Cumbrian spring

After what seems like a second winter, with the past two weekends seeing snow. I get a chance too do some birding.
Sizergh Castle, Cumbria, SD498878
I believe this is a beautiful place to visit. From the outside it looks good. It closes Fridays and Saturdays. My reason for a trip, is to see Our largest Finch, the Hawfinch. Reports say that from the car park (open everyday), you will see 5. This I immediately did, but my ears detected many more. I estimated double that, easily. It has been many a year now since I last appreciated this bird. They appeared to be skittish at times, but never went out of view for long. This has got to be the best Hawfinch site in the North west. 30 minutes down the road.
Leighton Moss, Cumbria, SD4775
My first visit this year. Summer birds have arrived, plenty of Swallows mixed with Sand Martins from Lillian hide, also a female Marsh Harrier is building a nest, Bitterns Booming. Chiffchaff, and Willlow Warblers in the woods, Avocets, Litlle Egret, from Eric Morcembe hide. This years list got a boosting. Even an Egyptian Goose tuned up.
Close-bye.
Warton Crag LWT, SD4972
A huge quarry cliff face. A haven for Corvids. For the first time, a single Chough has decided stay here. A rare bird for the north west. Also Peregrine, Little Owl, Buzzards are good birds to see.
Report - This year I have seen 5 species I didn't see last year, current total 86.
I manage to break my Bins again! - Dropped again! all that armour didn't save it.
Great to be out and about again. Get out yourself.

"And so..the end is here.."

So with the Christmass visitings out of the way, It's time to get back to the matter at hand. The list is balanced at 87.
28th Dec. - I have been cursing the break for a week now, not being able to follow up a report of a bird that I have only ever seen once before, 15 years ago, yet every year I spend about 100 hours trying to see one. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker! at Fairburn Ings (only the 2nd ever), has been seen every day now for a week. I am off, first chance I am allowed. 30 minutes there, and I have it. About a thousand hours of missing this the smallest 'pecker, have been forgotten. My bird of the year?, Nah, Decade?, millenium? more like. Also on the reserve, a bird I have had 2 trips to see this year, Water Pipit - got it.
Pugney's Country park - has a funny Pochard I need. Red Crested Pochard (I am not taking bread, and not listening to locals about it's origin, these are scratching times.) - Tick.
3 from 3 ticks in one day, nice.
29th Dec. - I am out with my mate Alan. I can't resist another peek at the Lesser 'pecker, so we call in, tick it, and relive our own personal failures about this species, many times Alan was with for a whole day hoping to see one.
Tophill Low Res. Two drake Smew, Great Northern Diver, 3 Greenland White-Fronted Geese, can't believe my luck. tick, tick.
30th Dec - Too much to do, so It's time to cleanup local birds only - Alan and me set off in the fog to the Pennines a couple of miles away. it's touch and go If we see anything. A brew and wait for the fog to burn off. 2 Twite appear from nowhere, but now Snow Bunting (this years bogey bird). Try another spot. While we have another brew, I spot a Peregrine, Raven, And about 20 Twite, alas no Snow Bunt. Thats' two more Ticks.
31th Dec. - Watergrove. Woodcock, very elusive, and that's how it stays for this year, elusive. The towel hits the ground - 192 So close.

Swan for the road...

My first trip of the year to the Wirral peninsula.
First stop, Inner Marsh Fam RSPB SJ304744, reports of an easy Green Winged Teal to dip - Yep, I Dipped, for the 2nd time on this species in 6 days. On the way down to the hide, A large number of Bramblings made themselves conspicuous amongst Linnets. A single Black tailded Godwit, was the only bird of note on the lakes - poor. Over on the other (Welsh) side of the reserve, we found 4 Bewick's Swans, amongs Whooper's and Mute's. All three white swans together- a rare sight.
Neston Old Quay SJ2876, chance of stuff here. Lots of Little Egrets, A Peregrine snapped up an unfortunate duck, no sign of Water pipits, or Owls. Poor.

180 - Bewick's Swan.
Nail biting times.

A day with raptors

Well it started with news of a 'mega' rare bird in Dumfries and Galloway. Halfway, I decided to phone ahead to confirm that the bird was present. Sadly it was not. So with me in Cumbria, I thought I would best put my time looking at Cumbria's famous raptors.

Haweswater Res NY4713: Has been home for many years to Britains only breeding Golden Eagles. Sadly the Female has not returned for a few years now. But the male still lives in hope. Allthough distant, great views where had of this huge, majestic Eagle effortlessly gliding, putting every bit of it's 7ft wingspan to good effect..

Bassenthwaite Res: NY2129:Home to breeding Osprey, although you are 1.4 miles away from the nest, the RSPB has many telescopes available for the public to use, and if you are lucky - I was, an Osprey may go fishing and fly much closer to you. At the moment the nest has five young chicks.

Dunsop Bridge SD659542: This years surprise in the bird world was that a pair of Eagle Owls, have raised three chicks. I managed to see all chicks and both adults. Seeing the adults flying, with a wingspan of over 5ft 6 ins, (over twice the lenght of a Buzzard), I will never forget. The whole place was full of other raptors too. Upto four Short-Eared Owls where seen hawking for food constantly,. I was lucky (again!), to spot a Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Raven and Kestrel also hunting for food. A big thank you must go to the RSPB leader - Dave. for saving me a 3 mile walk, upto the Owl site. These special walks are Regularly advertised on the RSPB Northwest website, where you can apply for a permit to take your car upto the site.

In all, we travelled 276miles, and felt like singing 'climb every mountain', from the sound of music many times, today was the best birding day I have had this year.

Years total : 146

TERN-ed out nice again.

June is the time to attempt a full sweep of the five tern species that breed in Britain. One place that gives you this chance is Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey. The Tern colony is mainly made up of Sandwich terns, with a fair number of Common Terns, and a couple of Arctic Terns. About this time of year, you could be lucky and get our rarest tern, the Roseate Tern – I should have been here yesterday.., none today. Also worth trying is Rhosneiger. Little Terns often put in a n appearance too Cemlyn also. Very rare migrant terns have also shown up here too, Sooty and Bridled Terns in resent years.
After a couple of hours, it’s off to Holyhead Harbour. At the right time, (not today) you have a chance of three species of divers (winter months best). At the moment Black Guillemots are here – can’t miss them, follow the AA signposts. Also a Phalacrocorax aristotelis fishing close in.
South Stack RSPB. A typical seabird colony, but the speciality here is Chough. Looking out to sea, a good number of Manx Shearwaters, glide effortlessly inches above the waves. South Stack sometimes holds breeding Peregrine, which you can watch on CCTV from the RSPB information centre. (Not this year though). If you are into Flora, the place is full of plants that beg to be identified. Sea Campion, Sea Cail etc.
One the way back home. Call into Point of Ayr, near Prestatyn and walk West towards Gronnant where a colony of Britain’s smallest terns are easy to see.
This is the longest trip I have to make each year, around trip of 320 miles, but thoroughly enjoy it , as long as it is only the once.