Summary October 2024
New “Year Ticks” in October 2024: 4
New “Life Ticks” in October 2024: 0
Total Species for 2024 so far: 141
The only real birding we managed to get in in October was a birding group visit to RSPB Leighton Moss on 8th October. We all managed – eventually – to get good views of a small number of Bearded Tits in the reeds near the grit trays on the causeway – year ticks. We also got a couple of Marsh Harriers and a Great Egret but the best of the birding was down at the sea hides where the water was incredibly low – much lower that we have previously seen it – apart from the time the whole site was accidentally drained. We got a couple of Greenshanks (also a year tick), Black-tailed Godwits and several Snipe and, in total, we saw 35 species.
We stayed overnight so that we did not have to drive all the way back home. We found The Mill at Conder Green, where we got some casual birding as well including Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail outside the breakfast room!
On the 9th October we checked out and drove to WWT Martin Mere where we had a good day getting three year ticks – a Snow Goose from the Discovery Hide and good views of a Bittern flying from the Ron Barker Hide as well as our first Whooper Swans of the year. We got 32 species in total.
The garden continues to be empty of birds despite some poor weather. It is a bit of a mystery why the birds are so late coming back into the garden but we will see what November brings.
New Species for the Year
- Bearded Tit 8 Oct 2024 at RSPB Leighton Moss
- Greenshanks 8 Oct 2024 at RSPB Leighton Moss
- Snow Goose 9 Oct 2024 at WWT Martin Mere
- Whooper Swan 9 Oct 2024 at WWT Martin Mere
