There seems little point in carrying on with a daily report as there is no likelyhood off any young this year. There have been a few sightings of single or at most Two Avocets since June but no sightings of Avocet with young which has occurred in the last few years!

Stop Press:- I have recently learned that there was another breeding pair in the Lancaster area but the nest was destroyed by the High Tides in May!

26th June;- One Avocet on The Flood.

25th June;- 11am, Three Avocets on The Flood, they look like a pair and a single. Plus 2 Spoonbills!

24th June;- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers

23rd June;- 9am, Seven Avocets on The Flood. All the nests have been destroyed since yesterday morning.

22nd June;- 11am, Thirteen Avocets on The Flood, Two pair sitting. Plus Eleven Herons.

21st Jume;- 9.30am, Seven Avocets on The Flood, Two pair sitting.

20th June;- 1.30pm, Nine Avocets on The Flood. The "Rovers Return" of yesterday seems to be confirmed!

19th June;- 10am, Five Avocets on The flood plus Two nests. At 4pm there were Nine Avocets!

18th June;- 9am, Six Avocets on The Flood, Two pair sitting. There have been sightings of Avocet from Jenny Brown's Point and the River Kent Estuary in recent days! The Twitcheritis outbreak has abated somewhat today.

17th June;- 9am, Five Avocets on The Flood. Two pair sitting. Is this the grand exodus today?

16th June;- A day away at Beamish.

15th June;- 12pm after the rain, Nineteen Avocets on The Flood. Still Two pair sitting.

14th June;- 10.30am during a brief respite from the rain, Seventeen Avocets on The Flood. Two pair sitting! Hopefully this late breeding attempt will be successful.

13th June;- Rain, Rain, Rain. glaw, glaw, glaw.

12th June;- 10am, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the EM Pool plus Twelve on the Allen Pool. The Twelve birds on the Allen Pool consisted of a pair and Ten Avocets that appeared to be involved in some sort of ritual feeding frenzy. This may be a courtship display? No breeding activity that I could see but visability was poor due to the mist.

11th June;- No report today due to an oubreak of "Acute Twitcheritis" at Leighton Moss plus a temperature of 28degC, too hot for me!

10th June;- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers

9th June;- 9.30am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Twelve on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool.

8th June;- 10am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Ten on the EM Pool. also Six Grey Herons and a Little Egret. All the Pools are very low on water and some of the smaller ones have dried up!

7th June;- A day away in Whitendale.

6th June;- 2pm, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Six on the EM Pool plus Twelve on the Allen Pool. Also a total of Six young Herons!

5th June;- 9.20am, all the Avocet nests have been predated! Twelve Avocets on The Flood plus Eight on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. Leighton Moss staff have looked at the remains of the nests and the culprits seem to be Avian, (there are no mammal footprints in the soft mud).

4th June;- 10.30am, Eight Avocet nests found, then the site was attacked by a flock of Crows and all the nest were deserted! 11.30am, all the birds had returned to their nests however there is now only Eight Avocets sitting. Leighton Moss Staff saw Nine nests but I cannot see this one and it still means Five nests have been predated! Only Eighteen Avocets in total seen!

3rd June;- A day away at "The Whinash Borrowdale".

2nd June;- 9.45am, Twenty Three Avocets on The Flood plus Eleven on the EM Pool. At least Sixteen pairs visible. I can see Thirteen pairs sitting and another probable nest but the Fifteenth site is not visible from my viewpoint!

1st June;- 8.45am, Twenty Six Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the EM Pool. The remainder of the birds are probably out on the Bay/Estuaries feeding.

31st May;- 8.40am, Thirty Three Avocets on The Flood plus Five on the EM Pool. The Electric Fence has been installed this morning (all the Avocets returned to their nests) and the Cows from the Allen section let in to the fenced off Saltmarsh. John Wilson has seen Fifteen pair sitting!

30th May;- 1.30pm, Thirty Four Avocets on The Flood and nearby Saltmarsh. The breeding situation is unchanged.

29th May;- 9.20am, Six Leighton Moss Staff were walking back to their transport as I arrived! It seems they had been herding Cows back to the Allen Hide section of the marsh as they had escaped into the EM/Flood section. The Avocets all returned to their nest sites! Thirty Avocets on The Flood and Four on the EM Pool. There are now Thirteen pairs sitting!

28th May;- 11am, Twenty Six Avocets found on The flood and nearby Saltmarsh. At least Ten pair sitting!

27th May;- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers in Swaledale.

26th May;- 9.30am, Thirty One Avocets on The Flood and nearby Saltmarsh. There is some nesting activity but it is too early to give any definite numbers as yet!

25th May;- 10am, Thirty Two Avocets on The Flood and nearby Saltmarsh and Two on the EM Flash. We appear to have a full house today, behaving much the same as yesterday.

24th May;- 12.30pm after the wet sea mist had cleared! Twenty Eight Avocets on The Flood and ajoining Salt Marsh. There was much mating and looking around on the Salt Marsh for suitable nest sites today! At least Ten pairs seen but no definite incubating activity as yet. The Electric Fence around the Allen Pool now appears to be live and is keeping the Cows out! It should now be extended to protect the EM and Flood Pools before The Cows are let into this section in June!

23rd May;- No reports today as "The Sky Man Commeth" however any sightings of the Leighton Moss Avocets today would be gratefully received! John wilson has seen 26 Avocets at least and several pairs scraping.

22nd May;- 10am, Twenty Four Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the EM Pool. The majority of the birds are on the saltmarsh and are either looking for new nest sites? or trying to find the flooded nests?

21st May;- 10.30am, Twenty Five Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the EM Flash plus Two on the Allen Pool. Several pairs seem to looking for nest sites, or are they just enjoying the Sun?

20th May;- 9am, Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM pool and Four on the Allen pool. There seems to have been a mass exodus of birds but this should settle down over the next few days! The water level on The Flood is now is now almost back to it's previous level.

18th May;- 10am before the rain, Twenty Five Avocets on The Flood plus One on the EM Pool. Very strong winds and a high tide today! Thirteen Nests Found!

17th May;- 11am, Twenty Two Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool. The Fourteenth nest appears to have been abandoned?

16th May;- 2pm, Twenty Three Avocets on The Flood plus One on the EM Pool. Due to the windy wet weather I have probably missed some birds today!

15th May;- 9am, Twenty Six Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool. There are now Fourteen pair sitting.

14th May:- 11am, Twenty Six Avocets on The Flood. John Wilson saw Thirty Two Avocets today. Breeding situation as on the 12th May.

13th May:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers in the forest of Bowland.

12th May:- 9am, Twenty Four Avocets on The Flood, now Thirteen pair sitting. There must be some birds I cannot see!

11th May:- 11am during a brief hiatus in the rain, Twenty Five avocets on The Flood plus One on the EM Pool. No change in the breeding situation.

10th May:- 9.30am very windy, Twenty Six Avocets on The Flood. Now Twelve pairs sitting.

9th May:- 1.30pm, Twenty Six Avocets on The flood. Now at least Eight pair sitting, possibly another Three? Thirty One Avocets seen by LM Staff (who use a different viewpoint). It seems there are plans to erect an Electric Fence to protect the nesting sites from The Cows.

8th May:- (After the Rain) 12pm, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood plus One on the EM Pool. The remainder of the birds must be in the area but there have been no reports from around the Bay that I am aware of!

7thMay:- 11am, Fifteen Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the EM Pool. I have not seen 30+ Avocets for some time, perhaps the remainder of the breeding group have left the site? Or they could be still present but roosting only on The flood then dispersing to feed in the early morning? Just to prove the point John Wilson saw Thirty two Avocets today!

6th May:- 9am, Eighteen Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the EM Pool. Now Three pair sitting! John Wilson saw Thirty Two Avocets today.

5th May:- A day away in The Howgills.

4th May:- 8.30am, Nineteen Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the EM Pool, however the birds are very mobile and there are probably more in the area! Still Two pair sitting.

3rd May:- 9.30am, Eighteen Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool. There are no Avocets on the Allen Pool and Two nests have been predated! Elsewhere there are at least Two pair sitting, one of which was sitting on the 1st of May. However John Wilson saw Thirty four Avocets on The Flood today. (This was probably an early morning sighting and would indicate that the predation on the Allen Pool happened in the early hours today)!

2nd May:- A day away in the Langden Valley with Lancaster Birdwatchers

1st May:- 9am, Nine Avocets on The Flood plus Ten on the EM Pool plus Nine on the Allen Pool. There now appears to be Three pairs sitting.

30th April:- 11am, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the EM Pool plus Twelve on the Flood. at least Two birds sitting. This is really too late in the day to get an accurate count.

29th April:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers on Caldbeck Common.

28th April:- 9am, Fifteen Avocets on The flood plus Nineteen on the Allen Pool. Later in the day the birds had dispersed over all the Complex Pools. The nest observed on the 23rd is no longer intact however there is still one pair incubating possibly more.

24th,25th,26th,27th April:- Away watching Ospreys and climbing mountains at Keswick/Bassenthwaite, However 24th April:- John Wilson saw Five Avocets on The flood and Twenty One on the Allen Pool. 26th April:- John Wilson saw Ten Avocets on The Flood and Twenty One on the Allen Pool (there may have been some double counting).

23rd April:- 10.30am wet, Twenty Eight Avocets on the Allen Pool. The Predation has been investigated. It was definitely of avian origin with the first favourite being Grey Heron, (although Four Gull species, Carrion Crow and Raven cannot be discounted). At least One pair incubating possibly Two.

22nd April:- 11am, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood plus Fourteen on the Allen Pool. There must be some new birds in the breeding group!

21st April:- 10am misty, Twelve Avocets onThe Flood plus Thirteen on the Allen Pool. The Three active nests have been predated! The Avocets are keeping well away from the former breeding area hence the unusual number of birds on the Allen Pool!

20th April:- 11am misty, Twenty One Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the Allen Pool. The water level in the Allen Pool has been raised by the recent high tides and the lower Islands are under water.

19th April:- A day away in the Craven Dales.

18th April:- 1.30pm, (almost impossible viewing conditions) Thirteen Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the Allen Pool. The 10.3 metre tide has not affected the sitting birds!

17th April:- 9am, Twenty One Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the Allen Pool. There now appears to be Three pair incubating. Let's hope they are not washed away by the High Tides!

16th April:- 12pm, Eighteen Avocets on The Flood plus Five on the Allen Pool. There appears to be Two pair incubating!

15th April:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers in the Angletarn Pikes, Patterdale area, however John Wilson saw Twenty Four Avocets today.

14th April:- 9am, Eighteen Avocets on The Flood plus Five on the Allen Pool.

13th April:- 9am, Twenty One Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the Allen Pool. An extra pair flew in to the Allen Pool from The Flood while I was there (The total number was unchanged). At least Ten pair today.

12th April:- 10.45am, Seventeen Avocets on The Flood plus Eight on the Allen Pool, though very mobile (there were only Two birds on the Allen Pool ten minutes previously).

11th April:- 1.30pm, Nine Avocets on The Flood plus Six on the Allen Pool (A.N Other had a total of Seventeen birds). Poor viewing conditions at this time of day.

10th April:- 9am, Sixteen Avocets on The Flood plus Six on the Allen Pool, but mobile. John Wilson saw a total of Twenty Five birds!

9th April:- 10am, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood plus Ten on the Allen Pool. There seems to be Two pairs on The Flood that are building up a clutch ready for incubation. "There may be more", I will have to spend more time watching!

8th April:- Yet another day away.

7th April:- 9.30am, Eighteen Avocets on The Flood plus Six on the Allen pool. At least Nine pairs now.

6th April:- A day away, far from the madding crowds on Twistleton Scar!

5th April:- 1pm, Twenty Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Flash plus Two on the Allen Pool. The birds are still very mobile but they do seem to be choosing breeding sites.

4th April:- 1.30pm, Twenty One Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the Allen Pool.

3rd April:- 11am, Eighteen Avocets on The Flood plus One on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. The newcomers have upset the equilibrium of the established group, however there were many matings today. There is much flying about at the moment hence the numbers on each pool changes several times an Hour.

2nd April:- 12pm, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood. There appears to be at least Six pairs, two of which are looking broody!

1st April:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers at Pateley Bridge, however John Wilson saw Sixteen Avocets today.

31st March:- 10.15am, Fifteen Avocets on The Flood. The birds were however very flighty and were split between the EM Pool and The Flood earlier!

30th March:- A day away in North Cumbria!

29th March:- 2pm, Eleven Avocets on The Flood plus Two Avocets on the EM flash plus Two Avocets on the Allen Pool. There seems to be a missing pair today but these could be tucked in behind the Rail Line out of sight! There was a report of a Female Marsh Harrier today at LM.

28th March:- Car in for Service, I've been exercising my "Now Card" today!

27th March:- 10am, Thirteen Avocets on The flood plus Two on the EM Flash plus Two on the Allen Pool. This looks like a Full House, there was also Three Little Egrets on The EM Pool and a Male Marsh Harrier at Leighton Moss!

26th March:- 12pm, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. Two Avocets on the EM Pool and Two Avocets on the Allen Pool. It looks as though the wanderers are returning, two more pairs in today making a total of Six pairs.

25th March:- 10am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. There now appears to be at least Four Pairs! Four Avocets were seen at Glasson "midweek", (last week) [phoned in to LM reception].

24th March:- A day away in the Windermere area.

23rd March:- 10.30am, Ten Avocets on The Flood. At least two pairs the others still pairing up with some aggression. The pairs mating!

22nd March:- Persistant Mist: 11.15am, Seven Avocets on The Flood plus Two Avocets on the Allen Pool (the Allen pool pair are showing interest in one of the Islands). Good viewing conditions: 2pm, Six Avocets on The flood plus Three on the Allen Pool. The Salt Marsh was flooded by the high tide with the Sea coming over the sluice into the Allen Pool.

21st March:- A day away south of Lancaster, however Ten Avocet seen on The Flood by John Wilson.

20th March:- 10am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. 12pm, Twelve Avocets on The Flood which when spooked by a predator? bunched together in the water to make them easy to count. Several pairs mating.

19th March:- 11.35am at high tide, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood. The 10.1 metre tide has not caused any serious flooding because the wind has changed round to the north. Tomorrow and the day after a 10.4/10.5 metre tide is forecast.

18th March:- A day away at Coniston with Lancaster Fellwalkers. Sixteen Avocet seen by John Wilson, meanwhile I was in a snow blizzard near Coniston!

17th March:- 11.45am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood plus One on The EM Pool.

16th March:- 9.30am, Ten Avocets on The Flood. 2pm, Twelve Avocets on The Flood. Very strong winds hence difficult to keep the Telescope still! There are probably more Avocets in the area sheltering from the persistantly cold winds.

15th March:- 10.30am, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood and One on the EM Pool. One pair scraping. There was a count of Sixteen birds earlier in the day by John Wilson.

14th March:- Eleven Avocets on The Flood and One on the EM Pool, (seen by Keith Kellett [am]). 1.30pm, Eleven Avocets on The flood, could not see any Avocets on the EM Pool but the Sun Glare on the water made viewing almost impossible!

13th March:- 9.30am, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood. Only Four could be found at 12.30pm! The situation is very fluid at the moment with the highest sighting in the morning. They then seem to disperse to feed elsewhere? (but I have had no other local reports). A pair seen scraping today by John Wilson.

12th March:- A day away on "The Fylde", however Two separate observers saw Seven Avocets today.

11th March:- 9.30am, Eight Avocets on The Flood! There seems to have been a small influx of birds. Nesting at this time would unfortunate as there are 10 metre plus tides forecast for the 19th to 22nd March which would probably wash the nests away!

10th March;- 1pm, still Five Avocets on The Flood.

9th March:- 9.30am, Five Avocets on The Flood. It is probable now that the remainder of the Eleven birds have departed (probably North) although there have been no reports from Cumbria.

8th March:- 10am, Five Avocets on The Flood. 4pm, still only Five birds on The Flood.

7th March:- Seven Avocets on The Flood (Keith Kellett). 4pm, no change still Seven birds! John Wilson saw Eleven Avocets today. It's possible that the four missing birds are feeding elsewhere!

6th March:- 9.30am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood all sheltering from the cold wind. No change at 1.30pm except that Nine were standing together in shallow water and a pair had left the group and were feeding.

5th March:- 11.30am, Seven Avocets on The Flood. There were Three Avocets reported from Pilling Lane Ends today, they may fly this way?

4th March:- A very wet day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers, however John Wilson saw Eight Avocets on the Eric Morecambe Complex today!

3rd March:- 9.30am, Four Avocets on The Flood. These bird moved later to the Eric Morecambe Pool. At 3pm, a single bird seen on The Flood, the glare from the Son was so intense at this time that I could not find any more Avocets!

2nd March:- 10am, only Two avocets on The Flood! I'm not sure whether the other Three birds have left the area or have just found another feeding site nearby. No change at 1.30pm.

1st March:- 10am, Five Avocets on The Flood; they were seen earlier in the day on the Allen Pool. All Five still present at 2pm; it now looks like 2 pairs and a single!

28th Feb:- 1.30pm, only One Avocet found on The Flood; the viewing conditions can only be described as horrendous! The other Three birds are probably sheltering from the force 5 to 7 force wind and rain!

27th Feb:- 12pm, Four Avocets on The Flood feeding. 1.30pm, Four Avocets on The Flood preening and sheltering from the strong wind.

26th Feb:- 9.45am, only One Avocet on The Flood??? Checked again at 1.30pm, still only One Avocet! The sluice on the Allen Pool is being repaired so there are very few birds on the Allen or Eric Morecambe Pools!

25th Feb:- 10.00am, Two Avocets on The Flood asleep. 4pm, the Two birds had moved a few yards and were feeding. Reports today of a total 25 Avocets at Marshside/Martin Mere.

24th Feb:- A day away at Coniston, no reports of Avocets at Leighton Moss from Birdguides/R.B.A Report from John Wilson:- Two Avocets on The Flood!

23rd Feb, 9.30am:- One Avocet on the Flood. still present at 3.35pm. The water levels have gone down somewhat but it was unusual to see an Avocet swimming!

Marsh side RSPB, 22nd Feb:- 14 Avocets from Nels hide this morning, (R.B.A). The numbers at this site seem to be rising but the Eric Morecambe/Allen Pools are still flooded by the recent high tides. The good news is that the Silverdale Level Crossing is now open after a 10 day closure!

Marshside RSPB:- 17th Feb:- 1 Avocet: 18th Feb:- 3 Avocet: 19th Feb:- 11 Avocet: 20th Feb no reports. (Info from RBA and Birdguides).