Leighton Moss RSPB

Ian Boote · Status: Offline

RE: Leighton Moss RSPB

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Ian McKerchar wrote:

Rob Creek wrote:

Other birds of note :

- pair of Willow Tits at feeders

Willow Tits Rob???

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

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Quick visit after getting my 1st Hawfinches up at Sizergh Castle.

Birds of note:

Winter female Long Tailed Duck still present with the 3 Goldeneyes.
2 Marsh Harriers showing well and quite close to Lilian Hide.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Rob Creek wrote:

Other birds of note :

- pair of Willow Tits at feeders

Willow Tits Rob??? hmm

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Poor weather and light for the most part but...it did brighten briefly and produced 14 Bearded Tits on the grit trays which we missed by minutes after waiting around.

Whilst waiting for the Bearded Tits on the Causeway...

-Cetti's Warbler very loud and then seen briefly, (nonetheless a poor photo confirmed)
-one birder pointed out 2 Snipe near to grit trays, he was well pleased and so was I when I told him it was infact 1 Snipe and 1 Water Rail
- 1 Marsh Tit
- 3 Wrens
- 60+ mixed Finch/Tit flock
- constant trickle of Meadow Pipits over

Lilian's Hide...
- Winter female Long Tailed Duck with 3 Goldeneyes
- 1 Bittern fairly close flying low over the water, fantastic view!
- 1 Little Grebe
- 2 Marsh Harriers together
- 1m 1f Wigeon

Grisedale Hide
- 1 Marsh Harrier (much more golden than other 2)
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker on top of a bare trunk out in the marsh

Other birds of note :

- Another 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
- pair of Willow Tits at feeders
- handful of Redwings
- 2 more Kingfishers
- Goosander
- handful of Ravens
- a lot of Teal

Quick visit to Silverdale mud flats produced...

- Oystercatchers (a lot)
- Redshank (a lot)
- Black Tailed Godwits (few small groups)
- Curlew (10+)
- Goosander

Well done to the guy who showed us his fantastic photo of the Bearded Tit in a classic feet twisted outwards pose gripping onto the reeds. Your long wait produced a just reward.
Top day with some top sightings.

Cheers
Rob, and Stephen Ellison

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

I went today echo what PHil said it was insane two extra car parks and half of England there every hide packed.

But lovely day nothing to report except a heron eating a water vole whole and the poor animal moving in its stomach. Watched the starling display at dusk but again the starlings had an off day just a small display.

As always lovely place

Phil Hampson · Status: Offline

An early morning visit today, be warned if you are planning a visit it was very busy, guess the 'Autumnwatch' interest. Car park was full at 13:00 and all places at top of the causeway. Go early, car park empty at 08:00 and enjoy the walks.

Didn't try for bearded tits due to number of people stood there and the associated noise.
Lesser redpoll on causeway. Nothing unusual to report, magnificent weather on a great reserve.

Phil

John O'Neill · Status: Offline

Quick AM visit
No Bearded Tits
Public Hide
5 Scaup (all f/juv) flew in
Lillian's
F Long Tailed Duck distant
F Goosander closer caught huge fish which it hoovered down in seconds

-- Edited by John O'Neill on Sunday 3rd of November 2013 08:00:58 PM

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Had a visit right in the middle of Autumnwatch - no Bearded Tits for me, I put in 1 hour + at the grit trays this morning in ideal conditions

Had 2+ Marsh Harrier, plenty of Wigeon, Teal etc

Tanmay Dixit · Status: Offline

steven burke wrote:

Tanmay Dixit wrote:

Yeah, it was great to see the bone, from Dunham Park did you say? They obviously seem to actually know their stuff - even Martin who prob has to appear to lack some knowledge because Chris does that role. Did you confirm axis/atlas?
It was good to meet you :)
Also appreciated Martin apologising when the crew disturbed the bearded tits, spoke to him later by the visitor centre.

Forgot to mention snipe, thrushes etc.
Also 40+ siskin on the alders (?) on the way to Lower hide. Didn't see anything else amongst them.

good to see you then, now I know your face, next time I will officially introduce myself
I had a look at the skeleton of a rabbit, axis/atlas kind of resembles it, but i'm sure chris packham knows his stuff. met & spoke to him again later in the shop, very nice chap.
it was nice of martin to apologise & the crew also.
I also had lots of siskins flying around & landing in the alders, also forgot to mention a green woodpecker was yaffling near the visitor centre when I first arrived, plenty of water rails heard all around the reserve.

Sent you a PM Steven smile

steven burke · Status: Offline

Tanmay Dixit wrote:

Yeah, it was great to see the bone, from Dunham Park did you say? They obviously seem to actually know their stuff - even Martin who prob has to appear to lack some knowledge because Chris does that role. Did you confirm axis/atlas?
It was good to meet you :)
Also appreciated Martin apologising when the crew disturbed the bearded tits, spoke to him later by the visitor centre.

Forgot to mention snipe, thrushes etc.
Also 40+ siskin on the alders (?) on the way to Lower hide. Didn't see anything else amongst them.

good to see you then, now I know your face, next time I will officially introduce myself smile

I had a look at the skeleton of a rabbit, axis/atlas kind of resembles it, but i'm sure chris packham knows his stuff. met & spoke to him again later in the shop, very nice chap.
it was nice of martin to apologise & the crew also.
I also had lots of siskins flying around & landing in the alders, also forgot to mention a green woodpecker was yaffling near the visitor centre when I first arrived, plenty of water rails heard all around the reserve.

Tanmay Dixit · Status: Offline

Yeah, it was great to see the bone, from Dunham Park did you say? They obviously seem to actually know their stuff - even Martin who prob has to appear to lack some knowledge because Chris does that role. Did you confirm axis/atlas?
It was good to meet you :)
Also appreciated Martin apologising when the crew disturbed the bearded tits, spoke to him later by the visitor centre.

Forgot to mention snipe, thrushes etc.
Also 40+ siskin on the alders (?) on the way to Lower hide. Didn't see anything else amongst them.

steven burke · Status: Offline

8-5pm another all dayer. 53 species seen

tanmay, that would of been you then that was stood next to me whilst I was showing chris & martin my animal bone wink

it turns out the bone was from a rabbit.
at one point there was at least 13 bearded tits on the grit trays.
I missed the bittern in the morning, but did have one fly over the causeway at 4.40pm.
3 marsh harriers, 1m 2f
2 sparrowhawks
1 whooper swan over west at 8.15am, 29 over east at 4pm.
2 skiens of pink footed geese, 24 & 63 west
lots of snipe flying around, like tanmay says probably due to all the shooting going on

21 little egret going to roost, probably more but soon gave up due to the rain starting.
1 black tailed godwit
2 goosanders
at least 6 marsh tits
several goldcrests around
lots of redwings & fieldfares over
thousands of starlings going to roost, but headed towards the marshes so did not see any diplays.
plus usuals around.

p.s that rubythroat pic of kevins was awesome smile

-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 26th of October 2013 10:26:20 PM

Tanmay Dixit · Status: Offline

This am and early PM

Spent the morning watching bearded tits on the grit trays, with Chris Packham and Martin Hughes-Games who were filming, it was good to meet them and have a brief chat! Sounds like Autumnwatch will be good this year.

11+ bearded reedling (lifer) showed really well on grit trays
1 bittern (flew left to right from public hide in the morning)
At least 2 marsh harrier, one male, one imm. fem.
1 sparrowhawk from Grisedale
2+ marsh tit in the woodland trail
Usual waterfowl - mallard, teal, pintail, wigeon, shoveler, gadwall, goosander reported etc

Lots of shooting heard from areas adjacent to the reserve :(

1 otter very briefly from lower hide
1 red deer hind from Tim Jackson hide

Good to meet Kevin Kelly and others - it's getting busy with AW starting soon! :)
And great rubythroat pic Kevin!

-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Saturday 26th of October 2013 05:56:55 PM

Frank Whitney · Status: Offline

Great Grey Shrike showing well from the causeway feeding and flycatching

Karl Bishop · Status: Offline

Same as Bill
I was there yesterday also strolled up to the grit trays about 9.45 and within 5 minutes a pair of bearded tits (M+F) showed for about 10 minutes
I been numerous times in the past with no luck
Also of note
Water Rail and Kingfisher from public hide
Bittern from lower hide (albeit a brief view from flyover reed beds for about 10 seconds)
Marsh Harrier (M+F) from Tim Jackson Hide
All in all a good day
Cheers

sid ashton · Status: Offline

If it's any help to folk hoping to see Bearded Tits at Leighton Moss - I was told by one of the wardens a few years ago that calm, bright October days between 07.30 and 09.30 give the best chance of seeing them on the grit trays. It's usually worked for me biggrin

-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 13th of October 2013 12:38:46 PM

Bill Lavery · Status: Offline

I was there today and got much the same as you although I only went the Marsh hides and Public hide. Sorry to tell you though I struck lucky with the Beardies with a pair on the grit trays and I just strolled up at 9.30 and there they were so coiuldnt ask for more than that. However i had tried last Monday and no luck and at least 4 other times this year. Earlier the better seems to be the way

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Friday, October 11th.

As usual for me, no sight nor sound of Bearded Tit or Bittern. However...

Eric Morecambe hide.

Curlew Sandpiper 2
Knot 10+
Blk-tailed Godwit 100+
Redshank 30+
Spotted Redshank 3
Kingfisher 1m
Curlew 2
Goosander 1m 1f...both very "scrotty" looking.
Raven 1
Marsh Harrier 1m
Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, etc.

Main Reserve.

Marsh Tit 2
Treecreeper 1
Marsh Harrier 1m...possibly the same as above, of course.
Lesser Redpoll 2
Snipe 10+
Greylag Goose 1
Water Rail 1 heard.
Sparrowhawk 1f and 1m carrying what looked like a rather unlucky Greenfinch. It puts my luck with the Bittern and Bearded Tit into perspective!
Nuthatch 1
Grey Heron 6+
Tufted Duck 1

etc.

David Duncan · Status: Offline

Cracking day today, highlights were an otter right in front of the public hide, about 8 or 9 bearded tits on the grit trays and quite close up views of a female kingfisher at the Eric Morecambe hide.

Pete Marsh · Status: Offline

Marsh, not Willow Tit at Leighton - the opposite to the south of the county

Regards

pete

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

Trip over to Leighton Moss in warm pleasant conditions,

Female Marsh Harrier
Curlew Sandpiper 2
Black Tailed Godwit 20
Redshank c40
Kingfisher
Bearded Tit heard but unfortunately not seen
Nuthatch
Willow Tit

Little Egret 4
Pink Footed Goose c50

Also
Gadwall, Pintail, Pochard, Widgeon, Shoveler and Teal

steven burke · Status: Offline

another all dayer here, 76 species seen.

eric morcambe & allen hides...

no little stint, but lots of small waders what looked like dunlins a bit distant, however..
2 pectoral sandpipers made up for that nice and close, even managed a decent pic on my phone smile

at least 5 curlew sandpipers
1 green sandpiper
5 little ringed plovers
1 ruff
1 knot
7 greenshanks
3 spotted redshanks
dunlins, redshanks, black tailed godwits.
few curlews
7 little egrets
1 of each whitethroat, sedge warbler & reed warbler in binocular view.

around reserve..

good views of a water rail in the channel on the way to griesdale hide also cettis warbler was calling in the nearby reeds and then flew across in front of me, so a brief glimpse wink

treecreeper next to griesdale hide
1 peregrine falcon
5 buzzards
2 sparrowhawks
1 kestrel
plenty of teal, wigeon, gadwall & shoveler around
several tufted ducks
3 pochards
1 pintail
2-3 kingfishers
3-4 marsh tits
1 great spotted woodpecker
2 skylarks
blackcaps, chiffchaffs & willow warblers
plus usuals around.

an otter was on show at 6.50pm from public hide.
45 little egrets in roost upto 7.30pm
bearded tits heard only near grit trays
tawny owls heard from the train station.

smile

kevin kelly · Status: Offline

Hi Steven, sounds like you had a cracking day! Ill send you the details from the two Bearded tits, with details of sex etc. I couldn't make out too much from the photos, so ill confirm the ino for you. Nice find on the Spottted flys!!!
Good to see you

steven burke · Status: Offline

all day here, 68 species seen.

2 bearded tits, both males smile

were on the grit trays along the causeway just before 10am, apparently the earliest ever recording for them to be using the trays. managed some pics on my phone through my scope, kevin Kelly is going to send me some more info on these 2 particular birds.
1 marsh harrier, female
3-4 buzzards
1 sparrowhawk
2 kestrels
1 raven
2 spotted redshank on island from public hide
1 green woodpecker
3 great spotted woodpeckers
2 jays
4-6 marsh tits
2 sedge warblers
plenty off reed warblers around
willow warblers all around, plus several chiffchaffs
3 blackcaps
2-3 spotted flycatchers, from tim Jackson hide
few tufted ducks, pochards, shovelers, gadwalls, wigeons & plenty of teal
plenty of snipe flying around
lots of water rails heard only

eric morcambe & allen hides

3 spotted redshanks
7 greenshanks
4 snipe
2 ruff
1 common sandpiper
7 little egrets
several redshanks, black tailed godwits & lapwings
plus all usuals around.
stoat running along the causeway & 7 red deer.

smile

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

AM/PM
Marsh Harrier-4 fem/1 adult male/1 Imm male- Best views from the lower Hide
plenty swift
1 Cetti's Warbler song only
Raven -4
plenty godwits and Avocets
Coastal pools very flooded-not much cop for photography :(

smile

Pete Marsh · Status: Offline

Evening all
There has been some discussion on the female Lesser Scaup formerly at Borwick Waters/latterly on the fishing pond over the road

VERY few people who have been birdwatching at Leighton Moss have been to see this bird, despite it being a regularly publicised (websites and pager) very instructive identification exercise and just a minor detour on the way home

Various reasons have been given for this, perhaps the most interesting is the notion that it is not on an "official reserve", or a place which openly invites birdwatchers. One person spoken to today had not been as he felt that viewing a private site where anglers were minding their own business, even from a public right of way, was as intrusive and uncomfortable as viewing a private garden where arrangements with the owner had not been made. Therefore the unease over the process of observation outweighed any desire to see the bird

If you were not interested in seeing this bird at its current location, would you, on the other hand, go out of your way to see it if it was at Leighton Moss (e.g. on the Lower Hide when you only intended to visit the shore pools/western end hides)?

Would be interested in feedback here. Thanks.

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Tuesday, April 30th.
Highlights.

Marsh Harrier 1m
Osprey 1 seen from causeway.
Little Gull 2 seen from public hide.
Marsh Tit 2
Curlew Sandpiper 1 from Eric Morecambe hide.
Knot 20+ from Morecambe hide.
Garden Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat 1 singing.
Grasshopper Warbler 1 good views of singing male.
Bar-tailed Godwit 2
Black-tailed Godwits/Avocets.

etc.etc.etc.

Vicky Harper · Status: Offline

Brief visit to Eric Morcambe hide 4.40 - 5.00-

70+ Avocet
150+ Black-tailed Godwit
Spotted Redshank in Summer plumage
Many Swift
2 Marsh Harrier

Outskirts-

Part Melanistic pheasant
Curlew displaying

kevin kelly · Status: Offline

Hi Steve, a couple of questions. Firstly was the wood warbler singing too,and secondly the two bitterns booming both from same area? And frequency of the booms? Cheers mate sounds like a great day! This information would be great for our records! :)

Dave Colton · Status: Offline

Excellent day at Leighton Moss today, definite highlight was a cracking Curlew Sandpiper at Eric Morecambe hide.

Lifer for me.

steven burke · Status: Offline

27th april, just like dave, an excellent day out here with 74 species seen throughout the day, highlights being...

eric Morecambe & allen hides..

2 male lesser whitethroats outside the eric morcambe hide showing really well & putting on there fancy flycatching skills smile

good views of sedge warbler, plus whitethroats, blackcaps, chiffchaffs & willow warblers.
1 curlew sandpiper, 1 spotted redshank, 6 bar tailed godwits, 5 knot in amongst the black tailed godwits & redshanks
30+ avocets
1 wheatear in fields near the level crossing

around the rest of the reserve...

1 male redstart, only a brief glimpse in field close to lower hide, could not relocate.
1 wood warbler, on path going towards lower hide off the causeway, showing well around 7pm smile

missed the osprey in the morning hmm

no signs of the pair of garganey
at least 3 marsh harriers
4-6 marsh tits, 1 in particular posing for pics
several buzzards around
2 sparrowhawks
good numbers off mostly sand martins, swallows, several house martins & swifts.
willow warblers all around plus blackcaps, chiffchaffs, reed & sedge warblers
plus all usuals around

birds heard only 2 booming bitterns around 7pm, water rail, tawny owl, green woodpecker & cettis warbler. smile

-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 28th of April 2013 12:39:21 AM

Craig Higson · Status: Offline

Very pleasant day even if there was nothing exceptional. Best birds were a cracking breeding plumage Spotted Redshank, the fairly numerous Marsh Harriers and the even more numerous Avocets. Hard to believe the latter weren't here as breeding birds only 10 years ago or so. Other main species seen: Red-breasted Merganser, Cettis Warbler, Black-tailed Godwit, Water Rail, Common Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin, Buzzard, and the rest of the usual suspects.

Nick Hilton · Status: Offline

66 species at Leighton Moss today, highlights include;
Plenty of Marsh Harrier skydancing action
Osprey within 75m over the causeway
40+ Avocet (Outer hides)
100+ Black Tailed Godwit (Outer hides)
3 Little Egret
Single Ringed Plover
My first Swallows & Sand Martins of the year
Cettis Warbler calling loudly outside Grizedales Hide
My first Willow Warbler of the year (3)
10+ calling Chiffchaff
3 Marsh Tit

Keith Mills · Status: Offline

A very good day out with Wigan RSPB in glorious April weather. Blue Skies all day,
jackets off in the afternoon, and no snow until we got back to Chorley.

Highlights:
Marsh Harrier..4 Possibly 5. With 2 Males up together skydancing, with a female seen above. One splendid Male
(Quite Pale with primaries missing) hunting low, 40 yards from us on the the causeway. Two more females seen.
Buzzards..4
Peregrine..(f) Cruising above us, fairly low. Fantastic smile

Marsh Tit around the feeder, pointed out by Gordon Taylor(nice to meet you Gordon.) Plus 2 more in the wild.
See Woodwell postscript.
2 Cetti's Warblers heard only, in the causeway bushes.
Tawny Owl hooting, near the Lower Hide.
Chiffchaff..1
Pintail Duck..1
Song Thrush..1

From the Eric Morecambe and Allen hides. (and drivers with tall vehicles like mine, should be aware that
the first car park is now closed!)
Avocets..I managed to count 28 of the 30 plus present.
Spotted Redshank..1
Another Chiffchaff.
Kingfisher (m) ..1, good views of it stood on the pool bank
Little Egret..4
Unfortunately while we were at these hides, a Common Crane flew over Lower Hide!
Plenty Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck. Pair of Gadwall

Woodwell.
After a very welcome coffee and cake at the nearby cafe/art gallery we visited the Well
and Bottoms Wood.
No Hawfinch to be seen but great views of 2 Marsh Tits in different parts of the wood smile

-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 6th of April 2013 08:52:34 PM

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Saturday 2nd February 7.45am - 3pm

2 Green Woodpeckers flew over the M6 near Lancaster whilst en route then as I approached the reserve I counted 15 Little Egret in a large tree overlooking one of the marshes
Usuals at the feeding station but not in as good numbers as they were before the work started.
Lillian's Hide- Plenty of Mallard, Tufted Duck, Teal, Pochard, Wigeon, a few female Goldeneye, a high number of Gadwall and a few Pintail. 3 Marsh Harriers (2 adults 1 young) showing very well quite close to the hide.
Water Rail also showing well up close to the hide, 14 Snipe, Cormorant, Coot, Moorhen, feral GreylagGeese, Common- Black-Headed - and Great Black Backed Gulls all on show. All this and 2 Bearded Reedlings flying over the reeds to the right of the hide but not close enough to get a shot.

Grisedale Hide. Think it was a Great Egret as it was certainly large enough, too big for a Little Egret. Marsh Harrier again.

Tim Jackson Hide. Bit quiet, mainly Duck species.

Walked round to the Public and Lower Hide.
Buzzard, 4 Curlew flying over in full voice. A single Lapwing on one of the islands. Others were mainly Ducks here. Except for the Cettis Warbler outside the Public Hide, loud and in your face singing then suddenly stops, it flew out of the reeds, looked at me then flew back in.
Only other bird of note was a single Raven flying quite low near to Lower Hide towards the farm, massive size and the wedge tail a giveaway.
No Otters or Bittern. Otherwise a brilliant day!

kevin kelly · Status: Offline

Hi Ian, the windows aren't smashed thankfully, we are getting them replaced because of the latches, that's why they are boarded up. And as for the dog in the hide was it public hide?
Thanks sounds like you had a decent day, great to have the avocets back!
Kev

Ian Boote · Status: Offline

Teal Wigeon Gadwall Shoveler Goldeneyes, Pintail showing up well hide, Pochard, Goosander, Tufted, Shelduck Redshank Little Egret, Spotted Redshank, Curlew, Lapwing Oystercatcher, Greylag Geese heard cetti warbler Raven, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Avocet, female sparrowhawk Marsh Tits Bullfinchs and Otter at noon from lower Hide. Lots of people about some quite loud with running commentry which scared quite a bit off, several window smashed, and a bird watcher with a dog in the hides

Jon Bowen · Status: Offline

same as previous posts with addition of Spotted Redshank and Merlin from the Eric Morecambe complex

Kev Topping · Status: Offline

Same as Ian but plus peregrine, water rail,the usual blue, great coal and marsh tits and a marlin. Grisdale hide look brill now.

Ian Boote · Status: Offline

Teal Wigeon Gadwall Shoveler Shelduck, female Goldeneyes, Pintail, Pochard, Goosander, Tufted, Redshank Little Egret, Greenshank, Marsh Harrier showing well public hide, Curlew. Large numbers of Lapwing moving about, Oystercatcher, Greylag and Pink footed Geese heard cetti warbler several red deer and a water vole. Grisdale Hide finished.

Vicky Harper · Status: Offline

Late post for Friday/Saturday

Feeding Station

Marsh Tit
Male Brambling

Main reserve

2 + Water Rail
2 + Marsh Harrier
15+ Little Egret
Kingfisher
Sparrowhawk
2 Snipe

Female Otter

Eric Morcambe and Allen Hide

2 Peregrine Falcon. 1 on the ground feeding on a lapwing
Marsh Harrier
Pintail
Redshank
Greenshank
2 Female Red Breasted Merganser + 1 male
Shoveler
Teal
Little Egret
500+ Lapwing

Mark Walsh · Status: Offline

Spent the day at the reserve with a couple of friends and had a good days birding;

Main Reserve

Teal
Wigeon
Snipe
Water Rail
Greenshank
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Marsh Harrier
Green Woodpecker
Treecreeper
Nuthatch
Marsh Tit
Brambling

Allen and Eric Morcambe hide's

Teal
Wigeon
Gadwall
Shoveler
Shell duck
Goldeneye
Pintail
Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Little Egret

The Otter's were showing well from pretty much every hide on the reserve.

Ian Boote · Status: Offline

Lots of ice so number of birds reduced but 3 Whooper swans, Teal ,Gadwall, some Wigeon, 2 Goosander, 1 Goldeneye, Treecreeper Nuthatch, Curlew, Lesser Black-backed Gull Redshank, Lapwing, Juv Marsh Harrier, Lesser Redpoll, Goldcrest, lot of hungry Robins Little Egret fishing with Heron heard Water Rail and sure Green Woodpecker

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 8th of December 2012 03:35:55 PM

Paul Richardson · Status: Offline

Dropped in to Leighton Moss about 2pm today AFTER climbing Blencathra in gorgeous fresh snow!

Was really there to see the starling roost, but thought I would try for my first (lifer) Bittern - and indeed, saw TWO in filght, and one stalking along the edge of the reeds opposite Public Hide along the frozen water's edge.
Was really great view - a fair way away, yes, but just to see it doing its Bittern walk along the ice was really brilliant.

After that we had a good view of a moderately big murmuration of Starlings against a pink, freezing cold sky.

What a day!!

John Doherty · Status: Offline

I had the very good fortune to go to Leighton Moss today for my first visit - splendid weather and though cold, it reaped the rewards big time

The highlight for me was seeing my first ever BITTERN which coyly emerged from the reeds on the left of Public Hide and flew into them, and then across the hide into the right hand side.

A second lifer was a multiple tick - 6 Marsh Tits were on the feeders and a at a tree on the path where I had a brief chat with a photographer - we saw Nuthatch x 2 and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling.

At Lillians Hide on my visit a juv.male Marsh Harrier was preening in a distant tree, but a chap with a Swarovski scope got me onto him. Water Rail was heard in the reeds but not seen. 10-15 Snipe were around, including one who, on my second visit, was cocky enough to saunter onto the ice and drill into it with his bill right in front of the hide, giving excellet photo ops (except... I don't have a camera

)

A second Marsh Harrier was seen performing well at Public Hide.

Also, a good mix of waterfowl (Teal, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Wigeon and common birds (M Bulfinches on feeding station was my highlight) throughout this truly superb place.

At the rail station 17 Waxwings went over my head as I was taking a call - I missed them, but a reliable source working for the National Trust and who knew his birds said so, and he had seen some whislt working at Arnside Fell.

-- Edited by John Doherty on Thursday 29th of November 2012 07:40:12 PM

James Walsh · Status: Offline

1 Hawfinch Woodwell, near Silverdale, seen well inbetween the houses & the car park early afternoon, also 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

RSPB Reserve
Causeway
Several thousand Starlings
Water Rail showing well
Cetti's Warbler heard
2 Marsh Harrier
8 Little Egret
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Pintail
1 Pochard
1 Goosander

((Also, the Great White Egret was seen today in Jackson/Griesdale area))

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Please note, that the Griesdale hide is being removed on Monday the 26th and Tuesday the 27th of November. There will also be limited access to the Tim Jackson hide whilst the old Griesdale hide is being removed too. So if you're visiting on those dates expect some disruptions.

The new hide is apparently expected around three weeks after the 28th.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Good haul, Nick. Good to hear that the Bearded Tits are still using the grit trays in reasonable numbers. I had several earlier in the year but on talking to 'Vols' & local birders a short while after they reported secveral irruptions that had lowered the numbers of Bearded Tits on the reserve & therefore using the grit trays. It started to get a bit hit & miss as to whether visitors saw them at all, according to the info passed to me. Glad to see that they are looking to be more reliable now

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

After our failed attempt at Sizergh, Leighton Moss proved much more successful. The highlights being:-

Great White Egret - showed well from Grisedale hide.
Marsh Harriers - one from Public hide and one from Eric Morecambe hide.
Bearded Tits - 12 reported earlier in the morning on the grit trays. We actually only saw five birds but you could hear others pinging in the reeds.
Merlin - from Eric Morecambe hide.
Greenshank - Eric Morecambe.
Marsh Tit - feeding station.
Water Rail - Lillian's hide.
Kingfisher - Lillian's.

After here we took a walk down by the race track from Sands lane next to the estuary. Not a great deal around down here but plenty birds on shore in the distance. Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Redshanks, etc all noted here.

All in all a good day with 70 species noted in total.