We only had four of us for the birding group visit to RSPB Leighton Moss on 9th April 2019 but we had a most fantastic day with good weather and lots of birds including a number of year ticks and a life tick as well.
We stopped for a cup of tea at the visitor centre before taking the boardwalk down to the avenue leading to the Public Hide. As we turned on to the avenue we could hear both Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, the latter being the first of the year. We heard several of each during the course of the day.
At the Public Hide we could not find the Scaup that has been seen recently but there was a smattering of ducks and a small number of Sand Martins were flying over. Marsh Harriers were seen and Buzzards.
We walked down to the end of the avenue – the first time I have done this in years – and walked through the woods, almost immediately getting Blackcaps at “Blackcap Corner” There were also lots of Tits and Robins and we also observed a Chiffchaff chasing a Willow Tit through the tops of the trees which was interesting to see.
Down at the West Hide we got a small group of Goldeneye looking very eclipsed; we were a bit surprised to see them. There were a few Redshanks and Oystercatchers and very close views in the sunshine of Lapwing and Teal looking very splendid indeed.
We walked back up the avenue to the visitor centre and had lunch as it was around 1:30pm by the. We did go to the other hides but they were all a bit quiet and we preferred to spend some time down at the sea hides before we had to head off home. This turned out to be a very good idea.
We went directly to the Eric Morecambe hide because we had heard that there had been a Spoonbill there. On our way down we saw our first Swallows of the year. At the hide, after a bit of scouring the very far end of the water I located the Spoonbill hidden behind foliage and only occasionally coming into view. Other birds at the far end of the pools were a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, a first for the year, and also some (late-staying) Pink-footed Geese.
There were perhaps a thousand or so Black-tailed Godwits and although the recent sightings said good numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits, we could only see Blackwits ! Presumably our feeble birding skills. There were good numbers of Avocets and you always get very close views from the EM hide. All the usual ducks were there and some Redshank and a Little Egret.
As we were thinking that the Spoonbill had got itself lost down the far end of the pool it surprised us by suddenly taking to the air, flying towards us and giving a great aerial display circling the nearest pond and then disconcerting the massed Godwits by landing very close to them and starting to preen. It remained there for so long we had to leave while it was still quite active. This is the only time I have seen a Spoonbill fly around quite so much and it was great to see. Previously I think I have only ever seen them appear and quickly land in the water so this was a real treat.
We walked back down to the Allen hide and a few birders were happy to be told of the Spoonbill and off they rushed. One chap said to us “this guy here thinks he has found a Green-winged Teal”. A bit surprised, I asked him if it was still around and he pointed me to a pair of birds off to the side of the hide only a hundred yards away. It was a pair of males, one a Eurasian Teal and the other – undoubtedly – a Green-winged Teal here could be no mistaking it, it was really close, showing very well in full sunshine, and with a “common” Teal right by it for comparison.
This life tick could be added to our other four year ticks for the day, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Spoonbill, Red-breasted Merganser and now Green-winged Teal. Happy with that and the afternoon wearing on we decided to head off home. A quick stop of at Wharton Crags on the way back gave us Jackdaw and Raven making our total for the day more than fifty species!
Bird Sightings Public Hide and West Hide 9th April 2019
| Greylag Goose | 12 |
| Canada Goose | 10 |
| Mute Swan | 8 |
| Gadwall | 4 |
| Mallard | 8 |
| Northern Shoveler | 6 |
| Common Teal | 30 |
| Common Pochard | 12 |
| Tufted Duck | 10 |
| Common Goldeneye | 5 |
| Common Pheasant | 2 |
| Little Grebe | 2 |
| Great Cormorant | 1 |
| Grey Heron | 1 |
| Little Egret | 1 |
| Eurasian Marsh Harrier | 5 |
| Common Buzzard | 2 |
| Common Moorhen | 2 |
| Common Coot | 6 |
| Eurasian Oystercatcher | 2 |
| Northern Lapwing | 6 |
| Black-headed Gull | 10 |
| Great Black-backed Gull | 2 |
| Common Wood Pigeon | 4 |
| Eurasian Collared Dove | 1 |
| Carrion Crow | 2 |
| Sand Martin | 10 |
| Coal Tit | 1 |
| Great Tit | 4 |
| Eurasian Blue Tit | 4 |
| Eurasian Wren | 2 |
| Willow Warbler | 4 |
| Common Chiffchaff | 4 |
| Blackcap | 2 |
| European Robin | 6 |
| Eurasian Blackbird | 3 |
| Dunnock | 3 |
| Reed Bunting | 1 |
| Eurasian Bullfinch | 2 |
| House Sparrow | 1 |
Bird Sightings Eric Morecambe Hide 9th April 2019
| Pink-footed Goose | 6 |
| Mute Swan | 2 |
| Common Shelduck | 20 |
| Mallard | 8 |
| Northern Shoveler | 10 |
| Common Teal | 30 |
| Red-breasted Merganser | 2 |
| Little Egret | 1 |
| Eurasian Spoonbill | 1 |
| Pied Avocet | 30 |
| Common Redshank | 2 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 1000 |
| Black-headed Gull | 60 |
| Barn Swallow | 4 |
Bird Sightings Allen Hide 9th April 2019
| Common Teal | 6 |
| Common Teal (Green-winged) | 1 |
Bird Sightings Wharton Crags 9th April 2019
| Eurasian Jackdaw | 20 |
| Common Raven | 2 |