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Leighton

With a slight increase in temperatures over the weekend, RSPB Leighton Moss is currently defrosting!  Last week was a winter wonderland on the reserve -  the pools were frozen over, providing visitors with fantastic views of otters out on the ice and water rails scuttling across the paths. Marsh harriers have been displaying the first signs of pairing up – one female has been rather vocal; often seen perched on a post, attracting the attention of the surrounding males. The first snowdrops are pushing through the hard ground of the woodland floor while mixed tit flocks and groups of finches can be spotted flitting from tree to tree. As well as thawing out, the water levels on the reserve are slowly coming down and we are seeing reduced flooding across the site. The paths are currently accessible in walking boots – but please do keep checking our Facebook and Twitter for updates on whether to bring your wellies.

(Photo by J Sneyd)

At this time of year, the most frequent enquiries we receive are about the starlings and their murmurations. Last week, the starlings roosted on the main reserve, and on some nights, they displayed for twenty to thirty minutes before settling down. The past few nights, the starlings have been roosting by the saltmarsh, and have been visible from the Skytower and the Eric Morecambe hide. If you’re hoping to catch a murmuration, then check in with the Welcome Desk on your arrival – our team will be able to inform you of more details from the previous evening.

While the snaps of cold and icy conditions provide us with wildlife spectacles and beautiful scenery, this can be a difficult time for wildlife; supplementary feeding can be a lifeline for our garden birds. If you’ve got feeders in your garden, then you may be wondering what foods are most suitable at this time of year. Birds are spending a lot of energy to keep warm while, at the same time, food supplies are low. Here are the foods that we recommend (and stock in the RSPB Leighton Moss shop!):

  • High fat foods, like suet, can help them to keep up their fat reserves and make it through the harsh, frozen nights. If you’re looking for some suet options, then check out our Suet Balls, Favourites Cakes and our ever-popular Buggy Nibbles - currently available for half price if you spend over £10.
  • Sunflower hearts are a firm favourite; these deshelled seeds are perfect for winter as they reduce the need for the birds to expend as much energy when eating. An extra bonus is the lack of littered husks in your garden! Sunflower hearts can be found in our No Mess Mix and Favourites Blend, and we also sell them on their own in sacks of a range sizes from 900g to 12.75kg.
  • Ground feeders, like blackbirds, and are less likely to visit your bird feeders, but will come to your tables! Table Mix is a popular choice; packed full of cereals, sunflower seeds, millet and canary seeds – a wide variety to attract an array of birds.
  • Mealworms are a great option for insectivorous birds and are popular with blackbirds, robins and tits. They provide a rich source of protein for your garden visitors. Dried mealworms can be purchased on their own, or in our Favourites Blends. Dried mealworms can also be soaked to make them easier for baby birds to digest, and will also provide your garden birds with some hydration. 
  • If you’re lucky enough to have goldfinches or siskins visit your garden then you might want to include some nyjer seed. Perfectly suited to these birds beaks, nyjer requires a specialised feeder to prevent the fine seed spilling on to the floor

Alongside feeding, providing your garden birds with water to drink and bathe in is essential! In this colder weather, it can be hard for birds to access so make sure to check regularly that your bird bath, pond or dish hasn’t frozen over! 

Most importantly, your bird feeders need to cleaned often: we advise cleaning them at least once per week, and removing any uneaten food from your tables each day to prevent the spread of disease. Feeders can be cleaned with mild disinfectant – available in store.

If you’re looking to get set up quickly with feeders in your garden, then check out our Big Garden Birdwatch starter pack. It contains:

  • A nut and nibble feeder, with a 1kg bag of Buggy Nibbles
  • A seed feeder, with 900gs of our best-selling No Mess Sunflower Mix 
  • a 6 pack of our original suet balls

    (offer available while stocks last or until Sunday 29 January)

And if you haven’t registered for Big Garden Birdwatch, then now is your chance! It’s our 44th year of the largest garden citizen science project, and the data collected has been instrumental for measuring population changes! It’s one way to take action to save nature – without even having to leave your house. If you don’t have a garden, then you can complete your Big Garden Birdwatch in your local green space (or even on a nature reserve!) The RSPB just needs one hour of your time – follow the link to learn more and to register. (Photo by J Sneyd)

 

We hope to see you soon

Beth