Leighton Moss RSPB (NH)
Weather: Overcast, cold
Members and
friends: 28 Driver: Glenn
After a provision stop at
Forton services on the M6 to admire the Pennine Tower, which incidentally used
to house an up-market restaurant and sun deck! Was it ever used we asked
ourselves on this cold November day as we continued our journey onwards to the Leighton
Moss RSPB reserve. Buzzard, Pied Wagtail and Rook were noted in the vicinity of
the services.
Arriving at the outer
hides many of the party disembarked the coach to visit the Allen and Eric Morecambe
hides. On the path down to the hides we quickly picked up on a group of small
birds. Mainly the commoner finch species with a handful of Reed Bunting. The
birds were feeding on the ground but were joined by Great and Blue Tit in the
adjacent shrubs. Further back in some small tree’s we identified Fieldfare and
Redwing as well as Song Thrush and Blackbird. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was found,
and overhead Canada and Greylag Geese flew out to the estuary.
Further on the path we
found Siskin feeding on the overhead Alder trees, with Dunnock and very
obliging Robin’s, posing for photographs. From the Eric Morecambe hide we were
entertained with good numbers of duck and other wetland species. Waders
included Snipe, Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin, Knot and a large flock of Black-tailed
Godwit, some just showing a rustiness from their past summer plumage. We picked
out a couple of pristine Greenshank, their whiteness gleaming in the morning gloom.
All the commoner dabbling
duck species were present including a couple of very smart male Pintail. A
single redhead Goosander fished in front of the hide. In the distance we could
identify Little Egret out on the marsh with Shelduck and a large flock of
Lapwing. A distant Kingfisher was sat patiently on a wire fence and the long
neck of a Great White Egret could be seen as it moved along the ditches. A
couple of Marsh Harrier gave good views as they drifted over head.
Jenny Brown's Point (NH)
A handful of the party
walked out to Jenny Brown’s Point where we were rewarded with a fine male Scaup,
Red-breasted Merganser and a winter plumaged Black-necked Grebe. This bird was
scrutinised carefully to discount the similar Slavonian Grebe. Oystercatcher,
Great Crested Grebe and Great Black-backed Gull were added to the day’s list. In
the adjacent woodland we found Nuthatch and Jay as well as Coal and Marsh Tit.
Walking through
Silverdale we found Treecreeper and the commoner finch and tit species. As we
returned to the RSPB reserve a flock of over fifty Pink-footed Geese called as
they flew south.
Walking down the causeway
path on the reserve we quickly picked up Kestrel and another Marsh Harrier.
Seventeen Whooper Swans accompanied by a single Pink-footed Goose passed over
our heads. Cetti’s Warbler called from the reeds and some of the group were
lucky enough to connect with both Bittern and Water Rail.
The outstanding birds of
the day were the Bearded Reedlings, with many of the society having excellent
views in the reeds adjacent to the causeway path. Two superb males and a female
gave the writer probably the best views he has ever had of this species. Just
by standing very still in the vicinity of the pinging calls (the birds make) allowed
the birds to come within yards of the viewer. A definite birding highlight of
the year.
On the path to the Lower
Hide we connected with Goldcrest, Marsh and Long-tailed Tit. Water Rail could
be heard calling in the damp areas. A Green Woodpecker called from the adjacent
hillside.
Marsh Tit (Alan & Glo)
From the Lower Hide we
had good views of Marsh Harrier, with plenty of Gadwall and Shoveler in view. Tufted
Duck and Mute Swan completed the picture. A Robin came and joined us inside the
hide!
As we approached the end
of the day and made our way to the visitor’s centre a large party of Jackdaw
passed overhead going to roost. At the feeding station there were more Marsh
Tit on view and, as well as the commoner species, we had nice views of
bullfinch. Nearby Cetti’s Warbler and Water Rail gave their last calls of the
day, before the light faded, and the society returned to the coach.
Shoveler (Alan & Glo)
The day ended with an
impressive total of 85 species recorded (for comparison, our trip here in March
2019 produced 72 species).
| Mute Swan | Sparrowhawk | Fieldfare |
| Whooper Swan | Buzzard | Blackbird |
| Pink-footed Goose | Kestrel | Cetti's Warbler |
| Greylag Goose | Water Rail | Goldcrest |
| Canada Goose | Moorhen | Wren |
| Shelduck | Coot | Great Tit |
| Mallard | Oystercatcher | Coal Tit |
| Gadwall | Lapwing | Blue Tit |
| Pintail | Knot | Marsh Tit |
| Shoveler | Dunlin | Long-tailed Tit |
| Wigeon | Redshank | Bearded Reedling |
| Teal | Greenshank | Nuthatch |
| Garganey | Black-tailed Godwit | Treecreeper |
| Pochard | Curlew | Magpie |
| Scaup | Snipe | Jay |
| Tufted Duck | Black-headed Gull | Jackdaw |
| Goldeneye | Great Black-backed Gull | Rook |
| Goosander | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Carrion Crow |
| Red-breasted Merganser | Woodpigeon | Starling |
| Pheasant | Collared Dove | House Sparrow |
| Little Grebe | Kingfisher | Tree Sparrow |
| Great-crested Grebe | Green Woodpecker (H) | Chaffinch |
| Black-necked Grebe | Great Spotted Woodpecker | Goldfinch |
| Cormorant | Pied Wagtail | Greenfinch |
| Bittern | Dunnock | Siskin |
| Little Egret | Robin | Bullfinch |
| Great White Egret | Song Thrush | Reed Bunting |
| Grey Heron | Redwing | |
| Marsh Harrier | Mistle Thrush |
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