20th August:- 9.30am Well as I expected the last Family of Avocets has gone, there isn't enough water for them to feed. The figures above are the final results for the 2005 breeding season.
19th August:- 9.30am -10am At 9.40am all Four Avocets on the Allen Pool took off and had a good fly around but settled back on the puddle that is now the Allen Pool. It is possible they will stay until the high tides of the 22/23rd August but it is looking more unlikely.
18th August:- 10am No change.
17th August:- 2pm One
Avocet on the Allen Pool plus Three
Young. The only change really is that the puddle that was
the Allen Pool is getting smaller and a Merlin has taken up residence
on The Marsh.
16th August:- 4.30pm The same as yesterday, the birds seem to spend most of the time asleep. Very little water left now.
15th August:- 12.30pm One Avocet on the Allen Pool plus Three Young. There are 10 metre plus tides on the 20th/22nd and 23rd of August, unfortunately they are all in the early hours of the morning! These tides should put some water into the EM/Allen Pools but it is possible the Avocets will have gone by then.
14th August:- 9.30am The family of One adult and Three Young Avocets have flown to the EM Pool where they can enjoy about Three inches of water on a small Pool.
13th August:- 9am The Adult Bird and the Three Young Continue to feed on the sea of soft mud that was the Allen Pool!
12th August:- 10am No change re Avocets, the pools continue to recede!
11th August:- 9am One Avocet on the Allen Pool plus Three Young. The Three Young seem to be 3/4 grown and spend a great deal of the day asleep on an island.
10th August:- 2pm No change re Avocets, however the Allen and EM Pools are drying up rapidly. Will the water last till the 22nd August at 01.36am when there will be a 10.32 metre Tide?
9th August:- 10am One Avocet on the Allen Pool plus Three Young. There appears to be just the Three youngest Chicks remaining plus an adult.
8th August:- 12pm One Avocet on the Allen Pool plus Three Chicks. One Avocet on the EM Pool plus One Chick. John Wilson had Twelve Avocets, early morning. There seems to have been a Mass Exodus since early morning, the Four remaining Chicks are the youngest and weakest flyers. However they may have gone elsewhere for food as the Pools are drying up! Tomorrow will tell, they had all gone by the first of August in 2003!
7th August:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers, see <Link>
6th August:- Avocets, no change. No sign of Yellow Legged Gull or Pectorial Sandpiper!
5th August:- Avocets , the same as yesterday. Yellow Legged Gull reported from the EM Hide at 3pm.
4th August:- One Avocet on the Allen Pool plus Three Chicks. Four Avocets on the EM Pool plus Nine Chicks. Again there seems to be a family of an adult and Two Chicks missing but i'm sure they have flown south! It is generally thought that the Fox yesterday got one of the Pectorial Sandpipers that were present.
3rd August:- Much the same as yesterday but only the Three smallest Chicks on the Allen Pool with an adult. A Fox was seen running around the islands before 8am today!
2nd August:- Two Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Four Chicks. Three Avocets on the EM Pool plus Eight Chicks. There seems to be some movement South now? One of the families seems to be absent and there have been sitings of Avocet on the River Ribble recently?
1st August:- A day away at Cowgill and Dent.
31st July:- 10.30am-11am One Avocet on the Allen Pool plus Three Chicks. Five Avocets on the EM Pool plus Eleven Chicks. The Three Youngest Chicks on the Allen Pool have grown at a phenomenal rate in the last fortnight and are now almost ready to fly!
30th July:- 9am-10am Two Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Four Chicks. Four Avocets on the EM Pool plus Ten Chicks. The EM Pool waders were enlivened by a young Merlin and a Sparrow Hawk.
29th July:- 10am-11am Three Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Five Chicks. Four Avocets on the EM Pool plus Nine Chicks. The Allen Pool has the Three smallest Chicks plus Two singles. The recent rains don't seem to have raised the water levels.
28th July:- 10am The same Avocets as yesterday but with rain. There was however a Merlin on one of the Fenceposts on the Saltmarsh.
27th July:- 1pm-2pm Two Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Four Chicks. Four Avocets on the EM pool plus Ten Chicks. The Chicks on the EM Pool were difficult to count until a Raptor flew over and then they all sorted themselves out into Families.
26th July:- 10am-11am Two Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Three Chicks. Four Avocets on the EM Pool plus Eleven Chicks. Note alterations to 25th July, the Allen Pool was topped up by the "High Tides". There was no action by Leighton Moss Staff!
25th July:- 9.30am-10.30am Two Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Four Chicks. Four Avocets on the EM Pool plus Ten Chicks. There is a single well grown Chick on the Allen Pool plus the Three youngest Chicks. There seems to be just One adult bird to guard each family of Chicks, the missing birds may still be in the local area? The High Tides in the last Two Days have topped up the Allen Pool, (excellent; double the food supply for the Avocet Chicks).
24th July:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers on Torver Common, see <Link>
23rd July:- 9am-9.30am Exactly the same as yesterday except the water level is even lower!
22nd July:- 8.30am-9am One Avocet on the Allen Pool plus Three Chicks! Nine Avocets on the EM Pool plus Eleven Chicks. A rare siting of all Three Chicks on the Allen Pool, when I left there were none to be seen (they were all resting on the back side of one of the Islands). All the Pool are now very low, in previous years the Allen Pool has been topped up with a Pump!
21st July:- A day away on the Craven Wold! Note 3 young Chicks were seen yesterday at 8am by John Wilson!
20th July:- 12.30pm-2pm One Avocet on the Allen Pool plus Two young Chicks seen (however John Wilson saw 3 Chicks at 8am). Seven Avocets on the EM Pool plus Eight Chicks. If there are more Chicks on the Allen Pool they rarely emerge from behind The Islands. I could not find "the family of Three Fledged Chicks" on the EM Pool (they are always dificult to find).
19th July:- 9am-11.30am and 3pm-4.30pm Two Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Four Chicks. Six Avocets on the EM pool plus Ten Chicks. These numbers were correct at 4pm. I have been unable to find more than Three "young" Chicks on the Allen pool today so I must assume that One has been predated.
18th July:- 8.30am-9am Three Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Five Chicks. Six Avocets on the EM Pool plus Ten Chicks. Viewing conditions on the EM Pool horrendous with driving rain. The Four youngest Chicks are spending most of the time under a parents wing sheltering, their growth rate is phenomenal at the moment.
17th July:- 8.30am-9am Four Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Five Chicks. Five Avocets on the EM Pool plus Ten Chicks. The Four youngest Chicks on the Allen Pool are growing fast and all the other Chicks are safe but they are quite mobile between the Allen and EM pools. Plenty of company in the Hides today due to the Caspian Tern yesterday (no sign).
16th July:- 9am-9.30am Five Avocets on the EM Pool plus Two Chicks (two single Chicks). Five Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Eight Chicks (Four young Chicks plus Four well Grown). The remainder flew from the Allen Pool towards the EM Pool but I don't have time to follow this up. The main thing is that the Four small Chicks are still alive!
15th July:- 9am-10am Five Avocets on the EM Pool plus Two Chicks. Seven Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Thirteen Chicks. The Four youngest Chicks have been walked over from The Flood since yesterday. The Two Chicks on the EM Pool are Two singles which are too young to fly. An adult Fox was seen walking across the Allen Pool at 8.30am.
14th July:- 8.30am-9am Two Avocets on The Flood plus Four Chicks. Eight Avocets on the EM Pool plus Eleven Chicks. "The Flood" water level is now very low hence most of the birds have decamped to the EM Pool. The Four new Chicks are looking healthy and have been walked to the other side of the Pool! The Five families of Chicks on the EM Pool are keeping separate and the older ones need a careful look from the EM Hide to seperate them from the adults.
13th July:- 1pm Mission impossible blinding Sun and extreme Heat, will try again tomorrow am!
12th July:- 8am-8.30am Exactly the same as yesterday except there is definitely Four Chicks Hatched from the final? nest!
11th July:- 9am-10am Four Avocets on The Flood plus Three Chicks, the final? nest has hatched Two more Chicks; the parent birds are still sitting. Six Avocets on the EM Pool plus Ten Chicks, one of The Flood Chicks has been walked over to the EM Pool plus families of Four - Three and Two Chicks.
10th July:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers at Hadrians Wall see <Link>
9th July:- 9am-10am Seven Avocets on The Flood plus Two Chicks and there is still One pair sitting. Two Avocets on the EM Pool plus Five Chicks. Two Avocets on the Allen Pool plus Four Chicks. The EM pool has Two families of One adult plus Two fledged Chicks and One adult plus Three fledged Chicks.
The Three-Chick family have flown onto the site since my last visit so there must be another breeding site close by as the Chicks are not up to long distant flights as yet. During the first half hour there was disturbance by The Farmer riding about in his Land Rover, this could have moved the Three-Chick family onto the site?
8th July:- I'm now back from Bassenthwaite/Keswick where I was watching the Ospreys and climbing Two Mountains. Stopped off at St Bees Head on the way back for Black Guillemot/Guillemot/Razorbill/Gannet/Kittiwake/Shag and Puffin, also Hodbarrow for Common/Little/Sandwich Terns.
4th July:- Extract from LBWS Website (John Wilson), On Eric Morecambe Complex 8 young Avocets 6 of which are flying ( first flight yesterday David Mower).
3rd July:- 9am-10am Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Eight Chicks, Three Avocets on the Allen Pool. Please send any sitings of Avocets at Leighton Moss in the next few days to Jim Shepherd.
2nd July:- 9am-10am Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Eight Chicks, Two Avocets on the EM Pool plus One Avocet on the Allen Pool. The Cows have taken to Paddling again (the sitting bird is OK) and the EM and Allen birds are mobile between the Two Pools.
1st July:- 8.45am-10am Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Eight Chicks, Three Avocets on the EM Pool. I had a good look from the EM Hide and they seem to be Two males and a female, the question is are these Three new birds or the usual couple plus One? I was hoping that the third bird was the Chick not seen since 4th June but when they finally woke up it was obvious they were all adults.
30th June:- 9.30-am-10.30am Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Eight Chicks, Two Avocets on the EM Pool. Difficult viewing with the Sea Mist, the Fifty Five Cows have done a good job of churning up the Pool and so far have not disturbed the last remaining sitting bird!
29th June:- 1.45pm-2.15pm Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Eight Chicks. There are Four adults feeding elsewhere today. Where they get too is a mystery as I have no knowledge of any other sitings in The Bay area? If my readers know better (e.g Avocet sitings on The River Kent) please use this <Link> and let me know!
28th June:- 9am-9.30am Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Eight Chicks, Two Avocets on the EM Pool. The latest Chick to hatch has been walked around The Flood since yesterday but appears to be OK. The Two Avocets on the EM Pool are not a pair. Since I was there yesterday 50+ Cows have been introduced to the marsh but have not been near the One remaining sitting bird as yet!
27th June:- 11.30am-12.30pm Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Eight Chicks. I could only find One Chick from yesterdays hatching, the nest has been abandoned! I don't expect the next sitting bird to hatch eggs till the 7th July at the earliest.
26th June:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers see <Link>, however while I was away another Nest has started to Hatch. Leighton Moss Staff saw One more Chick but the parent bird appears to be still sitting.
25th June:- 8.45am-9.45am Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Seven Chicks. Two Avocets on the EM Pool. I could only find One of the new Chicks, I will look again on the 27th and hopefully have better news. There is another nest due to hatch Chicks shortly.
24th June:- 9.15am-10.15am Ten Avocets on The flood plus Eight Chicks. The two new Chicks have made a Marathon Journey to the other side of The Flood.
23rd June:- 8.15am-11am Twelve Avocets on The Flood plus Eight Chicks. The Two new Chicks are feeding well today. The bird attempting to hatch more eggs seemed to give up at 10am and had not returned to the nest when I departed!
22nd June:- Another Nest is hatching eggs! Two more chicks were seen this morning (David Mower). 1pm-4pm, Twelve Avocets on The Flood plus Eight Chicks. Only occasional sitings of Two new Chicks, parent birds are still attempting to hatch more eggs!
21st June:- 10am-10.30am Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Six Chicks. The Chicks spent much of the day sheltering in the grass from the strong wind.
20th June:- 9.15am-11.15am Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Six Chicks. The seventh Chick has either been predated or flown to another location, (it was just old enough, but this is not very likely). There should be more Chicks hatching in the next Ten days!
19th June:- A day away in the Fylde Flatlands.
18th June:- Morning, Fog and Rain (the sun came out at 1pm). 10.15am-12pm Twelve Avocets on The Flood plus Six Chicks. The seventh Chick was nowhere to be found, Leighton Moss have the same numbers! News from John Wilson:- (There were 7 Chicks yesterday but it took me a bit to work them out in the poor visibility. The adults at the nest on the grass edge were very attentive yesterday. Good news about the 7th pair). There are Three Pairs sitting with the potential of Three to Twelve more Chicks in the future?
17th June:- Morning, Fog and Rain. 1pm-2pm Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Six Chicks Seen. There did seem to be an adult bird defending a Chick near to the railway (Not visible from The Viewpoint). There is another bird sitting, hopefully it won't get trampled by The Cows!
16th June:- 3.15pm-4.15pm Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Six Chicks Seen. There could well be Seven Chicks but as there were strong blustery winds and mist viewing conditions were far from ideal. It rained on and off all day up to this time.
15th June:- 1.30pm-2.30pm Ten Avocets on The Flood (John Wilson saw Twelve this morning) plus Seven Chicks. The eldest Chick will fledge soon, the parent birds seem to have lost interest in this bird)!
14th June:- 12.45pm Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Seven Chicks. Well it rained all morning so the Chicks were busy feeding. All the Chicks are growing fast and are showing signs of maturity (they are no longer bundles of fluff). There are probably still Twelve adult Avocets around but they are difficult to find. Still Two birds sitting!
13th June:- 12pm Only Six Avocets on The Flood plus Seven Chicks. The missing Six adults from yesterday are probably sheltering from the near gale force gusty winds and persistant drizzle. Again the Chicks are being brooded or are sheltering in the grass for long periods and are feeding for short periods.
12th June:- A Day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers see <link> However John Wilson has reported Twelve Avocets and Seven Chicks on The Flood!
11th June:- A day away at Keswick with Heart Concern see <Link>
10th June:- 9.30am-10am Eleven Avocets on The Flood plus Seven Chicks. The Chicks are growing fast and feeding so well they have regular siestas to digest the food.
9th June:- 8.30am-9.30am Twelve Avocets on The Flood plus Seven Chicks. The Two missing Avocets are certainly back but they have no Chicks with them. There are regular watches on the River Keer and Jenny Browns Point with no sitings of Avocets so perhaps they have been on The River Kent or another Cumbrian River?
8th June:- 1pm Eleven Avocets on The Flood plus Seven Chicks. It looks as though the wanderers have returned (the total number of adults should be Twelve but I have not seen all them since the 24th May) there probably are Twelve as viewing condition are difficult in bright sunshine at this time of day. Yesterday some Cows where allowed onto the site by the Farmer, these were then driven back to the Field to protect the Nests!
It seems the Farmer has an agreement to graze the animals on the site in June. (to keep the grass down) However with everything running late here due to the appalling weather in April/May there may be Chicks hatching in the last week in June or even the first week in July so the grazing has been delayed!
7th June:- A day away on the shores of Lake Bassenthwaite. Ospreys, Common Sandpipers, Spotted Flycatchers, and a view of an Osprey bathing from The Hide.
6th June:- 9.30am-11am Nine Avocets on The Flood plus Seven Chicks. The Adult birds were busy chasing off several Black Headed Gulls. The Seventh and largest Chick was not found till 10.45am, it was hidden in the long grass and did not seem to have any Avocets guarding it! Report on Lancaster Birdwatching site by John Wilson:- 10 adult and at least 8 young Avocets although they are very difficult to keep track of. I agree!
5th June:- 8.30am-9.30am Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Seven Chicks. Whatever Predator is taking the chicks seems to prefer the larger/older ones. There are now three broods of Four, One and Two.
4th June:- 10am, Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Nine Chicks.
3rd June:- 8.45am-9.15am, Nine Avocets on The Flood plus Nine Chicks. The Tenth chick which was always difficult to find because it was so adventurous was nowhere to be found today, I tried again at 2pm.
2nd June:- 12.30pm-2pm, Nine Avocets on The Flood plus Ten Chicks. Nine Chicks I could find right away but the tenth proved elusive. A much better day, it only rained for half of the daylight hours!
1st June:- 4pm-4.30pm Six Avocets on The Flood plus Ten Chicks. During a brief One hour break in the Rains I managed to eventually eventually find all the Chicks. The smaller chicks have done well to survive this atrocious weather! Another Pair have re-sat!
31st May:- 10.30am Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Ten Chicks. The fourth egg has hatched, or it could have been a chick that was having trouble reaching the shore through the long grass! All the Chicks look healthy and are feeding well, they will probably need to be to survive the rains tomorrow.
30th May:- 2.45pm Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Nine Chicks. While I was away yesterday on The Pennine Way Two Nests Hatched each with Three Chicks! There is still One bird trying to hatch a fourth egg? One pair have re sat and another look likely to do so.
29th May:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers at Dufton see <Link>
28th May:- 1pm Ten Avocets on The Flood. The parent birds from the first nest to hatch have returned (see 26th May). Near Gale Force Blustery Winds all day so not much chance for the Three Chicks to feed.
27th May:- 9.15am, Seven Avocets on The Flood plus Three Chicks. The weaker Chick looks much better today I think it may have got badly chilled yesterday. There is another Pair sitting! The Pair who's nest failed are trying again. There must be several birds feeding elsewhere as there are now Three Pair sitting and One Pair with Chicks so there should be at least Eight adult birds, plus another Pair and Two single birds. There have been no reports of Avocets from this area.
26th May:- 10am Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Three Chicks also One Avocet on the Allen Pool. 12.30pm Only Two Chicks found on The Flood. 1pm The Third Chick found in the long grass struggling to make it to the shore, (this Chick looks weak and keeps falling over) I suspect it has been attacked by Gulls/Shelduck! Note non breeding Shelduck have been particularly vicious in previous years. I can see nothing of the Two Chicks from the first nest to hatch, the parent birds are still in the same area but no sign of the Chicks.
25th May:- 2pm Eleven Avocets on The Flood plus Two Chicks, 4.30pm Five Chicks another clutch has hatched.
24th May:- 1pm, Twelve Avocets on The Flood. Three Chicks feeding during the rare interludes between the showers! The LM staff noticed Two chicks yesterday evening, they are spending most of the time being brooded at the moment.
23rd May:- 10am, Ten Avocets on The Flood. Gale Force Winds and Rain made viewing difficult.
22nd May:- 11am, Twelve Avocets on The Flood. The former sitting pair spent most of the day feeding or standing around looking dazed.
21st May:- 9.30am Eleven Avocets on The Flood, 11am Twelve Avocets on The Flood. There are now only Four Avocets sitting, there was certainly Five at 1.30pm yesterday! Why the nest has been abandoned I do not know, but this would have been the first clutch to hatch. The next clutch should hatch within the next Ten days.
20th May:- 10.30am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. The Sixth Nest has not been confirmed.
19th May:- 11am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. It is possible there may be another Nest? I will investigate!
18th May:- 1.30pm, Ten Avocets on The Flood. The water level is still dropping, an adult Little Gull on the EM Pool today.
17th May:- 9.30am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. John Wilson saw Twelve birds, there was probably one tucked in behind the railtrack I could not see. The water level on The Flood/EM Pool/Allen Pool has dropped recently leaving areas of mud not seen for many months.
16th May:- 1.30pm, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. They seem to be concentrating on feeding.
15th May:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers to Threlkeld, see <Link>
14th May:- 9am, Ten Avocets on The Flood. The wanderers have gone walkabout again. There are already chicks at Martin Mere. All being well there should be chicks here in the next fortnight.
13th May:- 11am, Twelve Avocets on The Flood. A rare Full House! I'm still not sure whether the Two Extra? birds seen today are a pair or Two singles. A pair would be preferable, see 10th May Avocets 2003!
12th May:- A day away rambling at Dufton (Cumbria).
11th May:- 1.45pm, Nine Avocets on The Flood. Viewing conditions almost impossible at this time of day in strong sunlight!
10th May:- 8.45am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood, otherwise as on the 3rd of May! The Cows have been introduced to the Allen Pool area including a small section of Marsh. This year the gate is shut so hopefully they will not be able to get to the breeding site and cause devastation as they did last year!
9th May:- 1pm, Nine Avocets on The Flood. There appears to be Two sitting birds with no mates, these are probably tucked in near to the rail line where I can't see them.
8th May:- 10am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. I'm not sure as yet whether the Twelve bird has gone walkabout or there is another bird sitting?
7th May:- 9.30am, Ten Avocets on The Flood, otherwise as yesterday.
6th May:- 10am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. There is still probably Twelve but viewing conditions are such that if you don't hold your tripod down it will blow away!
5th May:- 11am, Twelve Avocets on The Flood. I'm not sure as yet whether the "new" birds are a pair or the Two single birds that have been in the area for some time. Viewing difficult due to gale force winds!
4th May:- 1pm, Ten Avocets on The Flood. The Field adjacent now has young Cows in it, if these were let out onto The Marsh it would Not be helpful to this years breeding programme!
3rd May:- 10am, Ten Avocets on The Flood. There are now Five pairs sitting, let's hope the high tides of the coming weekend don't wash them away.
2nd May:- 10am, Ten Avocets on The Flood. Four pair sitting, the fifth pair seem likely to follow suit soon.
1st May:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers to Dent, see <Link>
30th April:- 9am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood. Eight of the birds were flying around together, they then began feeding and looking for breeding sites.
29th April:- 1.30pm, Nine Avocets on The Flood. There is probably Ten but viewing conditions on a sunny day at this time are almost impossible!
28th April:- 10.30am, Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the Allen Pool. Two pair sitting.
27th April:- 8.30am, Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the Allen Pool. Two of the pairs are defending Territories and look like getting down to the job in hand at last!
26th April:- 10am, Nine Avocets on The Flood. There should be another single bird. The pre breeding activity of yesterday appears to have been aborted. I am beginning to wonder if there are some birds laying away?
25th April:- 1.30pm, Ten Avocets on The Flood. One pair are looking broody! The Avocets at Martin Mere are already sitting.
24th April:- 9am, Nine Avocets on The Flood. I do wonder whether the Two Coach loads of Visitors present today actually saw any Avocets? See <Link> for more Sitings!
23rd April:- 10am, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the Allen Pool. Two days ago there were Four Pairs present, today there are Two Singles which probably means there are more birds in the vicinity! See this <Link> for more local Sitings.
22nd April:- An Away Day to Dufton and High Cup Nick.
21st April:- 9am, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the Allen Pool. There are now Thirty Avocets at Marshside (Birdguides), maybe some of the Leighton Moss birds went South with the recent Northerly Winds?
20th April:- 1pm, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the Allen Pool. John Wilson saw Eight Avocets. I was told today that the Marshside Avocets are not sitting yet and that the season is generally late due to the Cold Weather.
19th April:- 9am, Two Avocets on The Flood. This the lowest count since 14th March! On this day last year there was an Avocet Sitting! I would appreciate any sitings of Avocets you may have within 50 miles! Use this <Link>
18th April:- 1pm, Seven Avocets on The Flood. Gale Force Winds and blustery showers.
17th April:- A day away with Lancaster Fellwalkers, to see what I got up too use The <Link>
16th April:- 9.30am, Seven Avocets on The Flood. Another low count today, there must be more birds out on The Bay but I would have thought in today's Wintery Conditions they would have been glad of the shelter of the Allen Pool?
15th April:- 11am, Eleven Avocets on the Allen Pool. I was told today that there has been some sitings of Avocets from Jenny Browns Point on an Ebbing Tide! Hopefully they will return to the "Fold" to ovulate. A cold northerly today.
14th April:- 9am, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool plus Two on the Allen Pool. A very wet day with a few bird movements but no sign of the missing? birds. Looking back at Avocets 2004 I see there was no definite brooding activity until April 19th last year.
13th April:- 1.30pm, Four Avocets on the Allen Pool! John Wilson saw Ten Avocets this morning. There was a report yesterday from a non birder of about Twenty Avocets? on the River Bela just South of Milnthorpe??? The number of birds does seem to be declining and nobody else saw more than Six, but John is an early riser!!!
12th April:- 10.30am, Two avocets on The Flood plus Nine on the Allen Pool. The Number of birds seems to be slowly declining? The incident on the 8th of April was caused by a Railway Contractor walking down the line, this often happens on a Sunday but rarely during the week.
11th April:- 9.30am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Eleven on the Allen Pool. An hour later the numbers were Five and Seven! As I was counting the Allen Pool birds over about 30 minutes the numbers reduced to 7! What seems to be happening is that the birds are nearly all roosting on the Allen Pool and then flying off to The Flood and another unknown Site in the early morning. Neither the Avocets or Blackheaded Gulls are showing any signs of Breeding as yet apart from Frequent Mating!
10th April:- 9am, Nine Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool plus Four on the Allen Pool. The Allen Pool had more birds earlier in the day but these had dispersed by the time I arrived! There is a report in the LM Log of Eighteen Avocets but I suspect there may have been some double counting! Fortunately the Islands on the Allen Pool have not been flooded by the recent High Tides but The Saltmarsh has.
9th April:- 9.30am, Fifteen Avocets on the Allen Pool. All sheltering from the gusty Western Winds. A 10 Metre Tide today so it is possible that the Islands on the Allen Pool will be under water tomorrow?
8th April:- 10am, Eleven Avocets on the EM Pool plus Four on the Allen Pool. There were no birds of any sort on The Flood and the Eleven on the EM Pool were all bunched together doing absolutely nothing! It was a though all the birds had been scared off The Flood, possibly by a Predator! A lovely Sunny Day with a few flakes of Snow which immediately melted.
7th April:- 10am, Seven Avocets on The Flood plus Ten on the Allen Pool. A slowly rising total. Less windy today but no reports of Avocets from the Seawatch at Jenny Browns Point! see <Link>
6th April:- 1.30pm (from the Viewpoint) Sixteen Avocets on The Flood, by the time I had arrived at the Allen Hide all the birds were on the Allen Pool sheltering from the near gale force winds!
5th April:- 9.30am, Eleven Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the Allen Pool. At 2pm the numbers were Thirteen on The Flood plus Two on the Allen Pool. The total number of birds seems to be slowly declining? I'm not sure as yet whether the missing birds have found another local site or have moved on north!
4th April:- 11.30am, Twelve Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the Allen Pool. I checked again in the afternoon and although the birds had moved to different pools the total was the same. For up to date local siting use this <Link>
3rd April:- An away day with Lancaster Fellwalkers see <Link>
2nd April:- 10am, Nine Avocets on The Flood plus Eleven on the Allen Pool, Nine Pairs today. Misty but warm all day.
1st April:- 10am, Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Eight on the Allen Pool. At least Eight pairs. Misty and cool all day.
31st March:- 10am, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Fifteen on the Allen Pool. Misty all day.
30th March:- 1.30pm, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Seventeen on the Allen Pool. The Allen Pool needs to be at a lower level. Avocet numbers seem to be slowly rising but it would seem that some of the birds present on the 20th March have moved on to Cumbria? or Scotland, (there were reports of Avocets in Scotland last year but no breeding successes that I know of).
29th March:- An away day in Dent! There is a report of Nine Avocets on the Allen Pool on the LDBW website see Link If it doesn't rain all day tomorrow I will investigate!
28th March:- 9am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Fifteen on the Allen Pool. The majority of the birds seem to be roosting on the Allen Pool. There is much flying to and from The Flood during the day.
27th March:- 7.30am, Two Avocets on The Flood plus Fifteen on the Allen Pool. The total number of birds was unchanged later in the day! The missing birds may be feeding out on The Bay?
26th March:- 10am, Twelve Avocets on The Flood plus Nine on the Allen Pool.
24th March:- 9.30am, Fifteen Avocets on The Flood plus Six on the Allen Pool. Almost back up to the peak numbers again today! The Three pairs on the Allen Pool seem to have taken up residence and all the birds are feeding up in prepation for the breeding season!
23rd March:- 1.30pm, Twelve Avocets on The Flood plus Six on the Allen Pool. At least Seven pairs.
22nd March:- 10.30am, Ten Avocets on The Flood plus Seven on the Allen Pool. The level of the Allen Pool is being lowered as the breeding Islands are almost under water. This has already attracted more birds as the food is easier to reach, there were Nine birds on the Allen Pool earlier in the day. There are at least Six pairs with the rest pairing up.
21st March:- 10.30am, Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Four on the Allen Pool. The extra Eleven birds may be out on The Bay, or could have flown North (Scotland)?
20th March:- LM Log, 11.10am Twenty One Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the Allen Pool (Mark Prestwood/Steve Rock). See LDBW site http://www.lancasterbirdwatching.org.uk/ click on the "here" link! I have had an away day with Lancaster Fellwalkers see Link to find out what I was up too.
19th March:- 10am, Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Two on the EM Pool Flash (Four Pairs). Later in the day there were as many as seven on the EM Flash Pool which were viewable with ease from the EM Hide! There was a report in the LM Log of Eleven birds? It's quite likely there will be more newcomers next time I have time to go!
18th March:- 11am, Six Avocets on The Flood, One on the Allen Pool and One the EM Pool Flash. It has been foggy all day here! If you are coming to see the Avocets this weekend it would be advisable to bring a Telescope (if you have one) as viewing the birds on The flood is otherwise difficult!
17th March:- 10.30am, Eight Avocets on The Flood. Three pairs and Two singles. The birds are mostly on The Flood but have also been seen on the Allen Pool. The Paired birds spend most of the time feeding and chasing off the singles.
16th March:- 8.50am, Three Avocets seen on The Flood by Ray Hobbs. A new pair of Avocets has arrived, at 2pm the male was chasing off the lone bird and then mated with the female. I was told today that there were Thirteen Avocets at Marshside RSPB yesterday!
15th March:- 8.30am, Still one Avocet on The Flood feeding, the bird was present till at least Midday. Near Gale Force Winds and Blustery Showers. It is a little warmer but the weather was much better at the weekend! Plus two Avocets at Marshside RSPB yesterday (Birdcall)!
14th March:- One Avocet on The Flood today from the EM Hide. Reported by the Pager services as on the Allen Pool? The water level on the Allen Pool is so high that an Avocet would have trouble feeding! Where has this bird been in the last few days?
11th March:- Today and Tomorrow there is a 10.19 metre High Tide. Carnforth Marsh and the Breeding Islands for The Avocets are underwater today and there will almost certainly be further flooding tomorrow. Not a good time to go to the EM/Allen Hides! There was a siting in Gloustershire [Severn Beach] yesterday (RBA) and Nine birds at Freiston RSPB (Birdguides) today but the persistent Northerly Winds are not helping the Migration this year.
7th March (RBA) Six Avocets at Blacktoft Sands today. Could this indicate some movement North at last?
5th March; An excellent week with fine sunny weather and not enough Snow to make a Snowball! However the strong winds were mostly from the N or NE with no sitings of Avocets. The Snowbound South and East is forecast to have better weather next week so given favourable winds there may be some sitings (at least in the Northwest)!
22nd February (RBA) "Wirral" Three Avocets North over Heswall! Could possibly be coming this way?
11th February (RBA) Avocet present at Marshside till 1pm. Unfortunately no reports from the Morecambe Bay area as yet!
10th February (RBA) single Avocet seen at Marshside RSPB in the afternoon. Could this be an early start to the season? --------Top of Page