Please note that if you are planning to visit us over the festive season we are open daily, except on Christmas Day when the entire reserve will be closed (the only exception being the Causeway as it is a public right of way).
The visitor centre, shop and café will be open from 9.30am until 3pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and from 10am till 4.30pm on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Wigeon by David Mower
Despite the almost constant drizzle in the past week, the water levels have continued to drop. The notably milder conditions too have allowed the pools to thaw and as a consequence the reserve is once again something of a duck lover’s paradise.
Large numbers of dabbling ducks including wigeon, pintail, gadwall, teal and shoveler can be found throughout the site while a handful of goldeneyes and tufted duck may be seen from Lilian’s and Causeway hides. Snipe have been showing fantastically well from Jackson and Grisedale hides lately and a kingfisher has also been entertaining the crowds. Otters, of course, are always a treat to see and many visitors have been getting great views.
Tree sparrow by Martin Kuchczynski
Both goosanders and red-breasted mergansers have been spotted on the Eric Morecambe and Allen pools where visitors have also been treated to sightings of merlin, greenshank and great white egret in recent days. Brambling and tree sparrows are still being seen from time to time among the chaffinch flock near the path to the coastal hides.
Bearded tits have become more elusive since they stopped using the grit tray quite so often but can usually be heard and, with luck and patience, seen along the Causeway. Reed buntings are a familiar sight along here too as they feed on the reed heads. Stonechats may be encountered anywhere on the reserve at the moment as we appear to have at least two very mobile pairs doing the rounds.
Starling bu Ged Gill
Starlings have been leading us a bit of a merry dance of late; large numbers are coming to roost on and around the reserve but they don’t seem inclined to perform murmurations on these damp, dull afternoons. Some birds head straight into the reed bed while others wheel around for quite some time before deciding where they’re going to spend the night. Hopefully we’ll see some brighter, crisper evenings in the new year and the starlings will settle back into a more reliable routine!
Finally, on behalf of all the staff and volunteers here at Leighton Moss I’d like to wish all our visitors and supporters a wonderful Christmas and prosperous 2018.
Jon Carter, Visitor Experience Manager