The sounds of Reed Warblers filling the reserve is a sure sign that Spring has well and truly arrived, and on Wednesday 12 April, we had another exciting addition to the building ensemble. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard singing in the morning, from the path toward Grisedale and Tim Jackson Hides at the point where the trail forks. These birds can be tricky to spot, as their ventriloquial song carries far in still conditions, making them difficult to locate despite their distinct sound. Named as such because their sound is reminiscent of the insect, these warblers sing a double note at a rate, repeated at a rate of 25 per second They’re also known for creeping about on the ground, mouse-like. Like many of our warbler species, these birds are in serious decline due to habitat loss, Grasshopper Warblers favour scrub. It’s always exciting to hear one in the reedbed at RSPB Leighton Moss, even if it is only brief! (Photo by M Malpass)
As reported in last week’s blog, we are still getting regular reports of Garganey, often from Tim Jackson Hide. Despite rarely being visible on the grit trays at this time of year, Bearded Tits are still being regularly reported. These gregarious babblers provision nests in groups and can often be seen flying together, pinging to one another so keep an ear out when strolling down the paths. Down on the Eric Morecambe Pool, two pairs of Mediterranean Gulls have been spotted in amongst the Black-headed Gull colony beginning to nest.
In other news, on Sunday 16 April, a plaque to Emily Williamson will be unveiled at Williamson Park in Lancaster. Emily Williamson was a cofounder of the RSPB, but until very recently, little was known of the RSPB’s origins. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was an insatiable appetite for the use of feathers in fashion; the desire for feathered hats drove birds like Great Crested Grebe and the Little Egret to near extinction. Emily Williamson, a Lancaster born woman, was appalled by this trade of murderous millinery. From her drawing room, she formed the Society for the Protection of Birds, a campaign against unethical fashion. At the time, the plumage trade generated £20 million per year at that time (equivalent to £200 million now), and yet, its prohibition came about in 1921 because of twenty years of relentless campaigning from the RSPB in its earliest form.
The unveiling of the plaque, by Melissa Bateson – Emily’s great niece, will be preceded by a talk at 12:00noon about Emily in the Ashton Memorial, Williamson Park, Quernmore Rd, Lancaster LA1 1UX, where there will be displays about her life and how her work continues both locally and globally. There will also be bird walks in the park and activities for children. RSPB Leighton Moss will be present at the event to chat!
Why not come along and join us? We hope to see you there,
Beth