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

Very quiet around Leighton moss this morning with just the usual ducks and godwits about. Other birds seen;

3 Nuthatch, 2 Marsh tits and 2 Coal tits around the feeders
Spotted Redshank hidden down in the vegetation at the Grizedale hide
2 Raven and 2 Buzzards from the public hide

Bearded tits were pinging away in the reeds near the grit trays but they did not come into view and a Osprey was seen flying over the reserve.

It was a lot better bird wise at the small car park beside the sea at Silverdale looking out across the bay as the tide went out and the birds flew to the sandbanks. Birds seen;
1000's of Oystercatchers, Godwits, Redshank, Knot, Curlew, Whimbrel and gulls were all mixed together.
Also 2 Little gulls flew over close to the car park
2 separate distant sightings of Skuas well far out into the bay, one was chasing small wader.
Distant views of 5 terns, one of which I'm sure was a Black tern.
A good close up of a Greenshank which arrived in front of the car park as it started to rain hard.
Another birder told me that he had seen a Sabine's gull pass by earlier that morning.

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.

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

A lovely walk around in the sun

Joe Wynn wrote:

---

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.

Leighton Moss 13/05/2011 - including Eric Morecambe Hide and the other hide nearby that are outside main reserve:


8 to 10 Sedge Warblers
4 Reed Warblers
20 Avocets (different places)
7 Blk Tailed Godwits
1 Redshank
2 Shoveler
4 Gadwall
4 Garganay
4 Oystercatchers
15 Goldfinches (different places)
2 Pochards
16 Shellducks
2 Chiffchaff but a lot more heard
1 Willow warbler
2 Common Whitethroats
My first House Martins of the year (4)
2 Marsh Harriers (1m 1f)
1 Blackcap
1 Treecreeper
1 Falco Peregrinus

Great day's birding but didnt manage to get my first ever Great White Egret.

Keep birding

6/05/2011 FRIDAY

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

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.

Garganey pair present from Griesdale Hide at 6.30pm. Showed really well in the evening sunshine before flying off.

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

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...)

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.

Watch out IMF!

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

Originally posted by James Varden today:

Birds seen on today's visit:

Brief stop at Warton Crag:-

Raven, Jackdaw, Rook, Crows, Blackbird, Robin, Starlings, female Peregrine & Kestrel

Then on to Leighton Moss:-

Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Bearded Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Siskins, 3 Jays, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Grey Heron, Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pintail, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Fieldfare, Redwing, Snipe, Gt Sp Woodpecker (heard only), Bittern, Mistlethrush, Goldcrest (heard only).

Hi Ian,

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.

Steve Bostock wrote:

---

also water rail along side bittern.

nice to meet you Sid
happy new year
steve and julie ,Littleborough

-- Edited by Steve Bostock on Saturday 1st of January 2011 07:14:18 PM

---

Nice to meet you both as well - I had intended to say this in my post but I had a senior moment

Glad you found that Water Rail ok.

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.

A nice start to the new birding year

:Wonderful day at Leighton
Lillians;
Bittern
Heron
Coot
Moorhen
Teal a plenty
Black headed Gull
Buzzard

Game Keepers Cottage;
Two Waxwings

Public Hide;
Nothing

Lower Hide;
Not some much

Footpath beyond lower hide
Bittern within five feet on footpath

Carpark;
Greater spotted woodpecker

Warton Cragg
Good to see Perigrine found a new mate as they were both present