January can only mean one thing – no, not broken resolutions – but Big Garden Birdwatch! Have you’ve signed up yet? If you’ve never taken part in our citizen science extravaganza before, or just fancy a refresher, then we’re hosting the perfect workshop for you. Big Garden Birdwatch: A Beginner’s Guide is running on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 January, so book online now to learn more about identifying the species which might visit your patch and how you can provide them with a perfect diet to get them through the colder months.
Speaking of which, if you’re look to replenish your bird food stocks then now is an ideal time to visit our shop. Pick up a bargain banquet for your birds with our £20 off Bird Food Kit special offer: three bags of feeder mix and a variety of suet; you’ll save yourself £10.47. If you’re a first time 'BigGardenBirdwatcher' then you’ll also receive a 20% off coupon on your sign up - what a steal!
We hope you’re all well on your way with your New Year lists by now. If you’ve not started on your Leighton Moss specific checklist then don’t forget to pick one up from the Welcome desk (suggested donation of £1). We also encourage you to record your sightings in our sightings book in the lobby, not only does this give us a good idea of what’s to be seen, but it’s a great help for other visitors too. There was a thrilling tick for a few of our lists this week when a waxwing was discovered by our warden work party up on Warton Crag. Waxwing sightings are few and far between here in the UK this year. These exotic looking birds eat fruit and berries through winter months and if the crop in their breeding countries (the waxwings we see here are mainly from Scandinavia) is poor in a particular year then they will be forced to forage further afield, often crossing the North Sea is search of food. This is when we get “irruptive” waxwing winters here in Britain. We hope this scarce sighting sticks around for many of you birders to see! The picture here was snapped by our volunteer Paula.
Now, before you rush off to climb the crag, there’s still plenty to be seen at the main reserve itself at the moment. If a scarce tick is what you’re after, then to head on down to Lower Hide in search of the elusive jack snipe that has been sighted multiple times over the past fortnight. Each winter the reserve hosts quite a few jack snipe but they can be notoriously difficult to see so this one, which is often with the many common snipe present, offers a rare chance to see one at close quarters! But don’t forget that Leighton Moss is more than just a birdwatching bonanza, and if you’re after other wildlife then keep your eyes on the same pool; our otter family are continuing to entertain our visitors almost daily from Causeway and Lower hides.
With water levels being relatively high, we are still seeing an increase of diving ducks on the pools. Numbers of pochards, tufted duck and goldeneye are building up around the reserve. There’s still plenty of dabbling ducks to be seen too and down at the Eric Morecambe complex, we are seeing big numbers of wigeon - try and pick out the striking-looking American/Eurasian wigeon hybrid from amongst them!
Much like previous weeks, the starlings are still coming through the reserve before heading off to roost elsewhere. However, the large groups are becoming a little more fractured, with some starlings briefly stopping in the Leighton Moss reedbed before moving on, with small signs of the beginnings of a murmuration. The interest they’re displaying could be indicative of their imminent return to the main reserve, and we hope to catch them on our Women’s Only Sunset Stroll next Wednesday. If you’re interested in any of the events mentioned then do head on over to our website and remember to sign up for the 2022 Big Garden Birdwatch whilst you’re there!
Beth