17th June:- 1.30am,(Horendous viewing conditions) One Avocet plus One young Avocet on the EM Pool. The last remaining nest has been either washed away or predated. There is not likely to be any more breeding activity this year so I will stop my daily reports.
16th June:- A day away on The Ingleborough Ridge Route!
15th June:- 9.30am to 10am, Six Avocets on the EM Pool. Still One Nesting Pair and One Youngster (The Young one has now fledged).
14th June:- 9am to 9.30am, Four Avocets on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. Two Nests have been Predated/Abandoned. Now only One Nesting Pair and One Chick. Is this the End Game ???
13th June:- 8am to 9am, Seven Avocets on the EM Pool. Three Nesting Pairs and One Large Chick.
12th June:- 7.30am to 8am, Ten Avocets on the EM Pool, Three Nesting Pairs and One well grown youngster.
11th June:- 9.30am to 10am, Six Avocets on the EM Pool. Three Nesting Pairs and One Chick. Yet again another dramatic decline in the total number of Avocets!
10th June:- 1pm to 2pm, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Eleven on the EM Pool. Another Nest found, there are now Three Nesting Pairs and One Chick! Many of the Avocets seem to be feeding elsewhere at this time of day! All Three Nests are in danger of being swamped if there is substantial rain as they are only a few centimeters above the water!
9th June:- 9am to 9.30am, Twenty One Avocets on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. Two more Nesting Pairs found and One Chick (the Chick has now plenty of colour, and is about three quarter adult size). There are 100% more adult birds today compared with yesterday, the mystery is where have they been, (apart from Two Birds on the far side of The River Kent, there have been no reports of Avocets within a 5 mile radius of Leighton Moss).
8th June:- 1.30pm, Nine Avocets on the EM Pool plus One on the Allen Pool. One Chick. It is beginning to look like this is The End Game!
7th June:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers
6th June:- 9am to 9.30am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Eight on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. All Three Nests have been predated since my last visit. One large Chick still surviving.
5th June:- 8.30am to 9am, Eleven Avocets on the EM Pool plus One on the Allen Pool. Another Nesting Pair found, now there are now Three Nesting Pairs and One Chick.
4th June:- 9am to 9.30am, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Nine on the EM Pool. Two Nesting Pairs and One Chick. After the latest Predation episode many of the Avocets have left the site, (They may return)?
3rd June:- 1pm to 1.30pm, Twelve Avocets on the EM Pool. Another Two nests have been Predated since my last visit! There are still Two Nesting Pairs and One Chick.
2nd June:- 9am to 10am, Twenty One Avocets on the EM Pool. Another Two Nesting Pairs found, however Two more Nests have been Predated/Abandoned (not in the same area as the new nests). One Chick found still Four Nesting Pairs.
1st June:- 9.30am to 10.30am, Seventeen Avocets on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. Four Nesting Pairs and One large Chick. It looks like there will be more Nesting Pairs in the near future!
31st May:- 9am to 10am, One Avocet on The Flood plus Seventeen on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. The nest in the long grass has gone past it's hatching date so I must assume it has been abandoned/predated. Four Nesting Pairs and One Chick.
30th May:- A day away in the English Lake District National Park.
29th May:- 8am to 9am, Six Avocets on The Flood plus Fourteen on the EM Pool. Five Nesting Pairs and One Chick.
28th May:- 10am to 11am, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Fifteen on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. Now Five Nesting Pairs and still One Chick!
27th May:- 1.30pm to 2.30pm, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Eleven on the EM Pool. Four Nesting Pairs and One Chick! The nest in the long grass is now almost impossible to see as the grass is so long.
26th May:- 9.30am to 10.30am, Eleven Avocets on the EM Pool plus One on the Allen Pool. Three Nesting pairs, (another Two found today, there are probably more) and One Chick.
25th May:- 10am to 11am, One Avocet on The Flood plus Twelve on the EM Pool. One Nesting Pair and One Chick.
24th May:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers
23rd May:- 8.45am to 9.45am, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Twelve on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. One Chick seen and One Nesting Pair.
22nd May:- 9am to 10.30am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Fifteen on the EM Pool plus Four on the Allen Pool. There is now only One Nesting Pair, One nest has hatched yielded One Chick another Three nests have been predated.
21st May:- 9am to 10am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Eleven on the EM Pool. Five nesting Pairs. I seems the local predators have had an egg feast since my last visit on the 19th May! There are now Two GBB Gulls and Two Herring Gulls in the area.
20th May:- A day away on the Craven Clints and Grykes.
19th May:- 9.00am to 12pm, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty on the EM Pool. Four more nests found! There are now Eight nesting pairs, One of the nests should hatch out this month! Unfortunately I cannot find any surviving Chicks.
18th May 10.30am to 11am, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty on the EM Pool. Another nest found today, Four pair sitting plus Two Chicks.
17th May:- 9am to 10am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Eighteen on the EM Pool. Three pairs sitting plus Two Chicks. The returnimg birds are the cause of fighting by approaching the established nests. The pair of Herring Gulls have returned.
16th May:- 9am to 10am, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Thirteen on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. The Avocets seem to be slowly returning after the slaughter! Only Two Chicks seen, however there are now Three pairs sitting. Two more nests found today, (unfortunately one nest is outside the protection of the Electric Fence!
15th May:- 10am to 11.30am, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Eight on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. The Three Chicks were spending a great deal of the day being brooded and were difficult to see due to the persistant rain. Still One pair sitting, with a possible second pair sitting (but not yet confirmed)!
14th May:- 9.30am to 10.30am, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Nine on the EM Pool plus One on the Allen Pool. One pair sitting and Three Chicks, (The Herring Gulls have gone).
13th May:- 1pm to 2pm, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Ten on the EM Pool. One pair sitting and still Three Chicks.
12th May:- 8.30am to 9.30am, Seven Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the EM Pool. One pair sitting and still Three Chicks.
11th May:- 12.15pm to 1pm, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Eight Avocets on the EM Pool. There has been another brood hatched since my last visit, either this or the young from the 9th May have been eliminated by a murder of Crows. I could only find One intact nest today and a pair of Avocets with Three young!
10th May:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers However, Extract from LDBWS site:- Could only find 7 adult Avocets and 3 young. One bird still incubating and possibly another which is now hidden from view by the long grass. The 3 young had swum right across the mere.
9th May:- 9am to 10.20am, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. Another nest has been predated since my last visit! There are now Six nesting pairs plus a nest that hatched this morning with Three Chicks! Crows were seen taking chicks yesterday and there is now a pair of resident Herring Gulls. Will the chicks survive till the 11th May? Any info would be appreciated! Extract from LDBWS site:- Perhaps of more interest was the rapid demise of 3 or possibly 4 avocet nests on the island near the hide. Within 8 minutes a crow had taken 9 eggs and 2 chicks. A herring gull then joined in and ate 3 eggs which I believe were from a black headed gull nest. This happened from 1900 -> 1909. When I arrived at 1830 there were at least 3 live chicks on the island following one being taken by a crow a few minutes earlier. I will see if there are any survivors on the 11th of May!
8th May:- 9.30am to 10.30am, Twenty Six Avocets on the EM Pool, only One chick surviving (another floating dead on the water) the Three nests that were intact yesterday have been abandoned (maybe because of the gale/storm force winds and lashing rain) or predation; the nests on the other islands appear to be intact. A return visit at 12 noon found no sign of the chick seen this morning. Extract from LDBWS Site 'Avocets being harried by Carrion Crows saw 1 take 2 eggs.'
7th May:- 9am, Twenty Two Avocets on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. Three Chicks hatched.
6th May:- 2.30pm, Twenty Five Avocets on the EM Pool plus Five on the Allen Pool. Twelve nesting Pairs.
5th May:- 12pm, Twenty Eight Avocets on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. Very strong winds with white foam blowing over the islands, not a good day to be hatched, (not that I saw any evidence of this). Another possible nest site? if it ever stops raining I may be able to confirm this!
4th May:- 9am, Twenty Five Avocets on the EM Pool plus Five on the Allen Pool. I have learned today that there was another breeding site that existed for a few days so the tally above has been amended.
3rd May:- 9am, Twenty Six Avocets on the EM Pool. Two more nesting pairs found (There are now Eleven nesting Pairs). There should be Chicks in the next Seven days.
2nd May:- 9.30am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty Five on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool.
1st May:- 8.45am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty Six on the EM Pool plus One on the Allen Pool. Finding Avocets on The Flood has been unusual this year.
30th April:- Twenty Five Avocets on the EM Pool plus Four on the Allen Pool. There does appear to be at least Two Pairs that have not as yet started nesting!
29th April:- 8 15am, Twenty Seven Avocets on the EM Pool.
28th April:- 9am, Nineteen Avocets on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool, however A. N. Other saw Tweny Six Avocets Earlier!
27th April:- 2pm, Twenty Avocets on the EM Pool plus Four on the Allen Pool. The Pools are slowly drying up, (the recents rains have had little effect).
26th April:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers
25th April:- 9.15am, Twenty One Avocets on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. One nest site has been Abandoned/Predated leaving Nine viable nests, (note:- the Ten nesting Pairs mentioned above is the total for this season)!
24th April:- 8.30am, Twenty Three Avocets on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool.
23rd April:- 9.30am, Nineteen Avocets on the EM Pool plus Six on the Allen Pool, the total had not changed at 2pm! There could possibly be some chicks by the end of this month?
22nd April:- 1.30pm, Fourteen Avocets on the EM Pool plus Four on the Allen Pool. There must be several birds feeding elsewhere today. Ten Breeding Pairs found!
21st April:- A day away on the old Lancashire/Cumberland Border.
20th April:- 11am, Twenty Avocets on the EM Pool plus Nine on the Allen Pool. Another wanderer has returned?
19th April:- A day away on the Lake District Silurians.
18th April:- 10am, Twenty Two Avocets on the EM Pool plus Six on the Allen Pool. This appears to be a full house today, Nine Breeding Pairs
17th April:- 10am, Nineteen Avocets on the EM Pool plus Seven on the Allen Pool.
16th April:- 9.30am, Twenty Seven Avocets on the EM Pool plus One on the Allen Pool, Eight Breeding Pairs. Either the wanderers have returned or the higher numbers today are due to the (earlier) morning visit!
15th April:- 1.45pm, Ten Avocets on the EM Pool plus Eight on the Allen Pool. An earlier observer had the same total number. This drop in numbers could be partially accounted for by the off duty birds of the breeding pairs feeding elsewhere (this has happened in previous years)!
14th April:- A day away in the Lickle Valley!
13th April:- 10.15am, Twenty Eight Avocets on the EM Pool. Seven breeding pairs found.
12th April:- 8.30am, Twenty Three Avocets on the EM Pool plus One on the Allen Pool. At least Five Breeding Pairs, probably more but the situation is very fluid at the moment. Two Avocets seen at the mouth of The River Conder (flew over to Sunderland at tide surge), more recruits???
11th April:- 10.30am, Twenty One Avocets on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. Several possible breeding sites seen on the islands today, I will have to see what the situation is tomorrow!
10th April:- 8.30am, Twenty Three Avocets on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool.
9th April:- 10.30am, Twenty Two Avocets on the EM Pool, at 1.45pm the total number of Avocets had dropped to Seventeen! I'm not sure at present whether the missing birds are just feeding away, or were they on passage?
8th April:- 1.30pm, Twenty Six Avocets on the EM Pool plus Seven on the Allen Pool. Another windy day, with most of the Avocets seeking what shelter there is on The Pools
7th April:- 9am, Twenty Eight Avocets on the EM pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. The Two Avocets seen on the Flood earlier were frightened on to the EM Pool by workers on the Railway Track simplifying counting somewhat. Seventy Two Avocets reported at Martin Mere (R B A)
6th April:- 11am, Twenty Nine Avocets on the EM Pool. We must have some new blood now, probably an overflow from Martin Mere/Marshside?
5th April:- 11am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty Four on the EM Pool, another wanderer has returned? Hopefully there will be some definite nesting behaviour in the next fortnight!
4th April:- 10.15am, Twenty Two Avocets on the EM Pool plus Three on the Allen Pool. Another wanderer returned, weather back to normal today (strong winds and cool). At least Ten Pairs present!
3rd April:- 11.45am after the fog had thinned a little, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Thirteen on the EM Pool plus Four on the Allen Pool. Plenty of mating activity today and some interest being shown in the Islands.
2nd April:- 1.30pm, Nineteen Avocets on the EM Pool plus Five on the Allen Pool. A Full House!
1st April:- 1.30pm, Eighteen Avocets on the EM Pool. When the electric fence was put up at least Twelve Avocets flew to Leighton Moss. It seems that the wanderers have returned, but there are still another Six birds to be accounted for.
31st March:- 9.30am, Five Avocets on the EM Pool. I was told today that an Electric Fence was put up yesterday to protect the nesting sites from the Cattle that will be on The Salt Marsh soon. This may account for the drop in numbers for the last Twenty Four hours but not the previous crash from 24 to 8 birds on the 28th March!
30th March:- 1pm, Eight Avocets on the EM Pool. Paraphrasing the old song, (where have all the Avocets gone long time passing). Have they found another site in Lancashire/Cumbria? Or have they decamped to the site mentioned in Avocets 2007 ???? Nine Avocets seen before the electric fence was put up (John Wilson).
29th March:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers Fourteen Avocets seen (John Wilson).
28th March:- 9.30am, Eight Avocets on the EM Pool, they do not like the cold winds. Any reports tomorrow would be appreciated as I am otherwise engaged in Wharfedale!
27th March:- 9.45am, Twelve Avocets on the EM Pool, the rest are sheltering somewhere from the vicious icy blasts. Must be a good idea!
26th March:- 9.10am, during a brief respite from the rain, Eighteen Avocets on the EM Pool sheltering from the strong wind and spooked by a female Marsh Harrier.
25th March:- 2.45pm, Eighteen Avocets on the EM Pool, something frightened all the birds on the Pool and made this count possible! At 1.15pm I could only find Twelve Avocets in total!
24th March:- 9am, Twenty Avocets on the EM Pool, very mobile you can get a different count every 5 minutes (Twenty was my highest count)!
23rd March:- 9.45am, Twenty Avocets on the EM Pool. Very strong winds today, very difficult to keep any tripod steady.
22nd March:- 9.15am, Three Avocets on The Flood plus Sixteen on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. There appeared to be at least Eight pairs today. There was some interest being shown in one of the Island's.
21st March:- 11am to 11.30am, Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Sixteen on the EM Pool. Due to the mist 'The Flood' Avocets were not visible till 11.30am. A Fox was seen yesterday swimming out to the islands (not sure which pool)!
20th March:- 8.30am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Twelve on the EM Pool. Maybe the wanderers will return?
19th March:- 8am, One Avocet on The Flood plus Twelve on the EM Pool plus Six on the Allen pool. At 8.15am Four of the Avocets had left the site.
18th March:- 1.15pm, Sixteen Avocets on the Allen Pool. One pair were seen mating today.
17th March:- 9.45am, Fourteen Avocets on the EM Pool! Another Six newcomers to the pools, possibly more agro as they sort out the pairing.
16th March:- 12.15pm, One Avocet on the EM Pool plus Five on the Allen Pool.
15th March:- a day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers
14th March:- 9.30am, Eight Avocets on the EM Pool, Earlier the birds had all been on The Flood (John Wilson). The lone Avocet seems to have found a mate, all busy feeding when I was there!
13th March:- 9.15am, Seven Avocets on The Flood. The water levels on all the pools are much higher today due to the recent 10 metre plus tides. 3pm, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Three on the Allen pool
12th March:- 9.30am to 1pm, Six Avocets on the EM Pool. There appeared to be Three pairs?
11th March:- 2pm, Three Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Two on The Flood. No viewing possible from the viewpoint because of the mist. The Two Avocets seen on The Flood from the EM Hide were impossible to see later due to the thickening mist.
10th March:- A day away in Wharfedale, however Three Avocets were reported on the EM Complex.
9th March:- 12.45pm, One Avocet on the EM Pool. There have been no reports on R.B.A or Birdguides (re Avocets) from Martin Mere or Marshside for several days now??? However I was told by a visiting Birder that there are good numbers at both sites, hopefully a few of these will visit Leighton Moss??? Two plus Avocets reported on the Lune estuary!
8th March:- 9.00am to 1pm, One Avocet on the EM Pool sheltering from the gale force winds.
7th March:- J.B.P checked at 9.30am (no Avocets seen). LM Log, Three Avocets EM Complex (am). Confirmed 12.15pm, Three Avocets on the EM Pool (a single and a pair). The plot thickens (if the tight group of Four are still around there 'may' potentially be more than Five Avocets in the area)???
6th March:- (Birdguides) 6.30am, One Avocet Jenny Browns Point on breakwater at high tide roost. (9.30am Avocet still present). 9.00am to 1pm EM Complex, no Avocets found. There has been no report of the missing Four Avocets???
5th March:- 11am, One Avocet on the Allen Pool, by 2.30pm it had moved to the EM Pool. The Flood and EM Pools were partly frozen (am) but had thawed out by my afternoon visit.
4th March:- 1.30pm, Four Avocets on the EM Pool. There are reports of an Avocet on the Lune estuary at Glasson today (R.B.A), I don't think this has any connection with the Leighton birds.
3rd March:- 8.50am to 12pm, One Avocet on the EM Pool, however Five Avocets were seen by LM staff earlier in the day! Will the wanderers return???
2nd March:- 10.45am, Five Avocets on the EM Pool.
1st March:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers Thirty Three Avocets at Martin Mere (R.B.A)
28th February:- 10.15am, Three Avocets on the EM Pool.
24th February:- (Birdguides), still Four Avocets at Martin Mere.
23rd February:- (Birdguides), Four Avocets at Martin Mere.