glorious weather and with some brilliant species; beats work. Highlights:
Main reserve:
Goldcrest (lots), chiffchaff, Cetti's warbler (these two heard only), marsh tit, treecreeper, nuthatch, siskin, bullfinch, redwing (heard only), mistle thrush, jay. 1 yellow-browed warbler 8 bearded tit 1 raven heard 1 kingfisher 1 water rail seen, and at least three others heard 1,200+ teal 100+ wigeon c40 shoveler c70 gadwall 5 pintail 14 tufted duck 1 little grebe 6 snipe 2 redshank 8 little egret 1, probably 2, great white egret 1 kestrel 1 buzzard 1 marsh harrier
Salt Marshes. The pools have sprung a leak here, so the pool seen from the Eric Morecambe hide was dry, and the water on the Allen Pool was much reduced. Still, plenty of life around:
Also a great black-backed gull seen here from the train when leaving.
The fields adjacent to and opposite the path to the salt-marshes hides held a couple of pied wagtail, several lapwing, two snipe, one ruff, two curlew, and (a first for me here) a single rook in amongst the numerous jackdaw and carrion crow.
A thoroughly enjoyable day out. :)
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Wednesday 12th of October 2016 11:20:44 PM
Took the train to Leighton Moss today. (Silverdale) Highlights were....up to 6 Bearded tits on causeway grit trays. (Before 11 am seems best.). Several Cetti's warblers calling (one actually seen)! Two marsh Harriers. One Great White egret in flight. Lots of Marsh tits giving close views on path to Grizedale hide. Superbly close treecreeper allowing good photos.
Highlight was a Yellow browed warbler in trees on path to lower hide about 100 yards from end of the causeway at 12.30. Picked up on call ..found ...then gave excellent view.
Day spent here today; pretty grotty weather at times, and the main reserve was, with the exception of the Causeway Hide, extremely quiet (for example, Lilian's yielded two mute swan, one mallard and a grey heron, and Griesdale nothing at all). Despite that, some great species and action seen; highlights:
Main reserve (pretty much all water birds / waders seen from the Causeway hide):
Chiffchaff, marsh tit, treecreeper, nuthatch, swallow, house martin. 2 water rail heard 150+ teal 35+ gadwall 15+ shoveler 2 wigeon 3 little grebe 1 great crested grebe 9 lapwing 50+ redshank 1 spotted redshank 4 greenshank 7 black-tailed godwit 1 peregrine 1 or 2 marsh harrier
Spectacular views of the peregrine and a marsh harrier in an altercation from the Tim Jackson hide.
Salt marshes (where most of the action was):
70+ teal c5 wigeon 3 shoveler 50+ lapwing (mostly circling around; a few on the pools) 2 little stint 3 curlew sandpiper c100 redshank 1 spotted redshank 10+ greenshank c15 snipe 1 ruff 1 avocet (juvenile) c10 black-tailed godwit 1 curlew 14+ little egret 1 grey heron
Hundreds of starling, 40+ lapwing, 20+ pied wagtail, a few meadow pipits and singles of black-tailed godwit and curlew feeding in the fields between the main reserve and the salt marshes.
I could of picked a better day, with gale force winds throughout and lots of rain, the Eric Morecombe hide still produced good wader sightings though.
1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshanks, 6 Avocets, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 6 Black Tailed Godwits and numerous Dunlin and Redshanks.
A juvenile Avocet, still with a parent bird, almost became almost became lunch for a large immature Peregrine.
The falcon came within inches of the youngster, then sped away across the saltmarsh, occasionally climbing, then dropping down to zoom low across the marsh at breathtaking speed.
A large group of Lapwings were on the field between the railway and the road.
The weather meant few birds were showing on the main reserve, with a single Great Crested being the only grebe seen, no sign of Otters either.
From the Lower Hide large numbers of hirundines were seen flying low above water, the surprise being that they were all Sand Martins.
A copse in the field just outside the reserve here was shrouded with what looked like a blizzard of small birds, they were all Sand Martins too, an amazing sight.
-- Edited by John Williams on Saturday 20th of August 2016 09:31:41 PM
A very good and a very warm day. The bird of the day was the 3 spoonbills from the Eric Morecambe hide, giving excellent views despite the fact that they spent most of the morning napping. They did however, on a few occasions wake up with a sudden urge to preen. I popped round again later to see if they were more active. Which they were just recently. ... then after a few minutes they took off and landed way way out! (Typical behaviour). Other highlights included lesser redpolls on the feeders before my train was due, bearded tit though distant, Cetti's Warbler, marsh tit 2-3ft from my face, black tailed godwits in their rich summer plumage, avocet, bullfinch, a marsh harrier and a superb lemon cake with custard to top it all! Nice!!!!
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Hi Steven. Casual mention of great white egret at jbp - is this a typo or please could you give a bit on circumstances as first report for quite some time if not the year. Thanks very much
hi pete, I did first think it was just another little egret as it flew past me at head height but soon realised the actual size of the bird that it wasn't. the bill was dark but very chunky in size compared to that of a little egret & the long dark legs stuck right out. if I wasn't sure about it I would be honest about it but 100% great white egret to me. did not manage to get a photo though I'm afraid.
Hi Steven. Casual mention of great white egret at jbp - is this a typo or please could you give a bit on circumstances as first report for quite some time if not the year. Thanks very much
post for yesterday 21st may. not big numbers of birds around but 65 species seen throughout the whole day.
4 marsh harriers 3 bearded tits, 1 flying within feet of my head as it passed me on the causeway, many more heard. 2 cettis warbler, seen briefly, more heard around 3 marsh tit 3 buzzards 80+ black tailed godwit 2 bar headed goose 1 pochard with 3 juveniles few tufted duck, gadwall & shoveler 2 nuthatch 1 great spotted woodpecker 5 bullfinch plenty of sedge warbler & reed warbler around lots of swifts around, few swallow, sand martin & house martin willow warblers all around
eric & allen hides.
2 spoonbills, distant from eric morcambe hide then flew even further away 1 wheatear 1 lesser whitethroat, showing well oystercatchers & shelducks as steven mentions in his post, no avocets
I also had walk to jenny browns point & had 18 eider, 4 whimbrel, 1 great white egret, 100+ bar tailed godwit, lots of oystercatchers.
Nice day in Silverdale area. Morning spent at Leighton Moss and Allen Pools then afternoon at Gait Barrows
Allen & Morecambe hides - very quiet: No Avocets this year due to problems with water levels after a breach of the banking. 20+ Black-tailed Godwit - some in breeding plumage 1 Lesser Whitethroat 3 Sedge Warbler 2 Little Egret
Leighton Moss - public causeway and Lower hide: 1 Bearded Tit (male with blue leg rings) showed really well 2 Marsh Harrier - m & f 1 Cetti's Warbler singing close to path but remained hidden 2 Sedge Warbler Lots of Reed Warbler 1 Marsh Tit 3 Pochard 1 Kestrel Greylag Geese - lots
Gait Barrows: 4 Marsh Tit including a pair visiting a nest hole 1 Green Woodpecker heard Also: 1 Slow Worm warming up in the sun, 2 Lady's Slipper Orchids in flower, 5 Early Purple Orchids, 1 Dingy Skipper
Very enjoyable day spent here today; quiet in terms of actual numbers of birds, but a good number of species recorded, if nothing out of the ordinary:
Main reserve:
2 Goldcrest Chiffchaff (several) Willow warbler (several) 1 Blackcap 1 Lesser whitethroat Reed warbler (lots) Sedge warbler (several) 1 Cetti's warbler 3 Marsh tit 1 Nuthatch (heard only) Reed bunting (several) Swallow (only about 10 or so, the only hirundines noted) 1 Great spotted woodpecker (heard only) 2 Swift 5 Pochard 12 Tufted duck 19 Gadwall 3 Shoveler 6 Shelduck 1 goosander Greylag geese in decent numbers, a couple with broods 2 Great crested grebe Plenty of lapwing 6 ruff 21 black-tailed godwit 4 oystercatcher Cormorant, grey heron, little egret Lots of black-headed gull, many nesting 2 great black-backed gull (nesting) 1 sparrowhawk 1 buzzard 2 marsh harrier (fabulous views of a male and a female, the female putting up around 60 or 70 black-headed gulls before being seen off by lapwings and oystercatchers)
All the usuals, and what was almost certainly a garden warbler, though it wouldn't give quite a good enough view to confirm that completely.
2 whitethroat and a black-tailed godwit on the walk from the main reserve to the salt marshes, singing blackcap and goldcrest on the butterfly reserve, and chiffchaff, willow warbler and bullfinch seen from the station platform.
3 marsh harriers (1 male, 2 females) were seen in the same binocular view from the Causeway Hide. Also present from this hide were a couple of greylag geese (2 of which had orange neck rings), mute swans, pochard, 4 lapwing and a few more typical water birds. We then walked down to the Lower Hide. A cetti's warbler sang in the reeds by the causeway, but remained hidden. Large numbers of pheasants were throughout the reserve, and allowed us to hand-feed them from the wooded track to the Lower Hide. When we arrived at the hide it was quiet. 1 bar-headed goose was distant with some greylag and Canada geese (however, no truly wild birds have been recorded in the UK so this bird remains off my year list). Other points of interest were: 1 male marsh harrier, 3 great crested grebes, 1 female mallard with 7 ducklings. We then walked to Lilian's Hide, which again was rather quiet but on our walk down we caught a glimpse of a singing reed warbler by the pond dipping area. We heard a green woodpecker calling from some trees behind the sky tower so we scanned them but only had a brief glimpse before it flew off. From the Tim Jackson Hide we had 1 little egret, 1 grey heron and a few teal. Another little egret was showing from the Grisedale Hide, from which 334 black-tailed godwit, 1 snipe and a couple of redshank and ruff showed. 1 male goosander hunted along the back of the pool. 1 marsh tit, 1 nuthatch, 1 lesser redpoll, bullfinch, coal tit and other various woodland species were using the feeders. To end the day we visited the saltmarsh hides. From the Allen Hide there were 1 whimbrel, avocets, oystercatcher, lapwing and 1 second summer mediterranean gull. A summer plumage spotted redshank was spotted just as we were leaving the Eric Morecambe hide, with redshank, oystercatcher and shelduck also from the left-hand pool.
62 species were seen, with another 3 heard only (siskin, cetti's warbler and blackcap). 2 lifers (whimbrel and green woodpecker) were also seen.
2 marsh harrier 5+ buzzard 1 merlin 1 cettis warbler, several more heard around 2 marsh tit 1 nuthatch c150 sand martin, first of the year. these were seen from the causeway hide & went to roost in the reeds. 16 little egret hundreds of black tailed godwit several redshank 1 spotted redshank 2 ruff 4 snipe 19 avocet 3 fieldfare, over not big numbers of ducks around but still teal, pochard, tufted duck, goldeneye, pintail, shoveler, gadwall. water rail, green woodpecker & tawny owl heard only.
Visited yesterday after an unsuccessful attempt at the Sizergh Hawfinches (apparently still around but need to be there before 09.00 and sods law saw me sat on the m6 for 1 hr longer than anticipated so only arrived at 09.20). Anyway. It was possibly the quietest I have ever seen this place. There was so little that I only spent two hours here. I won't even list what I did see as it was just so poor, plus the hides on the estuary are shut for a couple of weeks too. Very disappointing day.
__________________
No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
Late post for Sat 20th
In the torrential rain and winds only birds of note were 3 Marsh Tit on the track to Lower Hide, a Barn Owl opposite Lillian's Hide and 5 Goldcrest chasing each other across the field as you access the reserve the visitors centre.
No Saltmarsh visit today so only 47 species, which for February is excellent considering most of it was 1ft under water by the end of December.Water levels are only 2/3 inch above normal so no issues there. Highlights include.... 3 tame robins on my hand- almost at the same time, water rail, snipe, common gulls amongst 50 black headed gulls, 2 little grebes, 2 jays close, buzzard, marsh harrier, goldcrest, lapwing and the star was a barn Owl along near the new board walk that cuts out the road section. Cold, but a great day to get out.
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Others were treecreeper, marsh tit (good numbers), nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, several water rail heard (at least three calling together, at one point), snipe, lapwing, cormorant, marsh harrier and all the usuals.
Hundreds of lapwing, greylag geese and starling feeding in the semi-flooded fields around he level crossing; also 20 or so redshank and a single little egret.
Salt marshes:
Reed bunting, skylark, chaffinch, robin, dunnock, blue tit. 200+ wigeon 100+ teal 35+ shoveler 11 pintail 4 shelduck 4 red-breasted merganser c50 redshank 5 oystercatcher Curlew heard only 1 little egret Several cormorant lurking on the shore-line at the back, with unidentified large waders. 2 great black-backed gull 1 buzzard (distant, probably over the butterfly reserve area) 1 barn owl