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Leighton Moss |
Recent sightingsSaturday, 21 November 2009The reserve visitor centre (shop and cafe) and open as usual. On the reserve, the path to Lilian's hide is clear of water but you'll need wellingtons to get to Griesdale, Tim Jackson, Public, Lower and the Saltmarsh hides. The section of path after lower hide is currently closed. Please do still come and visit us-the wildlife is still here and the cakes are still yummy! Friday, 20 November 2009A cettis warbler was heard on the causeway and seen on the grit tray. 2 bearded tits were seen on the grit trays. A bittern flew over the causeway. An otter was seen at lower hide at 12.50. A redshank was at Griesdale hide. A goldeneye was at Lilian's hide and 4 snow geese were down at the saltmarsh.
Thursday, 19 November 20091 male and 1 female red breasted mergansers were at the saltmarsh pools. About 60 redshanks were counted there as well.
Wednesday, 18 November 20092 cettis warblers were at public hide, 2 bearded tits were at the Causeway, 7 little egrets were at Eric morecambe hide.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009A female bullfinch was seen at the feeding station. A goldfinch was seen from the path to lower hide.
Monday, 16 November 20092 ravens, 2 peregrines and 1 little owl were seen at Warton Crag. 4 snow geese were at the saltmarsh. An otter was seen from Lilian's hide at 14.45.
Sunday, 15 November 20092 bearded tits were seen at the causeway. A goldcrest was spotted in the car park. 4 snow geese and 3 barnacle geese flew over lower hide. 3 great white egrets, a peregrine and 2 goosanders were seen. A flying bittern was seen from public hide. A male goldeneye and 7 females were seen. A peregrine was spotted at Lilian's hide and an otter was seen there catching an eel at 2.45pm. 2 peregrines were seen from Eric Morecambe hide and 4 snow geese and 3 adult barnacle geese were seen. A migrant hawker dragonfly was seen at Griesdale hide.
Saturday, 14 November 20092 cettis warblers were next to Tim Jackson hide. A cettis warbler was also heard along the Causeway. A water rails was seen along the causeway too. 6 whooper swans and 2 woodcocks were seen. There was a bittern flight from lower hide. A short-earded owl was reported at the Eric Morecambe hide. An young otter was seen at the Tim Jackson hide.
Thursday, 12 November 20093 great white egrets and 52 little egrets were seen coming off the roost. A water rail, a bittern and a peregrine were seen from lower hide. At the Causeway there was a kingfisher seen and the cettis warbler was heard calling. 4 greenshanks were seen at public hide.
Friday, 13 November 20094 snow geese were seen in front of Lilian's hide. A peregrine was seen on a dead tree in front of Lilian's hide. The cettis warbler was seen briefly from right hand side of lower hide there was a bittern flight at lower hide too.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009A bittern was seen at lower hide, 12 snipe at Lilian's hide, 5 pintails at Eric Morecambe hide. A treecreeper, 2 stoats, a cettis warbler and a fieldfare were seen on the reserve too.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009A raven, a peregrine, 2 water rails, 1 great white egret, a merlin, a little grebe were seen, as well as a field mouse in Lilian's hide!
Monday, 9 November 20094 snow geese have been around, 20 bearded tits were reported on the grit trays in the morning. 2 brown hawker dragonflies were seen ovipositing at Lilian's hide.
Sunday, 8 November 20092 cettis warblers were heard singing on the causeway, up to 5 bearded tits were on the grit trays. 2 bitterns were seen from lower hide and one other bittern was seen from public hide. 1 great white egret at Tim Jackson hide. An otter was seen from lower hide.
Friday, 20 November 2009Highlights on 7 Nov: 3 great white egrets, 52 little egrets were counted, 7-8 bearded tits were on the grit trays and a bittern has been seen at lower hide. A cettis warbler was recorded and a merlin was seen. About 10,000 starlings came in low over the reeds at dusk.
Friday, 20 November 2009The reserve visitor centre (shop and cafe) and open as usual. On the reserve, the path to Lilian's hide is clear of water but you'll need wellingtons to get to Griesdale, Tim Jackson, Public, Lower and the Saltmarsh hides. The section of path after lower hide is currently closed. Please do still come and visit us-the wildlife is still here and the cakes are still yummy! Friday, 6 November 2009Highlights: Up to 3 great white egrets have been seen throughout the week (seen today as well). 49 little egrets were counted today too. Bearded tits can sometimes be seen from the Causeway- 6 were seen today on the grit trays. At least 2 (possibly 3) bitterns were seen today from Lower hide. The cettis warbler was heard calling today (and has been heard on a few other occasions this week). 4 snow geese were still around on the saltmarsh pools on 1 Nov (seen again on 3, 4 and 5 Nov) and a barnacle goose joined them that day too . 3 whooper swans were seen at public hide on 2 Nov and 7 were around on 3 Nov. 5 greenshanks were seen on the island at public hide on 2 Nov and 4 today. A kingfisher was seen on 3 and 4 Nov. 9 buzzards were seen from Griesdale hide on 3 Nov. 2 peregrines were seen on 4 Nov. A turnstone was reported amongst several dunlins on 4 Nov. 3 goosanders were around today too. 2 otters were seen from lower hide today. (1 was also seen at lower hide on 4 Nov) 7 bullfinches and a stoat were seen from the feeding station on 2 Nov! A flock of 200 fieldfares were seen at the Causeway today. About 250 redwings were seen to be roosting by lower hide on 3 Nov. Huge flocks of starlings have been coming in to roost in the reedbed this week. Some nights they have been coming in low and fast-still great to see and hear their loud chattering. This has been to the left of Lilian's hide for the past couple of nights. On Wednesday night it was an amazing sight with an estimated 80-100,000 starlings coming in from 4 - 4.30pm. A sparrowhawk made them all very edgy and produced a spectacular ariel display for at least 15 minutes with wonderful shapes being created in the sky. They finally settled in to the right of Lilian's hide (nearer to Griesdale hide). One visitor said 'that was better than fireworks!' and they did live up to the title of the walk 'spectacular starlings'. We are running a starlings themed walk every Wednesday in November from 2.30 pm - 4.30 pm (or dusk if earlier) if you fancy joining us.
Saturday, 31 October 2009Highlights: We have still got the great white egrets around all week-3 of them have been seen today (31 Oct) at Griesdale hide. A count of 59 little egrets is an impressive one on 26 Oct. Bitterns have been seen on most days, 2 were seen on 26 Oct and there was a sighting of one today as well. A bittern was heard 'gull calling' near the Causeway on 29 Oct at 17.30. There have been 2 cettis warblers heard along the Causeway during the week and one was heard today. Bearded tits are still coming out to the grit trays in the mornings. 8 water rails were spotted today. A kingfisher has been seen on 26, 28 and 30 Oct. The 4 snow geese have still been around today at the coastal pools. 3 greenshanks and 1 avocet (today) have been seen around the saltmarsh and the pools. 23 barnacle geese were here on 28 Oct. Up to 3 whooper swans have visited us (1 on 26, 2 on 27 and 3 on 28 Oct). A female little grebe was seen from Lilian's hide on 25 Oct. A goosander was noted on 26 Oct and 4 females were seen on 29 Oct. A female goldeneye was seen on 26 Oct and 2 pintail ducks were seen at public hide on 26 Oct. 1 raven was seen near the Causeway on 26 Oct and 3 were at Warton Crag on 28 Oct. A peregrine was seen on 28 Oct and 2 were seen together on 31 Oct. A red kite was seen flying over Yealand today. A stag and 6 hinds were seen today and an otter was seen from lower hide on 29 Oct. Earth star fungi has started to come out to the left of Lilian's hide (seen on 29 Oct). Finally, it's lovely to see the flocks of starlings gathering together already. Before coming in to the office to write this I saw a large flock 'whoosh' over the visitor centre and head towards the main reedbed-always a wonderful sight!
Friday, 30 October 20094 snow geese were seen last night in with our greylag geese from the Eric Morecambe hide and seen again this morning. Saturday, 24 October 2009Highlights: Redwings were seen at Lower hide on 16 Oct and over 40 fieldfares were counted flying past Lilian's hide that day as well. Wonderful news that 2 young otters were seen at Lower hide on 16 Oct and an otter was seen the next day too. A female marsh harrier has still been around-seen on 16 and 17 Oct. Bitterns have been making lots of appearances with sightings most days (sometimes even of 2 birds). The one with the red ring was seen on 16 Oct at Lower hide. 2 great white egrets have been around, with one or both of them being seen on most days (either at Griesdale hide or at the saltmarsh pools). 51 little egrets were counted on 23 Oct. 2 water rails were spotted on 17 Oct. There was a cettis warbler at the Causeway on 17 Oct and then heard singing again on 24 Oct to the right of public hide. A kingfisher has been seen on several occasions, mainly at Tim Jackson hide. There was a stoat near public hide on 20 Oct. A spotted redshank was seen on 18 and 19 Oct. 5 greenshanks were seen on 18 and 4 on 23 Oct. A curlew sandpiper has been seen on 19 and 23 Oct. A golden plover was seen on 21 Oct. 33 dunlins were seen on 21 Oct. A male merlin was seen on 19 and 23 Oct. A tawny owl was seen on 22 Oct near Griesdale hide. Stags were providing an amazing display when they were fighting on 19 Oct at Tim Jackson hide. Bearded tits have been coming out to the grit trays and starlings have been starting to gather in bigger flocks to roost in the reedbed. 10 species of ducks (including 3 goldeneyes and 3 goosanders) were recorded on 23 Oct. 2 great crested grebes were displaying on 23 Oct with one even diving for weed!
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People looking out of Lillian's hide, Leighton Moss - RSPB Images - Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)
Looking out towards salt marsh and Morecombe Bay with black-headed gull, RSPB Leighton Moss reserve - RSPB Images - Ben Hall (rspb-images.com, Ref: D_2006_20811_0031 )
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)