Our bearded tits are doing well with at least 2 broods fledged...there's at least 12 nests.
This morning on the Dawn Chorus we heard a wonderful selection of woodland and reedbed birds singing. Among them there was a grasshopper warbler heard from the path near Lower hide and a lesser whitethroat singing from the area that the path joins the road to the Causeway.
Sat 1 May: A stoat, 8 red deer at Griesdale hide. 2 otters at Lower hide, a bearded tit opposite public hide. A greenshank and 239 black-tailed godwits at Eric Morecambe hide. A raven flew over Tim Jackson hide. A white-fronted was around.
Friday 30 May: 40+ swifts from public hide and 2 bearded tits nearby, a male garganey was seen at Griesdale hide, 590 black-tailed godwits, 2 common gulls, a white-fronted goose,
Thursday 29 May: A spotted redshank, 3 greenshanks, 500 black-tailed godwits, 20+ swifts, tawny owl calling from lower hide, 3 garden warblers at Warton Crag, a male scaup, and a bittern were seen.
Wednesday 28 May: A great spotted woodpecker, tawny owl, male and female shoveler, a snipe, and a white-fronted goose.
Tuesday 27 May: An otter was seen catching an eel at public hide, approx 20 swifts were seen flying about.
Monday 26 May: A spotted redshank, 16 dunlins, 2 knots, about 1000 black-tailed godwits, a lesser whitethroat, a marsh tit, a green woodpecker and another female marsh harrier was seen at Lilian's hide (in addition to the 3 males and 4 females)
Brand new health walks are starting at RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Silverdale, as part of Natural England’s national Walking for Health programme and the team are now looking for people to join them.
The Leighton Moss Health Walks are an ideal way to enjoy a healthier lifestyle, being suitable for all abilities and taking you through some beautiful countryside. They will run every Monday at 11 am to 12 noon from Monday 7th June and are free.
Jenni Thornley, Health Walk leader says: “The walks here will follow good footpaths, are easily accessible and will be led by myself and a team of friendly trained walk leaders so they are great if you come along on your own or with friends and family.”
Michala Phifer, Natural England’s Walking for Health Lead Adviser added “Walking is the perfect way to feel better and get healthier. It’s widely recognised that by taking up this simple form of exercise you can achieve a vast array of health benefits. So why not come along and give it a go.”
By taking regular physical activity you can help reduce the risk of disease such as colon and breast cancer, prevent and reduce high blood pressure which can cause strokes, almost half your risk of developing coronary heart disease, lower the risk of developing type II diabetes, maintain the health of your joints and even improve your mood and relieve depression.
By undertaking a health walk at Leighton Moss you will also get the opportunity to see some wonderful wildlife along the way and reward yourself with a healthy treat in the cafe afterwards. The reserve is 4 miles north of Carnforth and is 250m away from Silverdale Station (on the Manchester/Preston to Barrow line).
To take the first steps to a healthier lifestyle by joining Leighton Moss health walks, contact the scheme co-ordinator, Jenni Thornley by email at jenni.thornley@rspb.org.uk or phone 01524 701413.
For more general information about Natural England’s national Walking for Health programme visit the website at www.wfh.naturalengland.org.uk where you can find more information about health walks and the health benefits as well as locating your nearest group.
Our bearded tits are doing well....there are young now in 3 areas, a pair are re-nesting with their 2nd brood. 15 pairs have used our wigwam nestboxes in the reeds. They should start flocking together soon. (Attached image of a male bearded tit by Mike Malpass)
28 May-A sanderling was reported at the Eric Morecambe hide and a spoonbill was at Lilian's hide at 4 pm.
27 May- 2 greenshanks at Tim Jackson hide, 170 black-tailed godwits, 1 knot, 1 little egret, 1 lesser whitethroat.
26 May-An osprey was reported circling, then was mobbed by the black-headed gulls before drifting off in a north east direction (10.20-10.25 am), a whimbrel was reported on the fields on the way towards the coastal hides, 2 greenshanks.
25 May-3 bearded tits at Griesdale hide, 5 wrens, 6 long-tailed tits, 4 willow warblers, 2 avocets, 250 black-tailed godwits.
24 May-A lesser whitethroat at the Eric Morecambe hide, 2 little egrets, 12 red deer at Griesdale hide, a red kite was reported, a great crested grebe was seen again with a chick on it's back.
23 May-2 sedge warblers, 2 marsh harriers at Griesdale hide, 1 garden warbler reported early afternoon on the path to lower hide (20 m from the bend), a black tern was seen at Lilian's hide at 3.40 pm and again at public hide at 4.45 pm, red deer.
9 May: 3 otters at lower hide, spotted redshank and a bar-headed goose at Allen hide, a bearded tit at Griesdale hide.
8 May: 4 avocets, a spotted redshank, a knot, 2 little egrets, 2 stoats, 2 shovelers, a pair of gadwalls, marsh tit, 60 black-tailed godwits, a teal, 2 wigeon, 2 lapwings, tawnt owl, garden warbler, mediterranean gull (1st summer) at public hide
7 May: a graden warbler, 2 marsh harriers, a spotted redshank, a snipe, a grasshopper warbler
6 May: 2 avocets, a spotted redshank, a goldcrest, marsh harriers, an osprey reported
5 May: marsh harrier, green woodpecker, 2 bearded tits, sedge warbler, fresh otter spraint, a water rail, an avocet, 2 pintails
4 May: marsh tit, bar headed goose, 1 pink footed goose, a knot, a spotted redshank, nuthatch, ravens, peregrines, 4 red deer, green woodpecker, grasshopper warbler
3 May: 4 red deer, great crested grebe, lesser whitethroat, female blackcap, 3 male bullfinches, a pair of gadwalls, female pintail, grasshopper warbler heard near lower hide, a spotted redshank, 2 greenshanks, a barn owl flying over lower pool,
2 May: A spotted redshank, 2 knot, 2 great spotted woodpeckers, lesser whitethroat, greenland white-fronted goose, bar headed goose
Come along and buy a signed copy of the New ‘Birdwatching Walks in the Lake District’ Book and meet the authors John Wilson and David Hindle between 1 and 3 pm at RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve visitor centre on Bank holiday Monday 31 May.
For more information about the book see:
http://www.carnegiepublishing.com/mall/productpage.cfm/CarnegiePublishingLtd/_Birdlake/186168/Birdwatching%20walks%20in%20the%20Lake%20District