This am with Malcolm had excellent views of the Purple Heron from the Grisedale hide as it flew in at 10.30, a British lifer for both of us
Cheers Ian

a couple of ok views of the purple heron this morning & early afternoon, but great views just after 5pm.
80+ little egret in the roost
1 marsh harrier
12 buzzard in the air at once
2 marsh tit
at least 3 willow warbler with a tit flock
10 snipe
20+ black tailed godwit
green woodpecker heard.

The Leighton moss hide and seek champion 2017 was seen yesterday for quite a few hours hiding and skulking in the reed edges the Juvenile purple Heron that was nice to see on the visit,its a good job as there was very little else apart from a brief Bittern in flight and a Marsh Harrier.The marsh complex was more or less devoid of birds which is a shame as it used to be brilliant for waders in the past.

 

picture record shot of Juv Purple Heron

 

Visited primarily for the moth morning with a phenomenal variety of local species caught overnight from the Moss, Gait Barrows and Warton Crag.

However in overcast and cool conditions the bird sightings included :-

Approx 30 black-tailed godwit and 1 x little egret on Griesdale. On the path to the hide families of wren, robin and blackbird were being harassed by an exceptionally active stoat climbing the trees.

Causeway to Lower Hide footpath sedge and reed warbler, very large flocks of swift, swallow and house martin over the water also 1x marsh harrier. 

At the saltmarsh 20x redshank, smaller numbers of oystercatcher, 1x shelduck, 2x teal, 3x wigeon. Staff at the Moss reported only one avocet chick remaining now although not spotted on my flying visit. Also reports of 2x spoonbill beyond the Eric Morecambe pool. 1x green woodpecker in the fields between the Moss and the saltmarsh.

-- Edited by Jeff Gorse on Sunday 9th of July 2017 01:50:55 PM

-- Edited by Jeff Gorse on Sunday 9th of July 2017 02:10:29 PM

 

Excellent photographs Hazel!   Most certainly the same bird present at Holden Wood/Haslingden Grane Reservoirs on Tuesday June 20.  It was seen to leave west at about 4.30pm and turned up at Leighton Moss 2 hours later.  

Hi Pete, by the time I knew it was the Caspian Tern species, thanks to a more experienced birder who popped in to the hide shortly after I and another birder saw it (I am relatively new to birdwatching by 6 years so still learning) it had already gone out on the alerts and it also reported it to the RSPB staff quickly who were in the process of putting it up on their own social media feeds. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with bird alerts or confident enough in rare bird IDs but shortly after I was there, the folk in the know had already got the message out there. I just wanted to add photos for those interested. I believe from another bird watcher it had visited last evening but cannot confirm that.

Wednesday, 21st June (08.10am - 08.40am ) Wonderful views of a Caspian Tern from Causeway Hide which spent half an hour circling around the pool and diving for fish. It returned three more times that I heard of.
Have added a few photos for you.

RBA reports:

"Caspian Tern at NE end over Island Mere viewed from Storrs Lane laybe at 6.15 pm (yesterday 20 June) then flew towards causeway" SD 485 757 or LA5 0SS

Safe to assume it's the Holden Wood Reservoir individual which had flown West at 4:30 pm

Full day visit to Leighton Moss, Gait Barrows, Allen and Eric Morecambe hides and Warton Crag in what unfortunately transpired to be the perfect hayfever mix of hot sunshine and stiff breeze.

Leighton Moss - 5 x family of marsh tits and 6 x family group treecreepers foraging in the same trees along the path from Lilian's Hide to the other hides. 1 x great white egret from Lilian's, flock of approx. 30 black-tailed godwits and a handful of redshank from Grisedale early evening. Also good numbers willow, reed, sedge warbler, whitethroat, blackcap and chiffchaff throughout. 1x buzzard over causeway and lots of swift activity in the same area in the evening.

Allen & Eric Morecambe - startled to see how desiccated the area is - the pool next to the Eric Morecambe hide is all but desertified as the RSPB blog for Leighton Moss describes this week. Approx 6 pairs of avocet and 5 pairs oystercatcher, 2 x grey heron and 1 x little egret on the outer saltmarsh. Otherwise big multiple family group of feral greylag geese, 4 x shelduck and lots of black-headed gull nesting pairs. I did see 2 of the reported 3 spoonbills however these were from the train on the way in in the morning, feeding on one of the further pools next to the rail lines. Whitethroat and 1 x Cetti's warbler calling from near the car park area. Several pairs of lapwing in the fields across the dyke on the road onto the site, dabchick calling from the pond on the right at this point as well.

-- Edited by Jeff Gorse on Friday 26th of May 2017 09:34:19 PM

Eric Morecombe Complex (AM)

1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling and showing well. 2 Sedge Warblers.

Also Avocets, Black Tailed Godwits, Redshanks etc,.

Leighton Moss

2 Cettis Warblers calling and showing along the causeway. 1m Marsh Harrier, 2prs of Great Black Back Gull, 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Coal Tits and 1m Bullfinch.

Pairs of Greylag Geese seemingly everywhere, one with a brood of five pigeon sized goslings.

Willow Warblers plentiful too, some singing, others feasting on the innumerable St.Marks flies.

Stockport Birdwatching Society trip to Leighton Moss yesterday recorded 87 species (34 pairs of eyes make it easier to get a good count!).
Highlights included;
Garganey (cracking male)
Eider (from Jenny Browns Point)
Great White Egret
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Marsh Harrier
Avocet
Black-tailed Godwit (well over 400 birds in stunning summer plumage)
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel (from Jenny Browns Point)
Green Woodpecker (Jenny Brown Point)
Wheatear
Grasshopper Warbler (cracking views)
Cetti's Warbler (ditto)
Marsh Tit

Bearded Tit

-- Edited by Nick Hilton on Sunday 23rd of April 2017 05:29:51 PM

3 Cettis Warbler, Singing Willow Warbler, Bittern, Goldcrest, 2 Water Rail, Male Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret, 12 Avocet 3 Red Breasted  Merganser, Mediterranean Gull

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 29th of March 2017 05:52:09 PM

After needing to get out for the day, me and my friend decided to visit here at Leighton moss excluding the saltmarshes. It was largely quite but relaxing and peacefull though not good light for any decent pictures. The main highlights were a 70+ strong finch flock with mostly siskins, then goldfinch, lesser redpoll, and a couple of chaffinch and bullfinch with them down along the path to the lower hide. We found a couple of tame-like Marsh tits, blue tits, dunnocks and nuthatch that we had fun feeding along with the usual robins. 44 species were seen today. And that's me for now.... Thanks.

Eric Morecambe Complex

50 Redshanks, 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew and 10 Little Egrets.

Main Reserve

3 Great White Egrets (RSPB advise that 7 currently roost here overnight), 1m Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 2 Snipe and 4 Little Grebes.

The American Wigeon is still showing well from the Lower Hide. Marsh Tits are quite easy to find, especially near Lillian's and the Lower hide.

The big alders near Lillian's hide attracted Goldfinches and Siskins plus a single Lesser Redpoll.

After 2 vigils waiting for the Bearded Tits to emerge on the grit trays, then giving up and retiring to the cafe, there they were, on the monitor, which I hope was'nt live as it

would of added insult to injury.

Saturday afternoon (29th Oct) with Simon Gough

Quick call in the Eric Morecambe and Allen hides, virtually void of birds bar a few distant Little Egrets and a Redshank so we only did 1 hide and proceeded to the reserve.

Of note...
- no sign of the American Wigeon
- 5 Great White Egret
(3 in same view, 2 elsewhere, then 5 seen in the roost)
- lots of Little Egret
- 1 Water Rail at Lower Hide (others heard)
- 2 Common Snipe
- 1 Marsh Tit close up
- 1 Bearded Tit over (others heard)
- few Goldcrest around
- constant stream of Redwing over
- 3 different Cetti's Warbler heard
- Yellow-browed Warbler heard only near junction of Causeway and Lower Hide path.
- plenty of decent Wildfowl around including Pintail, Shoveler and Gadwall
- female Sparrowhawk over the Causeway



-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 31st of October 2016 02:24:32 PM

Fantastic trip today with 56 species found mostly on the main reserve only (with exception of the skylark, greylag geese and lapwings on the saltmarsh viewed from the train). Several highlights include bearded tits on the grit trays, 3 water rails all in full view, I found the yellow browed warbler by the gate to the path from the causeway, we were alao just in time to view and take pictures of a cetti's warbler from a ringer close up, the American wigeon took some finding because it spent some time snoozing- but when he woke up gave us very distinct and fabulous views though not close (but was briefly flushed by a marsh harrier quite close before heading back after 2 mins.), at least 2 great white egrets were found, siskins, 3 nuthatch, close encounters of a treecreeper, pink footed geese over, goldcrest, redshanks, oystercatcher, and several snipes were also found from every hide except the lower hide. Any pictures from today and yesterday's trip will take me a few days to sort before I start adding them on Flickr. Many thanks for reading....

Just over two and a half hours at Leighton Moss generated the following species list:

Pheasant
Great Tit
Robin
Chaffinch
Coal Tit
Marsh Tit
Blue Tit
Mallard
Goldfinch
Carrion Crow
Black-headed Gull
Mute Swan
Teal
Coot
Pintail
Shoveler
Dabchick
Grey Heron
Wigeon
Gadwall
Moorhen
Cetti's Warbler (heard)
Cormorant
Great White Egret
Snipe
Pink-footed Goose (two separate chevrons of c. 30 overflying)
Little Egret
Marsh Harrier
Nuthatch
Redshank
Raven (overflying)

I looked for Yellow-browed Warbler but without success. I didn't meet anyone who had seen one although it was reported that one was heard singing from the causeway. It seems too that the American Wigeon hasn't been seen since yesterday afternoon when it was put up by an overflying Marsh Harrier.

Took the train to Leighton Moss today. (Silverdale)  Highlights were....up to 6 Bearded tits on causeway grit trays.  (Before 11 am seems best.).  Several Cetti's warblers calling (one actually seen)!   Two marsh Harriers. One Great White egret in flight.  Lots of Marsh tits giving close views on path to Grizedale hide. Superbly close treecreeper allowing good photos.  

Highlight was a Yellow browed warbler in trees on path to lower hide about 100 yards from end of the causeway at 12.30. Picked up on call ..found ...then gave excellent view.  

A lovely sunny day giving a great days birding.

Day spent here today; pretty grotty weather at times, and the main reserve was, with the exception of the Causeway Hide, extremely quiet (for example, Lilian's yielded two mute swan, one mallard and a grey heron, and Griesdale nothing at all). Despite that, some great species and action seen; highlights:

Main reserve (pretty much all water birds / waders seen from the Causeway hide):

Chiffchaff, marsh tit, treecreeper, nuthatch, swallow, house martin.
2 water rail heard
150+ teal
35+ gadwall
15+ shoveler
2 wigeon
3 little grebe
1 great crested grebe
9 lapwing
50+ redshank
1 spotted redshank
4 greenshank
7 black-tailed godwit
1 peregrine
1 or 2 marsh harrier

Spectacular views of the peregrine and a marsh harrier in an altercation from the Tim Jackson hide.

Salt marshes (where most of the action was):

70+ teal
c5 wigeon
3 shoveler
50+ lapwing (mostly circling around; a few on the pools)
2 little stint
3 curlew sandpiper
c100 redshank
1 spotted redshank
10+ greenshank
c15 snipe
1 ruff
1 avocet (juvenile)
c10 black-tailed godwit
1 curlew
14+ little egret
1 grey heron

Hundreds of starling, 40+ lapwing, 20+ pied wagtail, a few meadow pipits and singles of black-tailed godwit and curlew feeding in the fields between the main reserve and the salt marshes.

A very good and a very warm day. The bird of the day was the 3 spoonbills from the Eric Morecambe hide, giving excellent views despite the fact that they spent most of the morning napping. They did however, on a few occasions wake up with a sudden urge to preen. I popped round again later to see if they were more active. Which they were just recently. ... then after a few minutes they took off and landed way way out! (Typical behaviour). Other highlights included lesser redpolls on the feeders before my train was due, bearded tit though distant, Cetti's Warbler, marsh tit 2-3ft from my face, black tailed godwits in their rich summer plumage, avocet, bullfinch, a marsh harrier and a superb lemon cake with custard to top it all! Nice!!!!

Hi Steven. Casual mention of great white egret at jbp - is this a typo or please could you give a bit on circumstances as first report for quite some time if not the year. Thanks very much

Nice day in Silverdale area. Morning spent at Leighton Moss and Allen Pools then afternoon at Gait Barrows

Allen & Morecambe hides - very quiet:
No Avocets this year due to problems with water levels after a breach of the banking.
20+ Black-tailed Godwit - some in breeding plumage
1 Lesser Whitethroat
3 Sedge Warbler
2 Little Egret

Leighton Moss - public causeway and Lower hide:
1 Bearded Tit (male with blue leg rings) showed really well
2 Marsh Harrier - m & f
1 Cetti's Warbler singing close to path but remained hidden
2 Sedge Warbler
Lots of Reed Warbler
1 Marsh Tit
3 Pochard
1 Kestrel
Greylag Geese - lots

Gait Barrows:
4 Marsh Tit including a pair visiting a nest hole
1 Green Woodpecker heard
Also: 1 Slow Worm warming up in the sun, 2 Lady's Slipper Orchids in flower, 5 Early Purple Orchids, 1 Dingy Skipper

16th April, 10:00-16:40 :

3 marsh harriers (1 male, 2 females) were seen in the same binocular view from the Causeway Hide. Also present from this hide were a couple of greylag geese (2 of which had orange neck rings), mute swans, pochard, 4 lapwing and a few more typical water birds. We then walked down to the Lower Hide. A cetti's warbler sang in the reeds by the causeway, but remained hidden. Large numbers of pheasants were throughout the reserve, and allowed us to hand-feed them from the wooded track to the Lower Hide. When we arrived at the hide it was quiet. 1 bar-headed goose was distant with some greylag and Canada geese (however, no truly wild birds have been recorded in the UK so this bird remains off my year list). Other points of interest were: 1 male marsh harrier, 3 great crested grebes, 1 female mallard with 7 ducklings. We then walked to Lilian's Hide, which again was rather quiet but on our walk down we caught a glimpse of a singing reed warbler by the pond dipping area. We heard a green woodpecker calling from some trees behind the sky tower so we scanned them but only had a brief glimpse before it flew off. From the Tim Jackson Hide we had 1 little egret, 1 grey heron and a few teal. Another little egret was showing from the Grisedale Hide, from which 334 black-tailed godwit, 1 snipe and a couple of redshank and ruff showed. 1 male goosander hunted along the back of the pool. 1 marsh tit, 1 nuthatch, 1 lesser redpoll, bullfinch, coal tit and other various woodland species were using the feeders. To end the day we visited the saltmarsh hides. From the Allen Hide there were 1 whimbrel, avocets, oystercatcher, lapwing and 1 second summer mediterranean gull. A summer plumage spotted redshank was spotted just as we were leaving the Eric Morecambe hide, with redshank, oystercatcher and shelduck also from the left-hand pool.

62 species were seen, with another 3 heard only (siskin, cetti's warbler and blackcap). 2 lifers (whimbrel and green woodpecker) were also seen.

Visited yesterday after an unsuccessful attempt at the Sizergh Hawfinches (apparently still around but need to be there before 09.00 and sods law saw me sat on the m6 for 1 hr longer than anticipated so only arrived at 09.20). Anyway. It was possibly the quietest I have ever seen this place. There was so little that I only spent two hours here. I won't even list what I did see as it was just so poor, plus the hides on the estuary are shut for a couple of weeks too. Very disappointing day.