Visit to Leighton Moss – 11 October 2016

By | November 6, 2016

Five members of the group made the trip to the North of Lancashire for this visit to the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss.  The weather was mostly cloudy but dry for the morning session with a few sunny intervals but quite cool and with quite a stiff breeze.  The
afternoon session was sunnier and warmer.

2016-10-11-leighton-moss-5This year’s visit to Leighton Moss had been timed to give us the best chance of seeing the Bearded Tits, and we were not disappointed!

Bearded Tits are uncommon birds, but present at Leighton Moss throughout the year but stay largely hidden in the reeds except at this time of the year when they visit the bird tables for grit (not food).

 

2016-10-11-leighton-moss-3Another highlight of this visit was the sighting of four Great White Egrets.  Until recently these birds were classed as vagrants but, over the last few years, they have been extending their range (still in small numbers) after first breeding in Somerset in 2012.

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This Robin was determined that we would also notice the common birds!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A total of 34 species were recorded during this visit:

 
Species Number Seen
Bearded Tit 3
Blackbird 1
Black-headed Gull Several
Buzzard 1
Carrion Crow Several
Chaffinch Many
Coal Tit Several
Coot A few
Dunnock 2
Gadwall c.50
Goldfinch A few
Great Tit Several
Great White Egret 4
Grey Heron 1
Jackdaw Several
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Little Egret 5
Little Grebe 1
Magpie Several
Mallard Several
Moorhen A few
Mute Swan 12+
Pheasant Several
Pintail A few
Redshank 1
Robin Many
Rook 15+
Shoveler Several
Teal 500+
Wigeon c.100
Woodpigeon A few
Wren Heard only
Nuthatch 1
Blue Tit A few

 

 

 

Last Updated on November 6, 2016