The rare Sabine's gull discovered here on the reserve early last week continued to be seen on and off before finally being tracked down to a more reliable spot at nearby Jenny Brown's Point. The attractive seabird could be seen, often at very close quarters, as it fed in a tidal channel close to the shore. A reasonably short walk from the Allen Pool car park or a rather tricky drive along a single track lane from Silverdale allowed access to the bird's favoured spot and many birders got great views. At the time of writing it hasn't been for a day or two and so may well have gone - though do keep checking, it might well still be lurking out there!
Normally found in the high Arctic during the breeding season, Sabine's gulls spend the winter months far out at sea and are most often seen when stormy conditions around UK coasts in autumn blow birds close to shore. To see an adult in breeding plumage at close range is quite exceptional! It has been interesting to hear the many ways that this rather enigmatic gull's name has been pronounced by birdwatchers, with 'Sa-beens' being the most common, though many birders call it 'Say-bines'. It is actually pronounced 'SAY-bins' and is named after the Irish ornithologist, astronomer and explorer Edward Sabine. However one says it, there's no mistaking the fact that it's a cracking bird and one well worth seeing while it's in the area!
Sabine's gull pic by Jarrod Sneyd
It's been a fantastic week on the main reserve with lots of sightings of bitterns, otters, marsh harriers, hobbies and much more! Wildfowl numbers are starting to increase as post-breeding birds start to appear in advance of their late summer moult. In the coming weeks we will see more arriving and the range of birds on the pools can change daily.
Another feature of this time of year is the appearance of many waders - many of which will also be post-breeding migrants. In recent days we have seen spotted redshank, several greenshanks and lots of redshank and black-tailed godwits along with the occasional dunlin, common sandpiper and snipe. These are just the first of what will be a waive of shorebirds that will arrive around the shores of Morecambe Bay in the next few weeks. Who knows what might turn up amongst the flocks of commoner species? If you find wader identification something of a headache (and many of us do!), why not join us for our 'What's That Wader' workshop on Saturday 20 August. For details click here.
Spotted redshank pic from archive by Alan Foster
And as the school holidays approach, why not plan a great family day out at Leighton Moss? Keep the younger ones entertained by hiring a pond dipping kit or picking up a Big Wild Summer activity pack - ask at the welcome desk for details!
PLEASE NOTE: Although we're mostly outside the 'red' warning area, there are still extremely high temperatures forecast over the next few days - as a result there may be changes to our usual on-site services & activities, so please make sure to get the latest info from our welcome team upon arrival. Have a great, and safe, visit!