As many of you know, the starling murmuration is without doubt one of the highlights of any winter visit to RSPB Leighton Moss.
In recent years the murmurations here have taken place from the end of December till March and as we'd expect at this time of year, we are seeing relatively small numbers of birds on the reserve at the moment. This will doubtless change in the coming weeks as the number of starlings increase and they seek larger reedbeds to roost in.
It is with great regret that this year we are asking visitors to try and visit an alternative local roost instead where possible and to think carefully before travelling to our site due to the difficulties created by Covid 19 and the need for social distancing.
The erratic nature of the roosts (the starlings often change the location of their roost and can therefore murmurate over different areas of the reedbed on any given afternoon) and the limited access for viewing at the moment means that we cannot accommodate groups of visitors hoping to see the spectacle.
The reserve itself currently closes at 4pm daily and all hides are closed, further reducing visitors' opportunities to see the murmuration.
We also ask that people do not park on nearby roadsides in the hope of viewing a murmuration as this can cause dangerous obstructions for other road users and has resulted in police action in the past.
We will be leaving the main car park open for those visitors wishing to remain on the Causeway after 4pm but please note that this will result in a walk back to the car park along the unlit road.
Thank you for your understanding - and here's looking forward to next winter when we can hopefully enjoy the sight of starlings en masse, safely and comfortably.
Please visit starlingsintheuk.co.uk to find out where your local alternative roost is to visit.
In the meantime, we are happy to say that the reserve is open from 10am - 4pm daily, when visitors can explore the trails and view the vast reedbed from the 9 metre high Skytower! Our shop and café are open too, which means you can stock up on bird food, pick up some gifts or maybe treat yourself or a loved one to a new pair of binoculars before enjoying a hot drink and piece of delicious cake!
We hope to see you soon...