Quality weekend at morecambe with family.
Had 3 visits and got all i went for,
3xsnow geese
Red headed smew
Glossy ibis (think it's taken up residense, saw it 3x)
Bittern (lower public hide) just missed otter's by 5mins.Then bittern walked out of reeds just infront of hide.stayed what seemed like seconds then took flight. AWESOME.
You can keep your otters, bittern anytime. AWESOME.
Cheers Danny

Great day as I got almost everything I went for:

Glossy Ibis in the field next to the one facing the chimney (not seen first thing in the morning but went back late afternoon and got it.)
A Bittern did quite a long flypast at Public Hide
Redhead Smew showing quite well at Lillian's Hide
Little Egret at Griesdale Hide
Marsh Tits, Nuthatch and Treecreeper in the woods to the right of Lillian's Hide (I've only seen them on the feeders previously).
Two very tame Robins posing for photos.
Several Fieldfare in woods on the way to the causeway.
Distant views of 2 Otters playing in the pool to the left of Lillian's Hide.
Lots of Greylag Geese about, especially in the field near the level crossing where there must have been 200 in the late afternoon.
3 Oystercatchers in another field.
Not so many of the usuals around except at the Public Hide - 2 Mute Swans, 1 Pintail, 1 Cormorant in the usual place, lots of Tufted Ducks and Coots, some Mallards and Moorhens - there's probably something I've missed.

The only thing I didn't get were the Bearded Tits - are they still around now?

-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Wednesday 1st of February 2012 09:07:43 PM

those were the 4 birds that i had in mind particularly

Hello
The same snow geese as two years ago (originally four, then down to three during the course of that winter)

The only thing in their "favour" is that there is a possibility that they are indeed moving with the wild Greylags and were almost certainly with them when originally located in the Lune Valley last autumn

This means they might be feral Scottish rather than feral English, fractionally more cred?

Pete

No Jason the weren't I'm afraid, they were considered feral birds.

The reason they disappear at 'migration times' is because they probably move back to the areas they hail from, which is nowhere near America, Canada or Alaska! A flock of 27 were seen during autum 2009 in Lancashire, moving there it seems from known large feral breeding populations elsewhere in the UK.

are those snowgeese escapes? don't think they're ringed

An excellent if full day at Leighton Moss saw me in the Public hide for 7.45am in a bid to see the Ibis leave the island roost - which it duly did at around 8.10am. Then on to Lower Hide with Marsh Harriers and Marsh Tits before going to look for the Ibis in its favoured patch two fields down from the Snow Geese and three fields down from Sid and the Manx Birder - excellent to see you both Sid - and as the reserve was heaving by 10.30 or so there must have been other birders from on here there too?

Highlights were:

Four Water Rail plus lots more heard
Beardies - heard only early morning then not a single ping all day
Tawny Owl heard only on arrival
Fieldfare
Marsh Tits [at least six]
Marsh Harriers [juv plus female]
Glossy Ibis
Bull finch
Snow Geese - looked brilliant in the sun even if they are plastic...!

Four otters fishing through the ice and catching eels from Lower Hide to finish the day at 3.45pm

The only strange thing were the number of "birders" making lots of noise and uninterested in some of the interesting birds e.g. Marsh Tits: "yeah they're like Coal Tits and I've seen loads of them, is there a Bittern or some otters around here - pointing into the wood..."

jason fisher wrote:

---

if he was wearing all green and had a woman with him then yes

---

no this chap was on his own,we more than likely did see each other at some point in the day,but never mind.

jason fisher wrote:

---

we may well have met yesterday then steven,

we were the first in the public hide at 8.30 am, opened the windows to see 5 otters playng in the middle of the water, and things got progressively dafter from there on. first bittern turned up directly behind the otters and spent 90 minutes walking slowly around the edge of the reedbed, then it was joined by another which flew in from the right, and shortly after the snow geese flew in striaght over the top of the hide did a circuit of that end and left by flying straight over the top of the hide again, water rails remain heard only for us but we heard 4 squealing,

we had a dozen red breasted merganser from the sea hides
marsh tit on the feeders
the ibis putting on a good show
60 bird species total
plus 5 mammal species a water vole ran across the path on the way back from the allen hide.

it definitely was one of our best days ever

---

possibly,did have a chap pass me on my way to causeway saying he had been there since 8.30 was that you ?
certainly was my best day ever
a shame louise aspden did not see the otters today,hope she has better luck next time.

we may well have met yesterday then steven,

we were the first in the public hide at 8.30 am, opened the windows to see 5 otters playng in the middle of the water, and things got progressively dafter from there on. first bittern turned up directly behind the otters and spent 90 minutes walking slowly around the edge of the reedbed, then it was joined by another which flew in from the right, and shortly after the snow geese flew in striaght over the top of the hide did a circuit of that end and left by flying straight over the top of the hide again, water rails remain heard only for us but we heard 4 squealing,

we had a dozen red breasted merganser from the sea hides
marsh tit on the feeders
the ibis putting on a good show
60 bird species total
plus 5 mammal species a water vole ran across the path on the way back from the allen hide.

it definitely was one of our best days ever

I also visited Sunday, took my dad out for the day. Arrived a little before 9 and went down the causeway, saw two bearded tits briefly near the grit trays and heard the Cetti's Warbler & a woodpecker drumming, 2 Ravens also flew over. From

Public Hide - 3 otters playing over the far side, Marsh Harrier, Bittern flying over, paid of Buzzards, Goosanders, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler plus the usual Coots, Moorhens and pair of GBB Gulls on the island.

Next stop was the far hides, stopping off for the Glossy Ibis on the way. Spotted Redshank was feeding right in front of the Allen Hide, 2 Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing and Little Egret also seen from this hide. Eric Morecambe hide added a nice pair of Red Breasted Merganser.

Grisedale hide was next, looking for the Green Winged Teal - no luck from this hide but I did manage to locate it from the Tim Jackson Hide.

After a fantastic lunch in the cafe (you can't beat syrup sponge & custard!) final stop was Lilian's which was very quiet. Usually in January there isn't much water visible for all the ducks but there were very few. Only bird added to the day list was female Goldeneye (3) - didn't see any males.

Finished the day off at Heysham - sightings added to the relevant thread.

I also had good day to day at leighton moss my highlights glossy Ibis marsh tits green-winged teal spotted redshank and male marsh harrier
Was my 1st ever vist to this site and will be back very soon.
Glossy Ibis and green-winged teal both lifers more me

A great day at leighton moss today,49 species in total with Glossy Ibis,Great White Egret,Red-head Smew,and Bittern being the highlights. Others seen included Marsh Harrier,Sparrowhawk,Buzzard,Little Egret,Treecreeper,Nuthatch,Goldeneye,Pintail and Marsh Tit. 2 life 1sts = a very enjoyable day. To round it off, while waiting for the Starling show a couple of Red Deer showed well from Grisedale hide. Would have been nice to see the otters but you cant have everything.

Popped in the eric morcombe at high tide yesterday morning, very high so not many godwits, but plenty of lapwing up and down from peregrine flybys! Also lovely spotted redshank up close. The Glossy Ibis was feeding in flooded fields, showing well and managed to avoid becoming marsh harrier breakfast twice while watching it!

A red head smew was reported, but I couldn't find it, but had cracking views of bittern from lilians hide and 3 marsh tits on the feeders!

10.30-4.30pm 47 species seen.

good day,but the best bird had to be the last bird(s) off the day.

2 marsh harriers

4 buzzards

2 sparrowhawks

12 snipe

11 redshanks

7 whooper swans (over)

70+ pink footed geese (over)

2 goosanders

8 goldeneyes

plenty off teals, wigeons, shovelers, gadwalls

not many pintails, no pochards 

also little egrets around, just the 1 great crested grebe.

1 marsh tit giving close views upto 3ft.

all usual birds around feeders and reserve.

not a great starling roost (still thousands) but came in small flocks and went straight into reedbeds.

and last off all i went onto causeway near grit trays at 4.10pm and finally got my bogey bird (for here) BITTERN  in flight then another straight behind that one and another at 4.25pm fanastic.

water rails & tawny owls (heard only)

at least 6 red deer at griesdales hide. 

I was there yesterday while you were Chris! 10.10 - c.3.30 but couldn't stay for the Starlings

No Beardies or Bitterns for me either - too windy

I had 4 Greenshank from the Public Hide

Bearded Tits showing v well today 9.15AM, 2 pairs on grit trays.

Saturda 5th and Sunday 6th

Highlight of weekend was fantastic starling show on saturday seen from causeway best I've ever seen up there
Sunday morning starlings all taking off at same time followed by marsh harriers and sparrowhawks

Saturday
Kingfisher Eric hide
Bittern public
Otter
Little egrets 50 + in roost
Marsh and willow tits

Sunday
Good close views of bittern on main drain next to causeway
Hen harrier
Kingfisher

Good day today in decent weather. Highlights included:

Lillian's hide:
A Bittern flew across over the reeds and landed, showing whilst preening with its back to us
Kingfisher
Male Pintail - flew in whilst we were there
Snipe
2 Marsh Harrier - on the far side of the reeds

Public and Lower Hide:

A Bittern flew straight across the hide about 30 yards out
A female sparrowhawk put everything up and dived straight passed the hide
4 goldeneye
Little Grebe
Marsh Harrier showed well flying straight towards us
A pair of pheasant flying over the lake between reed beds
4 Snipe
2 Otters
(Hen Harrier and up to 4 otters were reported)

Tim Jackson and Griesdale Hides:

7 deer (including a pristine stag)
3 Buzzards overhead

Eric Morecambe Hide:

Several Black Tailed Godwits
Plenty of showy snipe
Spotted Redshank
Peregrine over
At least 3 little egret

it's not that you won't see them joe, i know a lot of people do, but they're not a reliable sight, unlike early in the morning, when you can almost guarantee a view if you're there

jason fisher wrote:

---

from personal experience nick, if you're looking for beardies here on the grit trays, you're best off doing it for the first couple of hours after sunrise, once it's hit about 9am you're on a loser

---

Just to second that my best views last winter were in the first half hour of daylight!

Made the most of the nice weather today and spent the afternoon with the family and in-laws at Leighton Moss. Didn't expect to see anything of any great note but it did end up being a really nice outing.

After spending over 35 minutes waiting for our food in the cafe (they're really disorganised in there) we then did a quick drop in at Lillians hide before making our way towards the public hide and the grit trays for the Bearded Tits (the main reason for going up there).

I noticed in the sightings book that a Cetti's warbler had been seen and heard near the public hide and as we approached the hide the bird could be heard singing from just behind the fence. After a few moments the bird showed itself really well and gave views down to six feet at times. Definitely the best views I've ever had of this species. Unfortunately due to it's constant movement I couldn't get any shots of it.

At the public hide we were then treated to cracking views of a Bittern that flew right across in front of the hide. Shortly after a female Marsh Harrier put on a nice show across from the hide. Unfortunately the Bearded Tits didn't show for us but i wasn't too bothered considering the other great birds we'd seen.

Other birds seen were:

6 Goldeneye from the public hide.
1 Marsh Tit on the feeding station as well as three large rats - seems to be a bit of a problem with them.



-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 15th of October 2011 06:56:58 PM

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 15th of October 2011 09:05:21 PM

Dave
Please can you give me a little more info on the report of a Sabine's Gull fly-by off Jenny Brown's Point/Silverdale as per your posting

This is the first I have heard about it (as opposed to the one at Heysham at the same time) and am trying to assemble all the records. Note the 10th was before the main influx off Lancs coast = 13th-14th

Thanks

Pete

Friday morning
Two tawny owls causeway
Marsh harrier juv lower
Bearded tit
Eric
Two kingfishers
Ruff 11
Spotted redshank 2
Snipe
Black tail godwits
Pintail
Sparrow hawk
Greenshank
Plenty of red deer on path to lower
One otter at lower