Male Marsh Harrier – Photo Credit Jarrod Sneyd
The last couple of weeks has seen some very mixed weather here at RSPB Leighton Moss including some very icy conditions! Following the first few frosts of the year the number of Bearded Tits visiting the grit trays increased much to the delight of our visitors. If you are lucky enough to get any pictures of ringed Bearded Tits on your visit, please do let the Welcome Team know or send the pictures to leighton.moss@rspb.org.uk so that we can record your sightings for our Wardens Team. The woodland paths are full of Siskins, Goldfinch and Chaffinch flitting about in the treetops, they are so much easier to spot with less foliage on the trees at this time of the year. Keep a look out for Goldcrest, Redwing, and Fieldfare too as you wander around the reserve as we are getting sightings reported regularly.
Redwing – Photo Credit Jarrod Sneyd
Our marvelous Marsh Harriers have been showing well and putting on some spectacular sky dancing displays. We have seen up to seven Marsh Harriers in the sky at the same time, which is an amazing sight. We are so pleased to have these wonderful raptors over wintering with us here at Leighton Moss again this year. For those new to birdwatching, Marsh Harriers are large birds of prey, as their name suggests, Marsh Harriers are birds of marshes and reedbeds although they also hunt and nest in farmland in the open countryside. Females are a rich chocolate brown, with creamy patches on the throat and crown of the head. Juveniles (young) look remarkably similar! Males have tri-colour wings; brown closest to the body, then grey, finishing with black wing tips and they have yellow legs. Come along and see these amazing reedbed specialists, they can be found all over the reserve.
Female Marsh Harrier – Photo Credit Steve G Brown
In the Causeway Pool Otters have been showing well recently. If all the wildfowl on the pool are unsettled or suddenly take flight from one end of the pool to the other, it is a good indication that the Otters might be about.
Otter – Photo Credit Jarrod Sneyd
At this time of year, we often get some passage migrants stopping off for a rest and last week we had one Whooper Swan resting on the island at the Causeway pool. Could you pick the odd one out amongst 40 Mute Swans!
Why not book onto our next Winter Walk at Leighton Moss Guided Walk – 13 December 10.00am - 12 noon – Our local guide will provide an introduction to the Reserve with this month’s walk seeking out Winter Wildlife. There will be a focus on the identification of Wildfowl. Pre-booking is essential and there are currently spaces available.
Some of the Wildfowl you might see on the winter walk are Shoveler, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Teal, Great Crested Grebe and Wigeon. To avoid disappointment, you can book by clicking on the link above.
Elsewhere on the reserve Red Deer have been seen regularly grazing in the field on your right as you walk down to the Sky Tower and around to Grisedale and Tim Jackson hides so it is always worth looking across the fields to see if there are any around. If you are interested in Lichen and Fungi, there is plenty to be found if you look carefully.
Although Starling numbers are starting to build up in the local area, they have not started to roost at the reserve yet this year. Numbers passing through are still low so keep an eye on our social media as we will be sure to post when the numbers increase, and they start murmurating.
Over at the Eric Morecambe Complex we have had sightings of Greenshank, Black Tailed Godwits, one Spotted Redshank, Dunlin, three Red Breasted Mergansers, one Turnstone, Great White Egrets, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, and a skein of Pink Footed Geese flying over.
This weekend is our popular Binocular and Telescope Open Weekend - 7 and 8 December – 9.30am to 16.30pm. Are you thinking of upgrading your current optics or treating yourself to some new ones? Call in and have a chat with our friendly, knowledgeable, and impartial team or try some out.
Check in with our friendly Welcome Team on arrival for any Family activities, monthly quiz sheets or Nature Quest Packs.
Remember to pack your wellies or good waterproof footwear as the weather and water levels are very changeable at this time of the year.
We look forward to seeing you soon.