Went for a spin over Plex Moss after a very busy day on the beach - the whole world and his wife, their children, dogs etc decided to come and roadtest their summer shorts and barbecues, and who can blame 'em? It was a fine spring day.
Not much moving though - a few Peacock butterflies (far more yesterday), and Merlin getting an ill-advised mobbing from Meadow Pipits and that was about it.
Very peaceful out on Plex - a few Wheatears on the ploughed fields, and Willow Warbler singing behind Formby Hall.
Five or six local Buzzards lazily circling and mewing - the mosses belong to them now.
A pair of Kestrels mating and good numbers of stressed out Lapwings, tumbling and completing a full day's shift of Carrion Crow chasing.
30 Curlews in the fields opposite Getterns Farm.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »
Staff and visitors at RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Silverdale were cracking open the champagne as well as the Easter Eggs this week when they at long last heard the âÂÂboomingâ of a bittern from the reeds.
This very rare and much loved bird normally âÂÂboomsâ to seduce the females on or around ValentineâÂÂs Day, but this year he lost his romantic streak and chose Easter Sunday to start his courtship instead!
David Mower, the reserveâÂÂs warden said âÂÂWeâÂÂve been eagerly anticipating this fantastic news and are all extremely thrilled! ItâÂÂs been a huge relief to know that thereâÂÂs still a booming male bittern here despite the worst winter weather for many years.âÂÂ
The first calls are a bit like a grunt as the birds âÂÂtuneâ up, but then build to an impressive âÂÂboomingâ call that sounds a bit like a foghorn and can be heard for several kilometers.
David continues, âÂÂWith a lot of bitterns being seen on the reserve over the winter, weâÂÂre keeping our fingers crossed that this will be a good year for breeding bitterns.âÂÂ
Leighton Moss is the only place in the north-west where bitterns are known to breed and extensive work to restore and create reedbeds has been carried out in recent years to improve the conditions for these elusive birds which has been part-funded by the EU-LIFE bittern programme and DEFRA.
The numbers of booming males in the UK have increased from a worryingly low 11 in 1997 to a record 82 last year - the best number for over 120 years!
Throughout May you can join our âÂÂBooming Bitternâ guided walks that are run every Wednesday evening from 7.30 pm to dusk. The cost is ã4.50 (ã2 for RSPB members). ThereâÂÂs no need to book so just come along.
Saving threatened species like the bittern is a key part of the RSPBâÂÂs Letter to the Future campaign, which is a direct call to politicians to do more to protect our wildlife, countryside and the environment. You can sign the letter at your nearest RSPB reserve, where you'll be adding your name to hundreds of thousands of others determined to ensure future generations inherit a world worth living in, or sign online at www.signtheletter.org