It’s the moment we have all been waiting for! The starlings are back roosting at RSPB Leighton Moss. Over the past couple of nights, these birds have been arriving on the main reserve in their thousands. The first two evenings, the starlings headed pretty rapidly into the reedbed upon arrival. On Friday 25, c50,000 birds performed a real showstopper, staying up in the air for about fifteen minutes, dancing over the reeds from Causeway, Lower Hide and Island Mere. (Photo by J Sneyd) As we have mentioned in previous blogs, it’s impossible for us to predict when (or, indeed, if) a murmuration will happen. Murmurations are shrouded in mystery. Not only are we uncertain of why this behaviour happens, there also seem to be lots of variables that affect whether the starlings stay in the sky displaying. Anecdotally, we can tell you that last year, they seemed to stay up in the air longer on a dry evening, and some of the longest lasting murmurations were on breezier days! However, some evenings seemed to be prime performance conditions, and yet the birds would head straight to roost without even a minor murmur. Despite all of this uncertainty, witnessing a murmuration is worth the wait. Magical and mesmerising, the thrill of the chase can make it all the more rewarding! As always, stay tuned with the blog and our Facebook and Twitter for the most up to date information. And there’s plenty more wildlife to see! Last week, we mentioned a particularly unashamed bittern, who likes to parade right in front of Causeway Hide. His outlandish antics have continued, which has made for fantastic viewing for visitors and staff alike. From Lower Hide, the long tailed duck has still been visible. Between the two, otters are regularly seen throughout the day. On the other side of the reserve, at Tim Jackson and Grisedale hides, the water pipit has been putting in fleeting appearances.
Now, if you didn’t have a chance to watch Oscar nominated Robin Robin last year, then fear not! This stop motion animated short from Aardman has returned to Netflix just in time for the festivities! RSPB reserves across the UK are running on site activities, and here at RSPB Leighton Moss, we have a self-led adventure trail on the reserve. Pick up a pack from the Welcome desk for £3.00 – inside, there are some Robin Robin themed goodies along with a booklet to help you to complete your trails. In the shop and café, we even have some Robin Robin recommended products – perfect for Christmas presents! We hope you come to join us on your Big Sneak soon! Beth