With calmer conditions in recent days the reserve has been a joyous place to explore. As water levels drop, the dabbling ducks have returned en masse and diving duck numbers including pochard, goldeneye and tufted duck have increased across the site.
Our resident otter family also seem to prefer the current weather and water levels and have been putting in lenghty appearances most days; Lower and Causeway hides are the most reliable spots to look for them (otter pic by David Mower). Bitterns too have been seen well from Lower Hide while somewhat surprisingly, bearded tits continue to visit the grit trays (more about these delightful birds later...). Keep your eyes peeled for a dapper adult-winter Mediterranean gull amongst the black-headed gulls; one has been hanging around amongst its commoner cousins at Lilian's this week. (Pic by Jarrod Sneyd)
While they may not be engaging in murmurations at the moment we're still seeing huge numbers of starlings sweeping over the reedbeds at dusk as they head to their roost - quite a sight.
And as you stroll from hide to hide, do take your time along the way; large flocks of siskins are gathering around the alder trees while marsh tits, bullfinches and nuthatches forage in the pathside vegetation. Fieldfares and redwings too can be seen, and heard, around the garden and in the car park hawthorns!
Despite recent sightings to the contrary, late November and early December tends to mark the end of our regular bearded tit gritting season. Many of us have spent hours waiting at those trays, hoping for a glimpse of these stunning reed-dwellers. It’s almost impossible to imagine the reedbeds without those metallic pings bouncing back and forth. However, as we will learn in part three of our interview with former warden John Wilson. they haven’t always been a regular feature on a crisp autumnal morning…
Discovering Bearded Tits and Citizen Science
John Wilson, Leighton Moss’ first Warden, has contributed enormously to the reserve that we see today. In the previous two blogs, we have discussed how his enthusiasm for wildlife blossomed in his youth, and how his wealth of knowledge influenced Leighton Moss’ management. In this post, we are discussing his findings over his 50 years of service at Leighton Moss, and how they have contributed to conservation.
In 1973, John saw a freshly fledged bearded tit in the reeds; the first evidence of the species nesting at Leighton Moss. He describes this moment as the most thrilling birding experience in his lifetime. The parent pair were the first breeding pair in North West England and John was granted access to ring them. Prior to this, little research had been accomplished about this species. Their elusiveness and scarcity had made them particularly difficult to observe. The birds nesting success at Leighton Moss made for the perfect opportunity for John to record their behaviours.
The breeding populations were censused from March to May every year after 1973. John observed that bearded tits have a preference for shallower water for their nesting locations. However, he discovered that they would travel some distance to the wetter areas, proven to be more abundant in insects. The site had been relatively wet, and the second pair of 'beardies' nested in a dryer area of reedbed, which happened to be on the other side of the railway line. Everyone watched on tenterhooks as this pair played chicken with the trains as they flew over to the Moss to feed.
In 1997, the RSPB recommended the water levels at Leighton Moss be raised, to improve habitat for the bittern. Years of recordings and observations inspired John and then-warden David Mower’s bearded tit raised nest box designs. The nest boxes were raised above any possible flooding levels, and proved popular with the bearded tits (see more in John’s study here). This made the pairs significantly easier to map, and colour-ringing the bearded tits also helped John to identify their individual behaviours – he discovered that pair fidelity rates in bearded tits were unexpectedly high. (Pic of David Mower installing a bearded tot nest box by Ben Hall RSPB-images.com)
From his observations (and the joyous job of collecting excrement from our beloved beardies for a study), John noted the change in diet throughout the autumn, from insects to seed, and observed the repeated behaviour of bearded tits collecting grit off the path in autumn to aid this transition. Often, the birds would be disturbed mid-munch, and so John installed the grit trays. Not only has this proved popular with the birds, but this is a fine example of how conservation and visitor experience go hand in hand – many of us owe John and his team credit to our first sightings of bearded tits on those trays!
And it’s not just the bearded tit populations that have benefited from John’s observations.
Morecambe Bay is globally important area for wading birds. The mud flats of the estuary provide an abundance of food throughout the winter months. John’s bird census and records contributed to this recognition for the bay and were vital in establishing the British Trust for Ornithology’s Estuary Enquiries. This information prevented a controversial barrage being built across Morecambe Bay which would have been devastating to overwintering waders.
Monitoring the bittern boom count has also been vital to the success of habitat management, and much of the recordings are contributed by volunteers. John believes these feats of citizen science and local knowledge are something we need to nurture to continue our conservation success. He is pleased that hobbies like photography have become more accessible and are engaging wider audiences with nature, but John is concerned that fewer people are participating in activities like bird ringing and recording. Whilst species like the bittern and marsh harrier are having population success, John has noticed the decline in more prevalent species in his earlier years, like the snipe, and has seen the loss of the yellow wagtail on site entirely. He has anecdotal theories of why he thinks these losses are occurring locally, but believes citizen science contributions are essential to provide evidence.
In the face of the devastating decline in nature, John feels positive about the future. The works of conservation organisations instil hope in him; he believes we need keep to up the momentum behind the concern for environmental issues to continue to give power to those organisations. He is keen that we keep emphasising positive stories from conservation, to give platform to the power of positive action. The increase in young people’s engagement in environmental issues leaves him feeling optimistic about the future.
Despite being in retirement, John Wilson can still be found at the reserve most mornings, counting and recording the species of Leighton Moss. He hopes to inspire others to get involved. If you’re keen to participate, then why not have a go at Big Garden Birdwatch in the New Year? With 38 million birds being lost from our skies in the past 50 years, collecting data about population numbers is invaluable to the RSPB’s conservation work.
Beth