The reserve is a hive of activity at the moment; the wildlife is busy and bustling! Birds are in the throes of breeding season – some of the freshly arrived Spring migrants, like Sedge and Reed Warblers, can be heard singing throughout the day to attract a mate and stake out territory. Similarly, Grasshopper Warbler has been heard singing along the Causeway, while Lesser Whitethroat has been seen on the path beyond Lower Hide, and Garden Warbler at the Visitor Centre car park. Some species are still on their way to their breeding grounds, and we have seen Wood Warbler and Ruff using the reserve as a pit-stop. Over the past few weeks, there has been an influx of Little Gulls in the area, as birds on Spring passage are forced inland due to windy weather. The reserve has seen one adult, one 1st summer and one 1st winter in the past few days. (Photo by Jarrod Sneyd)
Other species, like our resident birds, are already on with feeding hungry mouths. Visitors and staff alike are reporting frequent sightings of Bitterns, many of which are making direct flights across the reserve to find nutrient rich fish like perch for their very small young. Grisedale Hide has been a prime position to get great sightings of these otherwise elusive birds, as is evident in these fantastic pictures from Adrian Almond. Adrian is a regular visitor the reserve, and a retired professional photographer, yet despite his skill and commitment, it has still proven to be quite the task to get the perfect shot of these shy birds. Adrian says “Word got round that the bittern had been seen flying at Grisedale Hide, here at Leighton Moss, on Tuesday and Thursday. I was on the Reserve, but not at the right hide. So for Friday despite the strong winds, I decided to just go to Grisedale early and just sit it out, despite being into the sun for a few hours. Well, after 17 years of trying to photograph a flying bittern that was reasonably close, it finally happened at 12.32pm.” 17 years of trying – what commitment but it certainly paid off as these photos are stellar! You might recognise Adrian’s work from his feature of a Grey Heron photo in The RSPB Magazine earlier this year – top job, Adrian.
If you have also been lucky enough to capture an action shot of a Bittern recently, then we are looking for your help. We are launching The Bittern Photo Appeal, as our wardens are looking for your valuable data to help with their conservation work. We are looking for your Bittern photos taken this month, May 2023, at RSPB Leighton Moss. All we need from you is a single photo, in which the bird’s face is visible, along with a brief description of the direction in which it was flying. This will supplement the information that our wardens are gathering when out surveying; it will help us to identify whether the birds we are seeing are male or female. We’re especially interested in any photos taken at Lilian’s, Lower or Causeway Hides. Submit your photo, along with your description and dates, to leighton.moss@rspb.org.uk.
Speaking of feeding hungry mouths, did you know that next week is National Vegetarian Week? A quick update from our Catering Manager, Patrick Keating:
We’ll be showcasing some of our new menu items, perfect for the warmer weather, including a Chickpea Tikka Sandwich and a Butterbean and Sundried Tomato Confit Sandwich. The aptly named Leighton Moss classic, Pitta Dipper, will be returning - a smorgasbord of pitta, dahl, couscous, hummus and more. Our Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry will also be returning to our menu.
All of these options are vegan, and we also have a selection of vegan cakes and slices. Our hot drinks can be made with soya or oat milk, and we even have vegan ice creams to choose! Come and try something different, we think you’ll be impressed!
We hope to see you soon
Beth