I hope that 2024 has got off to to a flying start for you and that you've managed to enjoy some time spent in nature.
Here at Leighton Moss, as many of you may be aware, we've had some challenging conditions thanks to heavy rainfall in the first few days of the year. The reserve water levels shot up and we soon saw most of the pathways under water. Wellies were the order of the day as the majority of hides became accessible only by wading through several centimetres of water. Thankfully, we've seen several days of dry, calm weather just lately and the levels are dropping by around 2cm per day, meaning that things are starting to return to something like normal. If you do plan to visit in the next few days, it's probably a good idea to come with wellies if you have them, just to be on the safe side. Otherwise, decent waterproof boots should be OK for getting around much of the site.
One of the avian highlights since the start of the year was the return of the female Ring-necked Duck which reappeared among an influx of Tufted Ducks. This scarce visitor from North America has since departed again but was spotted at nearby Pine Lake on Jan 11. It's worth checking through those groups of diving ducks if you're visiting as this unusual interloper could show up again at any time! (Photo by Steve Brown)
The other big attraction lately has been the appearance of Water Rails along the Causeway, as the high water levels forced them out to forage on the track edges. These otherwise secretive birds have been providing visitors with excellent views and wonderful photo opportunities. As the levels recede, these often heard but only occasionally glimpsed denizens of the reed beds will once again prove a tricky bird to spot. (Photo by Jarrod Sneyd)
At this time of year the Starling murmuration also draws in the crowds, and we're now seeing around 70,000 birds coming in to roost at dusk. A recent change of roosting site saw them move to the northern section of reedbed but as of yesterday afternoon (11 Jan) they have relocated to the central area of the reserve and at time of writing, are best viewed from the Skytower or Lilian's Hide.
In other news, we are now stocking the astonishing new Swarovski AX Visio binoculars. These AI-enhanced optics are set to revolutionise the way we observe and identify wildlife. Along with all the high-spec optical features one would expect from Swarovski, these new binoculars include a built-in identification function which helps you to photograph and identify birds and other animal species as you view them. All at the touch of a button.