 |
| View from Lower Hide (J Wharton) |
Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve
10th December 2022
Weather: Very very cold
Members and friends: 30 Driver: Glenn
Thirty members and friends left Stockport in cold and wet conditions, travelled north on the motorway network, passing snow in the Bolton area before arriving at the Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve in freezing temperatures. A handful of us dis-embarked the coach at the outer hides whilst the rest of the group drove on to be dropped off close to the reserve reception buildings.
 |
| Robin (J Wharton) |
In the fields close to the outer hides a small group of Lapwing huddled in the cold with a handful of Crow surveying the frozen landscape. A single Buzzard sat on a distant fence post. On the walk down to the outer hides we encountered a few smaller birds with Goldcrest, Reed Bunting and Robin recorded. A flock of Redwing passed overhead. From the Eric Morecambe hide the only birds close were a couple more Lapwing. All the visible water was frozen.
In the distance we eventually picked out a solitary Marsh Harrier perched on a post, a single Little Egret picking its way through the frozen dykes and ditches and a few Curlews could be seen. A flock of Skylark flew out towards the estuary. Walking out on the footpath towards Jenny Brown’s Point we disturbed Snipe and Meadow Pipit in the fields and came across a flock of two-dozen or so Curlew accompanied by a single Black-tailed Godwit. The adjacent ditches held small numbers of Mallard and, as we got closer to the shoreline, groups of Wigeon called as they flew off. Small numbers of Teal, Oystercatcher and Redshank were also present.
 |
| Common Snipe (J Wharton) |
At Jenny’s Point we were met with calling Bullfinch and a charm of Goldfinch. We quickly added Marsh Tit to the list, with good numbers seen around the cottages, as well as the other commoner tit species. Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Mistle Thrush and Jackdaw were also in attendance. Fieldfare, Redwing and Nuthatch were in the trees behind the gardens. Out in the bay a group of eight Red-breasted Merganser gave good views and Shelduck were seen flying by.
Walking on through the Silverdale area we added Jay and Common Gull to the day’s list. Arriving at the RSPB reception buildings we explored the Garden Trail and the feeders. Here we found Moorhen, Mallard, Dunnock, the commoner tit species, plus more Marsh Tits, as well as the commoner finch species taking advantage of the seed put out.
 |
| Marsh Tit (J Wharton) |
A walk down the causeway to the hide added Bearded Tits to our list with Reed Bunting also prevalent here. All the water in view was frozen which gave us fortunate views of Water Rail. The frozen conditions were obviously challenging for the birdlife with access to open water at a premium. This resulted in a number of our party having views of Bitterns in flight, presumably moving between open water areas hidden within the reedbeds.
We found one of the streams crossing the causeway to be clear of ice and thus many of the birds had assembled in this narrow waterway. Coot, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Shoveler, Pintail, Moorhen and Little Grebe were all in attendance with a Cetti’s Warbler calling nearby.
 |
| Nuthatch (J Wharton) |
Walking down to Lower Hide we were entertained by a flock of Siskin feeding in the alders. Coal Tit, Goldcrest and Treecreeper were also present and further sightings of Water Rail were had. We had good numbers of Marsh Tit again in this location, numbers for the day must have been in excess of twenty individuals. From the Lower Hide a small open pond of water in the ice contained a competing mass of Mute Swan, Coot, Pintail, Mallard, Teal and Gadwall. A Kingfisher flew through.
The highlight was a fly-by Bittern, called out by Vanessa, which then landed within a hundred yards of the hide and gave brief views before disappearing into the tangle of reeds.
 |
| Marsh Harrier (J Wharton) |
Whilst the Skytower was closed due to the ice and some of the paths to Tim Jackson and Grisedale hides in a treacherous condition members of the group picked up Great White Egret and Sparrowhawk to add to our list. Most of the party had good views of Marsh Harrier, with up to five individuals seen during the day. Grey Wagtail and Great Spotted Woodpecker were also recorded. With the light fading (and no Starling murmuration) we made our way back to the coach. A total of 74 species had been a good return on such a cold and frozen day.
 |
| Dunnock (J Wharton) |
Birds seen;
 |
| Chaffinch (J Wharton) |
Comments
Post a Comment