I
will endeavor to provide the same service next year!
24th June:- The Chicks are steadily
Fledging and leaving The Flood! It is impossible to follow them
so I am ending this exercise. The Avocets all arrived at about the
same
time this year (In contrast to 2012 when there there were Two distinct
dates), hence the earlier close down!
23rd June:- Rain.
The cold Blustery winds, (The Chicks were mostly sheltering in
The Banks so counting was impossible)!
22nd June:- Rain. Rain. Rain.
21st June:- Thirty
Avocets on The Flood. Thirty Chicks seen.
20th June:- Twenty
Six Avocets on The Flood plus Ten
Avocets on The EM Pool. A total of
Thirty Chicks!
There were Two Chicks on The EM Pool with Ten Adults, all Twelve
birds then Flew (The Chicks
and an Adult returning staight away)!
19th June:- Twenty
One Avocets on The Flood plus Thirteen
Avocets on The EM Pool. Had a better view today which revealed Twenty
Eight Chicks on The Flood plus Two
Chicks on The EM Pool. The
Two Chicks on The EM Pool had obviously Fledged!
18th June:- Thirty
Four Avocets on The Flood plus Two
Avocets on The EM Pool. At least Thirty Chicks seen, it
is getting more difficult to sort the Adults from The Chicks from
a distance!
17th June:- Thirty
Seven Avocets on The Flood plus Two
Avocets on The EM Pool. There has been an input of non breeding
Birds on The Flood! Thirty Chicks found
on The Flood, (The Lone Chick
on The Allen Pool was not found).
16th June:- A
day away with Lancaster
Fellwalkers
15th June:- The same as The 14th
June!
14th June:- Twelve
Avocets on The Flood plus Six Avocets
on The EM Pool plus Seven Avocets
on The Allen Pool. A much better result today, why? (Answer,
No Cows)! Chicks seen (25 Flood) (1 Allen Pool) A
total of Twenty Six Chicks! The Adult numbers on The EM
Pool vary during the day, (I think most of them are feeding/roosting
elsewhere).
13th June:- I was wrong, The
Cows are back so obviously the Electric Fence is still earthed! Nine
Avocets on The Flood plus Seventeen
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Two
Avocets on The Allen Pool. A total of Twenty Chicks seen!
12th June:- Well The Cows have
gone and the fence repaired! Nine Avocets
on The Flood plus Twelve
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Two Avocets
on The Allen Pool. The Four EM Chicks
were not found but there
is still One Chick on The Allen Pool. Very
Difficult viewing conditions but I estimated there were
Twenty Eight Chicks on The Flood (this makes a total seen of Twenty
Nine)! Cows
on The Flood and EM Pools
plus Humans driving them back to The Saltmarsh has of course been
a major upset for The Avocets and Chicks!
11th June:- Twenty
One Avocets on The Flood plus Five
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Four
Avocets on The Allen Pool. Again Thirty Three Chicks seen
(28 Flood) (4 EM Pool)(1 Allen). But (The
Cows have got Through The Electric Fence to The Flood).
It may be difficult to find The Chicks tomorrow!
10th June:- Eleven
Avocets on The Flood plus Six Avocets
on The EM Pool plus Four Avocets
on The Allen Pool. Again a total of Thirty Three Chicks
(A single well grown Chick on The Allen Pool).
9th June:- Ten
Avocets on The Flood plus Ten Avocets
on The EM Pool plus Six Avocets
on The Allen Pool. Again a total of Thirty Three Chicks.
8th June:- Twenty
Three Avocets on The Flood plus Ten
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twelve
Avocets on The Allen Pool. A total of Thirty
Three Chicks found.
7th June:- Twenty
Avocets on The Flood plus Nineteen
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Two
Avocets on The Allen Pool. A total of Twenty Nine Chicks
found, (All but Four of which were on The Flood).
6th June:- Twenty
Two Avocets on The Flood plus Eighteen
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Seven
Avocets on The Allen Pool. THe EM Pool is nearly dry and
most of The Chicks have been moved to The Flood (Or
are in transit). Twenty
Nine Chicks seen. Only One Chick (yesterday Eleven) found on The
Allen Pool and another nest has been Predated/Abandoned!!!
5th June :- Twelve
Avocets on The Flood plus Thirty
Two Avocets on The EM Pool plus Seventeen
Avocets on The Allen Pool. A total
of Forty One Chicks seen. Two more Nests have live young
(3+2) The family with Two Chicks still have Two more Eggs to hatch? I
saw Two Chicks on The EM Pool that looked 'almost
like adults'!
4th June:- Six
Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty
Nine Avocets on The EM pool plus Twenty
Two Avocets on The Allen Pool. A total of Forty Chicks seen (
there seems to have been a loss on The Allen Pool since yesterday)!
The EM Pool Nest has been abandoned!
3rd June:- Four
Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty
Nine Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twenty
One Avocets on The Allen Pool. A total
of Forty Six Chicks seen. Three of the visible Nests have
Hatched since my last visit. I can now see Four Nests with sitting
birds, one of which is on
The EM Pool (this pool is rapidly drying up due to the warm weather)!
2nd June:- A
day away with Lancaster
Fellwalkers
1st June:- Eight
Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty
Nine Avocets on The EM Pool plus Eighteen
Avocets on The Allen Pool. A total of Forty One Chicks seen. Seven
new Chicks seen on The Allen Pool (Four
of which were from Nests that are not visible from The Hides! The
Abandoned Nest from yesterday did have Three Chicks.
31st May:- Seven
Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twenty
One Avocets on The Allen Pool. The Chick Count was the
same as Yesterday, however there is an
Abandoned/Predated Nest on The Allen Pool. There
may be Chicks at large from this Nest but I can't find them!
30th May:- Nine
Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty
Five Avocets on The EM Pool plus Seventeen
Avocets on The Allen Pool. A total
of Thirty Four Chicks seen. No new Nests Hatching young
today!
29th May:- Five
Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twenty
One Avocets on The Allen Pool. Only
Thirty Four Chicks in total seen today. At
least Six more Nests to Hatch Young! The new Nest on The
Flood has been abandoned (Probably stood on by a Cow)! [It was
outside
The Electric Fence]!
28th May:- Seven
Avocets on The Flood plus Eleven
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Fifteen
Avocets on The Allen Pool. A Total of Forty
Two Chicks seen! There
are now Four families on The Flood, with a total of Thirteen Chicks.
The Majority of The Chicks are on The EM Pool.
27th May:- Eleven
Avocets on The Flood plus Fourteen
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twenty
Three Avocets on The Allen Pool. A total of Thirty Seven
Chicks Seen (this includes Eight newly
hatched Chicks seen today)
There maybe more Eggs to hatch in these Nests!
26th May:- A day away in Ribblesdale.
25th May:- Fifteen
Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twenty
Two Avocets on The Allen Pool. A
total of Thirty Four Chicks seen. A new
Nest discovered on The Flood and another on The Allen Pool.
24th May:- Ten
Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Eighteen
Avocets on The Allen Pool. A total of Thirty Five Chicks
seen. There
is now another family of Four Chicks on The Flood (now 4+2+2
chicks). The Nest yesterday with One Chick has now been confirmed
with Three!
23rd May:- Eight
Avocets on The Flood plus Fifteen
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twenty
Eight Avocets on The Allen Pool. A
total of Thirty Four Chicks seen. Another Nest with live
young (I could only find One Chick). A family of Four Chicks have
been
reduced
to One! No Avocets found on The Saltmarsh today (however they are very difficult
to find in The Gulleys)!
22nd May:- Eight
Avocets on The Flood plus Four Avocets
on The Saltmarsh plus Fourteen Avocets
on The EM Pool plus Twenty Eight Avocets
on the Allen Pool. Two families
found on The Saltmarsh. A total of
Thirty Seven Chicks found today (No new nests with live
young) I
think there must be at least one other family to find!
21st May:- Nine
Avocets on The Flood plus Twelve
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twenty Six
Avocets on The Allen Pool. A Total of Twenty Eight Chicks! There
are also Three families missing from The Allen Pool (The
Flood and EM Totals are the same).
20th May:- Seven
Avocets on The Flood plus Eighteen
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Eight Avocets on The Allen Pool. I counted a Total of Forty
Five Chicks today! I can see there are Seven more Nests
to Hatch young!
19th May:- A
day away with Lancaster
Fellwalkers
18th
May:- Rain.
The Flood and EM Pool impossible due to The Rain! Allen
Pool Twenty Three Avocets. Twenty Chicks found which is
Three less than yesterday (Three Chicks were swum to the EM Pool). No
new Nests with live Chicks found!
17th May:- early
am, Six
Avocets on The Flood plus Twelve Avocets
on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Five Avocets on The Allen Pool. I counted a total of Thirty
Seven Chicks today. By the afternoon another family of Three
Chicks were being transferred to The EM Pool.
16th May:- Five
Avocets on The Flood plus Twenty One
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Five Avocets on The Allen Pool. The
Chick count is now The Flood 4, EM Pool 10, Allen Pool 16.
There are two more Nests with live young on The Allen Pool (1+4).
The
single chick from yesterday has been swum away from The Island
and One 'very'
small Chick is visable at a new site!
15th May:- I
have now found all the Chicks that have left The Allen Pool today!
There is however One Family of Three Chicks that have been swum
away from
their birth Island on The Allen Pool! Two
more Nests with live young today (2+1 Chicks) There will
probably be more Hatchlings in these Nests.
14th May:- Early, One
Avocet on The Flood plus Fourteen
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Two Avocets on The Allen Pool. Another Nest has Live young
(4). Two Families have moved to the rear of The Allen Pool
(4+3 Chicks). On further investigation I
have found a family with Two Chicks on The Flood plus another
with Three Chicks on a small pool on the Saltmarsh! However,
another family with Three Chicks has not as yet been found.
13th May:- Early
Morning, Twenty Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
One Avocets on The Allen Pool. Two more Nest with live young
found! Afternoon Visit. The new nests found had 4+3 Chicks, there
was also an extra Chick found in one of yesterdays newly hatched
Nests! Unfortunately While I was
away The Crows took Three newly hatched Chicks from a Nest! The
Numbers above have been adjusted. Viewing The Flood and the adjacent
EM Pool is not really possible at the moment because of the high
very Blustery Winds!!!
12th May:- 7.30
to 9.30am, Eighteen Avocets on the EM Pool plus Thirty
Seven Avocets on The Allen Pool. The Two Families (2+3 Chicks)
are still on The EM Pool. The Three Chicks on The Allen Pool have
swum to the Bund ajacent to The EM Pool. I
have found Two more Nests with live young (3+3 Chicks).
[These seem to be newly hatched]
11th May:- 7.20am, Twenty
Three Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
One Avocets on The Allen Pool. The Two Families of Avocets
that were at the edge of The Allen Pool (3+2 Chicks) have been
walked to The EM Pool. The third hatched brood were still being
brooded
near their Nest Site. If the Rain and
Gale force Winds ever
cease I may find more Chicks!
10th May:- Very
Early, Eleven Avocets on The EM Pool plus Forty
Nine Avocets on The Allen Pool. Since my last visit the
Chicks that hatched yesterday have been swum to the edge of the
Pool (Where
there is Mud to feed on). Another Nest has
Hatched Three live Chicks Today. There should be more Chicks
Hatching very shortly
9th May:- Twenty
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Forty
Avocets on The Allen Pool. Two Nests
now have young At total of Six,
One with mobile chicks (but spending much of the time being brooded
by
an
adult). The other nest has younger chicks that have not left the
Nest as yet!
8th May:- 2pm, Eight
Avocets on The Flood plus Four
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Forty
Two Avocets on The Allen Pool.
No Chicks seen, however Report from JW "Avocets
First young hatched today (3) and one further nest chipping".
This refers to the 7th of May!
4th May:- Still
no Car but travelled by Bus, Forty Six Avocets
on The Allen Pool plus Ten Avocets on
The EM Pool.
Nesting Pair situation as yesterday!
3rd May:- Still
no Car but travelled by Bus, Forty Avocets on
The Allen Pool. Still Twenty
One Nesting Pairs. I am unable to do a more complete count without
transport, and more importantly A Telescope! Hopefully I may become
more mobile
on the 7th or 8th of this month.
2nd May:- Still
no Car but travelled by Bus, Fifty Seven
Avocets on The Allen Pool plus One
Avocet on The EM Pool. Now Twenty
One Nesting Pairs. Black Headed Gulls are now Nesting between
the Avocets Nests on one Island!
28th,29th,30th
April plus 1st May:- No Car!
27th April:- Ten
Avocets on The Flood plus Twelve Avocets
on The EM Pool plus Forty
One Avocets on The Allen Pool.
26th April:- Six
Avocets on The Flood plus Six Avocets
on The EM Pool plus Fifty One
Avocets on The Allen Pool. The Total birds below as counted
by LM Staff is probably the Peak count for this season!
25th April:- Rain.3pm
After The Rain, Eight Avocets on The Flood plus Thirteen
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Three Avocets on The Allen Pool. There are more Nesting
Pairs not yet Confirmed! During a Co-ordinated
watch by LM Staff Seventy One Avocets were counted!
24th April:- 1.30pm,
After The Rain , Four Avocets on The Flood plus Six
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Fifty
Two Avocets on The Allen Pool. The Nesting situation seems
stable.
23rd April:- 9am, Five
Avocets on The Flood plus Five
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Sixty
One Avocets on The Allen Pool. Yet another record count
today. (71) One Nest Abandoned (Probably
due to the attention of Crows).
22nd April:- 9am, Six
Avocets on The Flood plus Five
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Fifty
Six Avocets on The Allen Pool. Very windy blustery conditions.
Yet another Full House (67). Fourteen Nesting
Pairs.
20th April:- 10am, Eight
Avocets on The Flood plus Twelve
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Forty
Seven Avocets on The Allen Pool.
Another record count today (67), Two pair look like they are going
to breed on other Islands [Overcrowding]?
19th April:- 9am, Four
Avocets on The Flood plus Ten Avocets
on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Seven Avocets on The Allen Pool. Now at least Twelve
Nesting Pairs.
18th April:- Gale
Force Winds, then at 10am, Sixty
Avocets on The Allen Pool. Nine Nesting
Pairs,
more to be confirmed!
17th April:- Rain. Thirty
Three Avocets On The Allen Pool.
There are now at least Five Nesting Pairs.
Another Three minimum on another Island (these will need more scrutiny
to confirm)! A total of Three O. I. N visible [see
12th April].
16th April:- A
day away in Kings Town! However While I was away Fifty
Five Avocets were seen!
15th April:- 9am,
Two Avocets on The Flood plus Two
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Forty
Five Avocets on The Allen Pool. The Nesting Pair situation
is the same as yesterday.
14th April:- 8.30am, Forty
Seven Avocets on The Allen Pool. Four
Nesting Pairs.
13th April:- 9am, Three
Avocets on The Flood plus Three
Avocets on The EM pool plus Forty
Six Avocets on The Allen Pool.
Another Full House (52 Avocets)
12th April:- 8am, Eight
Avocets on The Flood plus Four
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Four on The Allen Pool.
One Pair may have Ovoid
objects of an Interesting Nature
judging by their behaviour! At least Nine Pairs on The Allen Pool
that don't seem interested as yet in Breeding!
11th April:- 7.30am, Six
Avocets on The Flood plus Six
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Five Avocets on The Allen Pool.
10th April:- 8.30am, Six
Avocets on The Flood plus Five
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Five Avocets on The Allen Pool. There seems to be more pre
Nesting behaviour now but no pairs are confirmed as sitting! A
least Two of the 'likely' nests are not fully visible from either
EM or
Allen Hides!
9th April:- 11am, Two
Avocets on The Flood plus Fifty
Avocets on The Allen Pool. Yet
more Newcomers have arrived!
8th April:- 9.30am, Eight
Avocets on The Flood plus Six
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Four Avocets on The Allen Pool. Another increase in the
total Birds today!
6th April:- 11am, Fourteen
Avocets on The Flood plus Three
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Avocets on The Allen Pool. Noticeably much more warmth in
The Sun today.
5th April:- 8.30am, Eight
Avocets on The Flood plus Eleven
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Seventeen
Avocets on The Allen Pool.
I was told there were many more Avocets on The Flood earlier (there
is still much movement between The Pools)! The
new fence beside the track to the Allen Pool Car Park was erected
by The
Leighton Hall Estate!
4th April:- 9am, Twelve
Avocets on The Flood plus Six
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Nineteen
Avocets on The Allen Pool.
Yet another Cold day, no sign of the warmer
weather as yet.
3rd April:- 8.30am, Ten
Avocets on The Flood plus Ten
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twenty
Six Avocets on The Allen Pool.
2nd April:- 8am, Four
Avocets on The Flood plus Twelve
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Nineteen
Avocets on The Allen Pool. The numbers are staying fairly
constant now, much making of Scrapes and Mating but no definite "Nesting"
Pairs as yet!
1st April:- 9am, Six
Avocets on The Flood plus Nine
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twenty
One Avocets on The Allen Pool. Today for the first time
for many day there was No Ice.
31st March:- 9.30am, Forty
Avocets on The Allen Pool.
Much making of Scrapes. An Osprey turned up
at Leighton Moss in the afternoon!
30th March:- A
day Away on The Westmorland Silurians.
29th March:- 10.30am, Four
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
Avocets on The Allen Pool. Several Avocets making scrapes
on the Islands of The Allen Pool. I was told there were more Avocets
present up till 7.30am when many birds flew away. (they didn't
fly to The Flood ) [It was Frozen]!
28th March:- 10.30am, Thirty
One Avocets on The Allen Pool.
Unusual not to find any Avocets on The Other Pools.
27th March:- 8.30am, Eight Avocets
on The Flood plus Eight
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Eleven
Avocets on The Allen Pool.
26th March:- 9am, Ten
Avocets on The Flood plus
Six Avocets on The EM Pool plus Ten
Avocets on The Allen Pool. Veryy Flighty
today!
25th March:- 9am, Ten
Avocets on The Flood plus Two
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twenty
Three Avocets on The Allen Pool. Then a White Stork arrived
and all the Allen Pool birds flew away!
24th March:- 10am, Two
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Thirty
One on The Allen Pool. Earlier most of The Avocets were
on The Flood! JW Reported Thirty Eight Avocets.
23rd March:- 11am, Thirty
Two Avocets on The Allen Pool.
They were not keen on flying to The Flood today. Probably
because of the Bittingly Cold East Wind!
21st March:- 9.30am, Twenty
Avocets on The Flood Plus Twelve
Avocets on The Allen Pool. Again much coming and going between
the Two Pools.
20th March:- 7.30am, Two
Avocets on The Flood plus Five
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Seventeen
on The Allen Pool.
Again like yesterday the Allen Pool birds flew to The Flood leaving
a core of
Twelve Birds.
19th March:- 8am, Two
Avocets on The Flood plus Nineteen
Avocets on The Allen Pool. At 8.30am there were Eleven Avocets
on The Allen Pool (Eight Avocets had flown to The Flood). Two pair
Have decided which Island to Nest on! Much Mating.
18th March:- 1.30pm, Two
Avocets on The Flood plus Two
Avocets on The EM Pool plus Twelve
Avocets on The Allen Pool. Plenty of movement between The
Pools so the total today is probably an underestimate!
17th March:- 9am, Thirteen
Avocets on The Allen Pool,
Six Pairs (There seems to be much coming and going at the moment). Sixty
Two Avocets at Martin Mere (The numbers seem to be rising
there)
16th March:- Rain.
12 midday, Four Avocets on The Flood plus Six
on The Allen Pool. There appears to have been a mass Exodus!
JW reported seeing Twenty Four yesterday.
15th March:- Rain.
1.30pm; High Tide; Six Avocets on The Flood plus Eleven
on The Allen Pool. The wanderers have returned!
14th March:- 10am, Fifteen
Avocets on The Allen Pool.
13th March:- 8am, Fifteen
Avocets on The Allen Pool.
By 9am they had all flown to The Flood! Seven
Pairs!
12th March:- 9am,
Seventeen Avocets on The Allen Pool. Only small areas of water
unfrozen. A partial thaw in the afternoon allowed the birds to feed!
9th March:- 8am, One
Avocet on The Flood Plus Eleven
on The Allen Pool.
8th March:- 8.am, Nine
Avocets on The Flood plus Three
on The Allen Pool. By 1pm all Twelve Avocets were on The
Flood.
7th March:- 10.30am, Thirteen
Avocets on The Flood.
2pm, Still Thirteen Avocets on The Flood (The pairing seems to have
happened). There are now definitely
Five Pairs, possible Six.
6th March:- 8am, Twelve
Avocets on The Flood.
In a tight bunch One pair mating! Forty
Five Avocets at Martin Mere (Things are livening up)!
5th March:- 8am, Ten
Avocets on The Allen Pool.
A lttle fighting going on (sorting out The Pairing).
4th March:- 12
Midday, The single Avocet from yesterday
is still present and feeding. There
are now Thirty Four Avocets at Martin Mere (Four pairs were seen
mating).
3rd March:- 11.30am
to 12pm; One Avocet on The EM Pool!
I have yet to see an Avocet feeding at
Leighton Moss this Year!!!
28th February:-
No sightings today at Leighton Moss (several visits), however The
Avocet numbers at Martn Mere are down to Fourteen! Not sure that
this is
significent
(Frozen Pools)!
27th February:-
I was told today by LM Staff that Three Avocets
were reported at the EM Pool on the 23rd February!
Perhaps they are Roosting/Feeding elswhere
( they were not visible when I was there).
26th February:-
No Avocets at Leighton Moss. Favourable Winds/Weather will be needed
before more Avocets Fly North!
23rd February:- No
Avocets at the Eric Morecambe Pools but a
maximum off Twenty Avocets at Martin Mere! They
may be commuting between Martin Mere and Marshside???
22nd February:- No
Avocets at the Eric Morecambe Pools but Twenty
Two Avocets at Martin Mere! An Exodus North ???
21st February:- No
Avocets at the Eric Morecambe Pools but Twenty
Eight Avocets at Martin Mere! Perhaps
winds from The South or South West may persuade some of the Martin
Mere
Avocets to move North! The
Marshside Website is so out of date it is of little use.
20th February:-
7.30 till 8am. Excellent Visibility! No Avocets seen. It looks like
they were probably birds of Passage.
19th February:-
8 till 9.30am No Avocets Found. The Electric
Fence around the Allen Pool has been installed! 1 till 1.30pm, The Bright Sunshine and
all day Mist make viewing very difficult (No Avocets found).
18th February:-
Three Avocet seen early morning on EM/ Flood by Jonny Scragg. 1pm
Unable to find Avocets, (Blinding Sunshine).
17th February:-
11.30am Two Avocets on The Eric
Morecambe Pool! Seen by an other on the 16th in the same
place, Will they stay???