7th January

Stayed close by overnight before spending all day round Leighton Moss RSPB; started off at the Eric Morecambe Pools as it was high tide where birds were highlighted by a big flock of 246 Black-tailed Godwits roosting up to their bellies while several Knot swam around them – doubt their feet were touching the ground, sure there were better places to roost!

Apart from a spell of heavy rain mid-morning it remarkably stayed dry with the wind not too bad either (until mid-afternoon anyway) so birds around the reserve included 6+ Marsh Harriers (including a smart adult male), loads of ducks including 225 Gadwall and 70 Pintail, a Great White Egret, a couple of Little Egrets, several singing Cetti’s Warblers and squealing Water Rails, a big flock of 80+ Siskins and a nice selection of woodland birds all new for the year such as Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Marsh Tit, Jay, Bullfinch and Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Marsh Harrier

Pintail

Shoveler

Gadwall