Leighton Moss

Bearded Tit 4 (3 males 1 female)
Bittern 2
Cetti's Warbler 1
Water Rail

It was a gloriously beautiful and sunny day, cold with ice cover, yet not a breath of wind. A day which made you feel great to be alive. We arrived at 9am and left at 3:30pm, and apart from a short break in the cafe where we warmed up with soup and coffee cake, we spent all of our time walking along the public causeway and the Lower Hide. If it was cold outside, it was bitter inside the hides, so we elected to keep moving, all be it at a slow pace.

The reeds were obviously alive with Water Rails, and there was hardly a moment when you couldn’t hear at least one squealing. Near the start of the causeway, we estimated at least five birds calling all around us, but we couldn’t see any. Eventually we did manage to see two birds quite well.

As we approached the bridge on the causeway, just past the public hide, we suddenly heard the explosive call of a Cetti’s Warbler. This species has slowly been moving north from its southern strongholds, and is now a quite regular winter visitor to North West England, and surely it can only be a matter of time before it breeds, if it hasn’t already done so. We waited near the bridge for about 45 minutes, during which time the bird called periodically, but only briefly revealed itself.

Highlight of the day was four Bearded Tits, including two stunning males, on the causeway grit trays. What a sight! It’s a long time since I saw such great views of males, and the light was perfect. Still couldn’t get a decent photo though! Over the causeway, and awesome adult Peregrine.

At Lower hide, we had decent views of two Bitterns, as well as a selection of ducks. Later we watched in awe as around 10,000 Starlings came in to roost, performing acrobatics before finally landing. Two Sparrowhawks hunted the flock.

Lots of other good stuff of course, Marsh Tits, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, Bull Finches, Wigeon, Snipe, Curlew etc. Just a great day to be out.



Robin. Almost a great photo. Unfortunately the bird is slightly out of focus.


Bearded Tit. Never going to be a great photo!