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Leighton Moss Guide
 
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Peak Number of Adults seen :- 40
Total Number of Nesting Pairs :- 17
Nests Predated/Abandoned :- 14
Chicks Hatched :-5
Chicks Surviving :-1
Bed and Breakfast near Leighton Moss
Site designed and maintained by Jim Shepherd. Avocet Photos by Keith Kellett.
Sightings to Date

There seems little point in carrying on with this report as the sole surviving chick is capable of escaping predators and has probably left the site. There 'may be' late reports of an adult Avocet with young on the Pools, (they are not from 'this site')! I will endevour to provide a similar service next year!

 

14th July:- 11.30am, No Avocets found!

13th July:- A day away watching the 'Bassenthwaite Ospreys' and an Otter!

12th July:- A day away on 'The Fylde'

11th July:-11.15am, no Avocets Found but plenty Cows. 2pm, still no Avocets even more Cows breaking down the banks and fences and escaping on to the footpath. Reported to Leighton Moss, I happened to run into a couple who were staying at the farm, they reported the situation to The Farmer!

10th July:- 9.15am, One Avocet plus One Chick on the EM Pool, later both flew to the Allen Pool and proceeded to feed!

9th July:- A day away by the River Lune estuary.

8th July:- 10.30am, One Avocet on the Allen Pool plus One Chick, asleep as usual! Plus '45' Cows!

7th July:- 1.30pm, No Avocets visible on any of The Pools. In view of yesterdays report will try again tomorrow!

6th July:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers Four Avocets, (inc One young) seen by A.N. Other (am).

5th July:- 9.30am, One Avocet on the EM Pool plus One Chick ( asleep) plus at least Two Dozen Cows churning up the Mud.

4th July:- 2pm, (The Wanderers have returned) One Avocet on the EM pool plus One Chick. The Chick is fast asleep as usual, I think it must feed from daybreak then have a long sleep. A lovely sunny day for Satchmo's birthday!

3rd July:- 10am, (The Electric Fence was being taken down today also cleaning up work at the front of the EM Hide). One Avocet on The Allen Pool and One Chick. Both Avocets flew off when L.M staff showed themself outside The Hide! I checked at 1.15pm and could not find any Avocets (I will try again tomorrow)!

2nd July:- A Petrol saving day!

1st July:- One Avocet on the EM pool plus One Avocet on the Allen Pool plus One Chick. The Chick does not seem to be getting any larger and spends most of it's time resting, hopefully all is well!

30th June:- A day away in 'The Eden Valley'. However A.N.Other saw Three avocets today.

29th June:- 10.30am, Two Avocets on the EM Pool plus One and the Chick on the Allen Pool. There was an Avocet on 'The Conder Pool' earlier today (R.B.A).

28th June:- 10.30am, Three Avocets on the Allen Pool plus One Chick. The Chick is almost fully grown and is feeding in the large Pools provided by the recent very wet weather!

27th June:- A day away by the River Kent.

26th June:- 11.30am, One Avocet on the EM Pool plus the Chick. Two Avocets on the Allen Pool. The Chick was seen flying from Pool to Pool earlier in the day!

25th June:- A day away on 'The Fylde', however in the evening A. N. Other saw the chick flying

24th June:- 9.30am, Two Avocets on the EM Pool plus One well grown Chick. Three Avocets on the Allen Pool.

23rd June:- 11.30am, Two Avocets on the EM Pool plus One Chick. Two Avocets on the Allen Pool

22nd June:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers (Croeso a Gymru)

21st June:- 10am, Two Avocets on the EM pool plus One Chick.

20th June:- A day away by the River Kent.

19th June:- 10am, Four Avocets on the EM Pool plus One Chick. The Pools have much higher water levels now due to yesterday's Monsoon like weather!

18th June:- A Petrol saving day! Rain, Rain, Rain!

17th June:- 10am, Two Avocets on the EM Pool plus Four on the Allen Pool, plus One Chick. I will continue with this record until the single young Avocet fledges. The Pools are looking more like The Sahara every day!

16th June:- A Petrol saving day!

15th June:- 9am, Three Avocets on the EM Pool plus One Chick. The only difference between now and the 13th is there is even less water in the Pools!

14th June:- A day away in the 'South Pennines'.

13th June:- 2pm, Five Avocets on the EM pool plus One well grown Chick.

12th June:- 9.30am, Three Avocets on the EM Pool, plus One well grown Chick. There are now no Avocets sitting, (The last nest was probably predated).

11th June:- A day away in the Lancashire Countryside.

10th June:- 10.30am, Five Avocets on the EM Pool. One Avocet still sitting and One chick surviving. The Pools are now very dry, a useful amount of rain would be very welcome

9th June:- 12pm, Five Avocets on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. One pair sitting and One Chick. The Chick is growing rapidly and was exercising it's wings today. The sitting bird is now on a large expanse of dried mud as The Pool is almost dry!

8th June:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers

7th June:- 9.15 to 10am, Six Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the EM Pool. Only One Chick found. There is now only One pair sitting. I have ammended the count above to read (Total Number of Nesting Pairs). The differential between this number and the predated number is accounted for by (3 nests hatched plus 1 nest still sitting). A reminder:- (I did not see One Chick hatched last year).

6th June:- 9 to 10am, Nine Avocets on the EM Pool. Only One Chick found. There are still Two pair sitting. At this rate of attrition it would seem unlikely that any young will fledge!

5th June:- 7.45 to 8.45am, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Nine on the EM Pool. Only Three Chicks found. Still Two pair sitting. All being well there should be more Chicks around the Twentieth of June.

4th June:- 7.30 to 9.30am, Ten Avocets on the EM Pool. Only Four Chicks found. Two Chicks with there attendant parents have moved to the main EM pool adjacent to the hide. There are still Two pair sitting. All the Pools are drying up fast!

3rd June:- 11am, Eight Avocets on the EM pool (though very mobile). Two pair resitting and Five Chicks but very difficult to see in poor light.

2nd June:- 1.30pm, after the fog had cleared! Eight Avocets on The EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. The Five Chicks seem to be intact but are difficult to see from The Viewpoint and not visable at all from the EM Hide. Five Spoonbill plus Four Little Egrets also present on the EM Pool. There are Two probable new nests, I will check again tomorrow.

1st June:- A day away in the English Lake District. (from LDBWS) 10 Avocet + 5 young. At least 1, possibly 2 adults appear to be re-sitting.

31st May:- Eight Avocets on the EM Pool. Five Chicks found (Three Families).

30th May:- A day away in 'The Craven Dales'.

29th May:- 9.30am, Six Avocets on The Flood plus Six on the EM Pool plus Five on the Allen Pool. Another nest has hatched but unfortunately the other nest has been predated. There are now Five Chicks, these have all been moved to the most southerly of the EM Pools.

28th May:- 1.30pm, Five Avocets on The Flood plus Five on the EM Pool. Only 25% of the peak number of Avocets now visible! The Three Chicks are still present and growing fast. One of the remaining nests may be due to hatch in the first Two weeks of June, if the Crows don't get the eggs!

27th May:- 1.15pm, Six Avocets on The Flood plus Seven on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. Only Two nests found, however there were Three Chicks spending most of the time being brooded (cold wind).

26th May:- 8.30am, Nine Avocets on The EM pool plus Eleven on the Allen Pool. Since my last visit Five more nests have been predated (Crows). However there are now Three Chicks (Another nest has hatched One young and it has been swum to the shore). There are now only Three intact nests! About 50% of the Avocets seem to have left the site but there will probably be returnees establishing new nests!

25th May:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers

24th May:- 9.30am, Twenty Avocets on the EM Pool plus Four on the Allen Pool. Another nest has been abandoned/predated, however a new nest has been established. There are now Nine nests intact. The Two chicks have been swum to the mainland and are feeding on the muddy fringes spending much of their time being brooded under their parents wings!

23rd May:- 10.30am, Twenty Five Avocets on the EM pool plus Thirteen on the Allen Pool. At last there are Two Chicks hatched! However on another island the Crows have taken the Eggs from Four nests. The birds started sitting at widely different times so I do not expect a mass hatching altogether! ( This is probably the top predator rich site in the North of England)!

22nd May:- 9.30am, Thirty Three Avocets on the EM Pool plus Seven on the Allen Pool! Yet another influx of Avocets (maybe from Marshside/Martin Mere)? Still no Chicks to be seen, but the Three Spoonbills are still present.

21st May:- 1.30pm, Two Avocets on The flood plus Twenty Eight on the EM pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. It is now 22 days since I first confirmed Avocets sitting, there should be chicks by now! Of course I may have made an error with the date! Or the Avocets haven't read The Book!

20th May:- 9.30am, One Avocet on The Flood plus Thirty One on the EM Pool plus One on the Allen Pool. There seems to have been another small influx of Avocets (every time this happens it seems to upset the resident birds but things then settle down to the task in hand).

19th May:- A day away in 'The Craven Dales'.

18th May:- 10.30am, Twenty Five Avocets on the EM Pool plus Five on the Allen pool though very mobile. Fifteen Avocets sitting!

17th May:- A day away in the English Lake District.

16th May:- 10am, Twenty Six Avocets on the EM pool plus Four on the Allen Pool, and just for a change Three Spoonbills! There should be Avocet Chicks in the next few days.

15th May:- 10am, Twenty Seven Avocets on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. Another 'Full House'!

14th May:- 9am, Twenty Six Avocets on the EM Pool, otherwise no change from yesterday. There should chicks hatched in the next Seven days!

13th May:- 9.30am, Twenty five Avocets on the EM Pool plus Five on the Allen Pool. A rare full house probably caused by the presence of LM staff on Carnforth Marsh (The Avocets feeding in the gulleys were flushed out onto The Pools)!

12th May:- 12.30pm, Twenty One Avocets on the EM Pool plus Six on the Allen pool. No change in the breeding programme.

11th May:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers

10th May:- 9.15am, One Avocet on The Flood plus Twenty Three on the EM Pool plus Four on the Allen Pool. There may possibly be more breeding activity, I will check again in Two days time!

9th May:- 9.30am, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Eighteen on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. No change in the nesting situation.

8th May:- 9am, Twenty Avocets on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. Eleven nesting pairs.

7th May:- 8am, Twenty Avocets on the EM pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. There are now Ten nesting pairs.

6th May:- 10.30am, Fourteen Avocets on the EM Pool plus Eight on the Allen Pool. There may be more breeding pairs but I will have to do another watch to be sure!

5th May:- 9am, Twenty Three Avocets on the EM Pool though very mobile. No more nesting pairs found.

4th May:- 10am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Sixteen on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. There are now Eight Avocets sitting.

3rd May:- 10.30am, Nineteen Avocets on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. No more nesting pairs found.

2nd May:- A day away in The Langdales.

1st May:- 10.30am, One Avocet on The Flood plus Twenty Two on the EM Pool plus Five on the Allen Pool. Six Avocets definitely sitting with more sites looking likely.

30th April:- 1.30pm, Fourteen Avocets on the EM Pool plus Ten on the Allen Pool. Five Avocets definitely sitting with more to come!

29th April:- 9.30am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty on the EM Pool plus Six on the Allen Pool. There is now at least Three pair sitting, there are probably more but I will reserve judgement! I was told today that a visiting Coach party caused a major panic by climbing up the banks to see the Pools on the 27th! Nothing is that urgent!

28th April:- 1.30pm, Twenty Avocets on the EM Pool plus Ten on the Allen Pool. A rare 'Full House'. Only Two birds of any sort on The Flood. It looks like at least Two pair of Avocets are sitting (I need to confirm this tomorrow).

27th April:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers

26th April:- 9am, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Sixteen on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. The Avocets appear to be favouring the EM Pool (the only pool with any Islands high enough to be dry). One Avocet reported from Heysham today flying south!

25th April:- 10am, Seven Avocets on The Flood plus Eleven on the EM pool plus Seven on the Allen Pool. The Flood has been invaded by 10 non breeding Mute Swans which has displaced most of the Avocets to other Pools!

24th April:- 10.30am, (after the rain) Twenty Two Avocets on The Flood plus Six on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. The Avocets on The Flood can only be described as Hyperactive, they seem to spend much of the day fighting!

23rd April:- 1.15pm, Eleven Avocets on The Flood plus Sixteen on the Allen Pool. Very mobile between the Allen and Flood Pools. John Wilson saw Thirty Avocets today in total, this probably means that the Thirty Avocets seen on the 19th April are still in the area!

22nd April:- 10am, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool plus Ten on the Allen Pool. At this time last year at least Three pairs 'had' been incubating! I have not found any viable nests so far this year! There was a pair today looking at a site near to two small pools (used last year).

21st April:- 10am, Fifteen Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool, though very mobile!

20th April:- A day away in deepest Cumbria.

19th April:- 9am, Twenty Three Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the EM pool plus Four on the Allen Pool. An hour later at 10am 50% of the Avocets had left the Pools! Maybe some of these bird are in passage? Reports of Avocets away from The Pools are rare!

18th April:- 9am, Sixteen Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool plus One on the EM Flash plus Four on the Allen Pool. The birds are very mobile and could be anywhere on the EM Complex. At least Two pairs seem to be in the breeding mood but non are sitting as yet!

17th April:- 10am, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood plus Five on the Allen Pool. There was a report of Twenty One Avocets later in the day! There appears to be Two pairs in breeding mode. Maybe the new arrivals have come from Marshside RSPB, they must be crowded with Eighty birds? (Extract from Lancaster Birdwatching site), by John Wilson:- Avocet Minimum of 22 today and possibly 25 but moving between Flood and Allen Hide.

16th April:- 1.30pm, Two Avocets on the EM Pool plus Eleven on the Allen Pool. It looks as though workers on the railway have moved most birds to the Allen Pool. No interest shown in yesterdays 'nest site'?

15th April:- 9.30am, Seven Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the Allen Pool. The Avocets are very mobile between the Allen Pool and The Flood so exact numbers can be difficult to ascertain. At least One pair were nest building today!

14th April:- 1pm, Six Avocets on The Flood plus Six on the Allen Pool. At least One pair showing pre incubation behaviour but no definite sitting birds.

13th April:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers

12th April:- A day away in the Lune Valley.

11th April:- 10.30am, Thirteen Avocets on The Flood. It is beginning to look like 'One Pair' have found another site. No definite nesting behaviour but there is much mating going on!

10th April:- 9.15am, Thirteen Avocets on The Flood. This time last year there were pairs building up clutches for incubation, I have not seen this behaviour this year as yet!

9th April:- 1.30pm, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM pool plus Eleven on the Allen Pool. An Electric Fence has been erected today to protect ground nesting birds from trampling Cattle. This had had the effect of driving most of the birds to the Allen Pool. Cattle are usually allowed on the Saltmarsh in June!

8th April:- 9am, Fifteen Avocets on The Flood. After the usual skirmish several Avocets were investigating some of last years nest sites, the single bird then flew to the Allen Pool to feed.

7th April:- 9.45am, Fourteen Avocets on The Flood plus One on the Allen Pool. There are now Three Marsh Harriers at LM, Two females and One male. This morning the females were both Skydiving (a spectacular display). The high tide has partially flooded the Saltmarsh but has only raised the Pool levels a little.

6th April:- 9.30am, Twelve Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the Allen Pool. The 'Flood' birds were fighting. No flooding as yet, (the highest tide is tomorrow). Another influx of Marsh Harriers today, (at least One new male with One or Two females).

5th April:- 10am, Eleven Avocets on The flood plus Two on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool, though very mobile. There appears to be Seven pairs, (no sign of flooding as yet).

4th April:- 9.30am, Fifteen Avocets on The Flood. Still much skirmishing among the birds, a few looking for nest sites (they will probably be washed out this weekend). One Med Gull showing well on the Allen Pool, no rings.

3rd April:- 11am, Thirteen Avocets on The Flood. John Wilson saw Fifteen Avocets (almost a full house)!

2nd April:- 1.30pm, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. There appears to be Five pair but there is still some agro when they are all together.

1st April:- 2pm, Thirteen Avocets on the Allen Pool sheltering from the gale force winds! At 1.30pm there were only Ten so maybe some birds have been feeding in nearby channels on the Salt Marsh.

                 

31st March:- 1.30pm, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. This is much to late in the day to find Avocets on a sunny day! However there are a pair of Marsh Harriers in the Leighton Moss area today! John Wilson saw at least Eleven Avocets today, there were probably more but they were very mobile!

30th March:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers . A Red Kite, and Seven Mandarin Ducks seen on the River Wharfe.

29th March:- 9am, Ten Avocets on The Flood. One pair seem to be establishing a territory on a small Island. High Tides are forecast for the 6th and 7th of April!

28th March:- 12.45pm, (After the rain) Eight Avocets on The Flood.

27th March:- 9.30am, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Five on the Allen Pool. It really does seem that 50% of the birds have moved on! They could even be in Scotland??? Or another more local site???

26th March:- 1.30pm, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the Allen Pool. An earlier observer saw Seven Avocets! Maybe the birds I couldn't find are feeding elsewhere, and coming in to roost at night? Alternatively they may have left the site altogether, time will tell!

25th March:- 12pm, Twelve Avocets on The Flood.

24th March:- A day away on the Westmorland Silurians. A.N Other found only Seven Avocets today!

23rd March:- 9am, Ten Avocets on The Flood, perhaps the rest of the birds are out on the Estuaries.

22nd March:- A day away on The Fylde.

21st March:- 10am, Thirteen Avocets on The Flood all standing together in a tight group. Maybe the remainder of the Sixteen have moved on? Fourteen seen by John Wilson from a different viewpoint (I could only manage Thirteen from the Clifftop in Gale force winds)

20th March:- 9.45am, Two Avocets on The Flood. 1.30pm, Two Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Eleven on The Flood. ( The weather can only be described as horrendous [Gale force winds with Mist and persistant rain]).

19th March:- 1.15pm, Twelve Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool. The other Four birds are probably still around but I could not see them from my 'Viewpoint'.

18th March:- 11am, Sixteen Avocets on The Flood.

17th March:- 11am, Four Avocets on The Flood plus One Avocet on the Allen Pool. (Report by John Wilson) 6 Avocets on the Flood flushed by railway workers but all landed back appeared 2 pairs and 2 singles.

16th March:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers

15th March:- 9.40am, Four Avocets on The Flood. There seems to be One pair and Two singles.

14th March:- 10am, Four Avocets on The Flood. There appears to be a group of Three (two of which were fighting) [males], and a single. The female showed no interest in the fight and carried on feeding. I have never been closer that 1/2 a mile to the birds so am unable to properly sex the birds!

13th March:- 9am, Two Avocets on The Flood at Low Tide. There were Fourteen Avocets here last year at this time! (see Avocets 2007)

12th March:- 2pm, Two Avocets on the Allen Pool, refugees from the twice daily flooding of Carnforth Marsh! Viewing almost impossible in the strong winds.

11th March:- 9.15am, Two Avocets on The Flood. 2.45pm the same Two birds but feeding this time! The flooding at high tide is much less today. Twenty plus Avocets at Martin Mere/Marshside.

10th March:- 1.15pm, Two Avocets on the Allen Pool standing on an Island up to their breasts in water! The whole of Carnforth Marsh is flooded, only a few tiny Islands above the water. The Tide was coming over The Sluice like a Waterfall. Weatherwise the morning was excellent with light winds and plenty of Sunshine.

9th March:- A day away in the Yorkshire Dales with Friends. However I did see widespread flooding on Carnforth Marsh, from 'Crag Foot' on my return!

8th March:- 10.45am, Two Avocets in exactly the same place as yesterday sheltering from the wind. However the Sun did come out later in the day.

7th March:- 10am, Two Avocets on The Flood sheltering from the wind.

6th March:- 9.15am, Still Two Avocets on The Flood, they don't appear to have moved far since yesterday. More recruits needed!

5th March:- 1.40pm, Two Avocets flew from the EM Pool to The Flood!

4th March:- 10 45am, One Avocet on The Flood, a freezing night, a northerly wind and no sign of reinforcements as yet.

3rd March:- 1 30pm, One Avocet on The Flood. Marshside now have 17 Avocets, perhaps with a favourable wind a few of them may fly North?

2nd March:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers

1st March:- 10am, One Avocet Feeding on the EM Pool. Quite a rare occasion this year as you can actually see it from the Eric Morecambe Hide!

29th Feb:- 9.30am, One Avocet one The Flood. Weather; not fit to send a Duck out!

28th Feb:- 10.30am, One Avocet feeding on The Flood. Eight Avocets at Martin Mere on the 26th, strangely no reports from Marshside recently?

27th Feb:- 1.30pm, One Avocet feeding on The Flood.

26th Feb:- 8am, One Avocets seen on the Allen Pool by A.N. Other. 11am, could not find the Avocet on any of the pools, not surprising considering the very strong gusty winds!

25th Feb:- 11am, One Avocet on The Flood.

24th Feb:- A day away at Coniston.

23rd Feb:- 11am, One Avocet on The Flood. The water levels have gone down but will take several days to return to normal levels. Meanwhile The Flood seems to be the preferred feeding site for waders!

22nd Feb:- One Avocet on the Allen Pool at 2pm, looking miserable and sheltering from The Wind! Seen by A.N Other on the Allen Pool (am). The Saltmarsh and The Pools are flooded due to a high tide with a gale force wind behind it!

21st Feb:- One Avocet on The Flood early morning, reported by A.N Other. Could not find it at 10.30am, suspect it is using the E.M Pools as a roosting site! All the ice has melted to be replaced by very choppy water.

20th Feb:- One Avocet seen at Jenny Brown's Point at 1.30pm. The EM Pools are 99% frozen!

19th Feb:- Avocet on EM Pool 3.51pm (R.B.A). Confirmed sighting at 4.30pm on Eric Morecambe Flood.

18th Feb:- LM Log; [Avocet seen on Eric Morecambe Pool (am)]. Not found (pm), Pools 90% frozen.

17th Feb:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers , however five Avocets seen at Martin Mere.

14th Feb:- Eight Avocets at Martin Mere (R.B.A), no reports from Marshside???

12th Feb:- Six Avocets at Martin Mere (R.B.A). No significant influx as yet. Plenty of waders at Leighton Moss; BT Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing in large numbers now that the nearby flooded fields have dried up!

11th Feb:- Four Avocets reported at Martin Mere today (am) but none at Leighton Moss as yet with excellent viewing conditions

9th Feb:- One Avocet reported at Marshside RSPB (am) and Three at Martin Mere (pm). No Avocets at Leighton Moss as yet but misty conditions and high water levels are not helpful! I am installing a hit counter on this page as I have found Geocities stats unreliable!!!

8th February:- Two Avocets reported at Martin Mere WWT "on The Mere" at 2.30pm (R.B.A)

       
 
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