Visited Geltsdale this morning at dawn. To be honest the surrounding farmland and moors were more productive than the reserve itself, which was comparatively quiet. We managed a few black grouse, redshank and lapwing on the flood meadow, and black swan, goldeneye, etc on the tarn.
In comparison however we had many more black grouse, two pairs of ring ousel, wheatear, red grouse, common snipe, etc. within half a mile of the reserve.
Pete Welch said
Thu Nov 10 9:04 PM, 2011
Surprised and delighted to see a Barn Owl fly across a road near Moor Row, Whitehaven at around 4.15pm today. A quick park up in a gateway and then watched it hunting for about ten minutes - cheered me up no end!
Pete Welch said
Wed Oct 19 9:56 PM, 2011
Trip over Corney Fell this morning and return this afternoon saw a flock of around 60 Fieldfare which looked resplendent in the morning sun and were still there in the afternoon - feeding up on the wild juniper berries. Also four Raven, a single Stonechat which was a surprise, three buzzards, a jay, lots of mixed finch flocks and a very pale Kestrel which had me going for a bit!
Joey Eccles said
Sun Sep 4 11:04 PM, 2011
Back from a couple of weeks up at Esthwaite. Unfortunately no birding done, but highlights included:
Osprey seen hunting daily at Esthwaite with 2, probably 3 individuals seen at once A flock of c.250 swallows whirling around me on the lake itself one evening, some passing no more than 10 feet away. 2 bullfinch and a treecreeper also by the the lake A flock of c.300 siskin at Tarn Hows
Joey Eccles said
Thu Aug 11 12:25 PM, 2011
A couple of days in the lakes, not really birding but some of the species seen included:
Half way up the North/East side of Buttermere:
female redstart 2 treecreeper - included what looked like a juvenile 4 buzzards together 2 family parties of nuthatch family party of spotted flycatchers 7 goosander 2 pied wagtails including a youngster
Muncaster Castle:
Spotted flycatcher 4 raven
Stockley farm (near Seathwaite)
a family of at least 7 willow warblers - including the brightest individual I have ever seen. female restart siskin grey wagtail 2 pied wagtails including a youngster Ravens and wheatear higher up the slopes
Chris Harper said
Sat Jul 23 7:43 PM, 2011
A few days in the Lakes with work last Sun-Tue. High Lights: Grizedale Forest-10 Crossbills, Pied Flycatcher and young, Nuthatch, Green and GS Woddpeckers. Lake Windermere- 2 Oystercatchers, 9 Red Breasted Mergansers(7 young) Above Troutbeck village- 2 Spotted Flycatchhers, 2 Redstarts, nesting Buzzards
Mike Baron said
Sun Jun 12 8:34 PM, 2011
Barbondale this morning
2 Cuckoos (both males) 8 Redstarts (6 males, female and juvenile) 2 Pied Flycatchers (male and female) 3 Whinchats (2 males and female) 4 Ravens over 2 Crows (presumably juveniles) entertained by trying to catch Meadow Pipits in flight! 4 Buzzards 3, poss 4 Kestrels Green Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Tree Pipit 10 Wheatears 2 Blackbirds (both males) Mistle Thrush 2 Reed Buntings 2 Garden Warblers (males) Grey Wagtail 6 Pied Wagtails (pair plus 4 juveniles) 16+ Willow Warblers (inc adult feeding 2 juveniles) 4 Swifts 8 Swallows 11 House Martins
Pete Welch said
Wed May 18 8:02 PM, 2011
Brief stop to look for Ospreys on the southwest side of Bassenthwaite this evening - no sign of ospreys but there was a cuckoo calling from the hillside with the white stone.
Ian Campbell said
Fri Apr 29 2:35 PM, 2011
Barbondale this a.m., highlites were Redstarts, Tree Pipits and a Pied Flycatcher. Cheers Ian
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Mar 27 6:40 PM, 2011
Dalton Crags this am with Iain Johnson
Great Grey Shrike showed well near trig point
Nev Wright said
Thu Mar 3 7:18 PM, 2011
27 02 2011 Geltsdale RSPB, Tindale Tarn 2 male and one female Smew 19 Red Grouse (no Black seen, although apparently around) 11 Brambling Black Swan
Sean Sweeney said
Thu Dec 16 3:42 PM, 2010
Was in Cumbria yesterday completing a walkover survey just north of Sellafield for about 6 hours. The bird assemblage in the area has changed a little since last months snowfall and heavy frosts with not a single Twite to be found, Tree Sparrow numbers down (or at least I couldn't locate as many) and I didn't see a single Yellowhammer. Still I had a lovely day and saw the following:
Mute Swan 4 Mallard 100+ Teal 2 Wigeon 40 Goosander 12 Buzzard 3 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Merlin 1 (lovely female chasing meadow pipits and displacing Woodcock low over a field, then perched on a pine for about 10 minutes) Curlew 50+ Oystercatcher 2 Snipe 1 Woodcock 3 Redshank 3 Raven 1 Meadow Pipit 8+ Fieldfare 30+ Redwing 20+ Linnet 450+ Waxwing 1 ( a lone bird seen on a berry bush on the roadside on way up!?) Reed Bunting 20+ Tree Sparrow 30+
Also had over 1500+ Pink-footed Geese in multiple skeems flying north in line with the M6 around the Carnforth Junction.
Also drove back via Cartmel and bought a couple of the famous Sticky Toffee puddings for over Christmas time, you can't beat it
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Thursday 16th of December 2010 03:43:46 PM
Sean Sweeney said
Thu Dec 9 1:27 PM, 2010
I was up in Cumbria again this week, completing an inter-tidal survey between dawn and early afternoon. A very snowy start delayed observations, while I propped under and umbrella sat on a piece of drift wood on the beach trying to shelter from the worst of it . Lots of activity on shore and overhead again, as the snowy weather in Scotland must be pushing birds from their usual haunts. Within the fields to and from the beach and on the ebach I saw the following birds of note:
Little Grebe Mute Swan 9 Mallard 100+ Teal 4 Wigeon 120+ Goosander 14 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Buzzard 4 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Merlin 1 Peregrine 1 Curlew 120+ Oystercatcher 350+ Snipe 6 Woodcock 4 Redshank 20+ Grey Plover 6 Dunlin 7 Turnstone 40+ Purple Sandpiper 1 Dipper 1 Meadow Pipit 15+ Skylark 2,500 to 3,000+ (mainly flying low over the beach area from north to south, but flocks 50-100 strong stopping to feed on the beach at times, no sign of Laplands or Shorelarks with them though) Fieldfare 100+ (all moving north to south overhead) Linnet 14 Stonechat 3 Bullfinch 2
Very cold, but lovely days birding with raptors galore and the Purple Sandpiper on the beach (not more than 10m away from me) was a real delight .
Sean Sweeney said
Wed Nov 24 9:06 PM, 2010
I braved the frost and chilly light winds of Cumbria to do a walkover survey today for 6 hours or so over the open fields, stubble and bushland. Lovely and crisp under foot though and perfect light when behind you of course!? Glad I got up there today though as snow could be on the way
Mute Swan 6 Pink-footed Goose (70 and 110 S to N) Mallard 60+ Teal 2 Buzzard 5 Kestrel 2 Sparrowhawk 3 (one lovely blue male with red streaked chest on a post before it bombed the local gorse bushes ) Peregrine 1 Curlew 30+ Snipe 6 Redshank 3 Lapwing 400 Meadow Pipit 3 Skylark 50+ Linnet 10 Twite (2 flocks of 60 and 70) Tree Sparrow (3 flocks of 30, 35+ and 20+) Stonechat 5 Yellowhammer 10+ Reed Bunting 15+ Chaffinch 200+ Fieldfare 100+ Redwing 20+ Snow Bunting (1 heard calling overhead N to S)
Time playing back bird calls in the evenings has already paid off with Snow Bunting overhead!?
Sean Sweeney said
Fri Nov 12 3:02 PM, 2010
I was up in Cumbria again this week, prior to popping in to see the Pied-builled Grebe on way home on Wednesday. I completed some inter-tidal surveys from low to high tide near Sellafield. Another cracking day in the sunshine with snow capped mountains behind me, a lovely quiet beach and spectacular views of the Isale of Man . Over the course of the tide I had the following:
Red-throated Diver 2 (north to south offshore) Mute Swan 2 Mallard 45+ Wigeon 5 Goosander 7 Red-breasted Merganser 3 Great Crested Grebe 1 Buzzard 2 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Curlew 70+ Oystercatcher 500+ Snipe 1 Sanderling 55+ Redshank 30+ Grey Plover 4 Guillemot 6 Razorbill 1 Barn Owl 1 (dead off the track I was on, looked like a peregrine kill) Dipper 1 Meadow Pipit 30+ Skylark 10+ Linnet 20+ Twite 6 (overhead north to south) Stonechat 5
Still lots of birds flying over north to south, including Reed Bunting, Skylarks, Twite and some unidentified bird calls. Back to the computer and CDs for me this winter during the dark nights, as I need to get more sharp on calls, as must have missed a few birds this year!?
Steve Almond said
Mon Oct 25 11:07 AM, 2010
Bolton CHA Rambling Club weekend at Glenridding:
16 of us managed to get to the summit of Helvellyn on Sat 23rd Oct. In the hail and the mist 4 Snow Buntings brightened the day up.
Sean Sweeney said
Thu Oct 14 11:30 AM, 2010
thanks for the info steve and bill, having played back several different recordings of dipper i must admit that that was very much the core of the song i heard. The only difference being that the individual i heard threaded additional melodys in as well. Although i'd seen the dippers from the same spot i had not seen them singing anything other than short notes in flights across the river on occasions. I'll make a note for next month when on that stretch again and hope to catch them at it hopefully. Thanks again, just shows how fascinating and important bird call is!
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Thursday 14th of October 2010 11:34:50 AM
Steve Suttill said
Wed Oct 13 9:23 AM, 2010
I too can echo Bill's experience of thinking I could hear a late-singing Sedge Warbler which turned out to be a Dipper with an unusual song
Steve
Bill Myerscough said
Tue Oct 12 7:37 PM, 2010
Sean Sweeney wrote: Did hear a very strange bird call from the other side of the river, sounded like a sedge warblers vigorous and varied melody, with up and down notes, but with the notes of a Song Thrush/Skylark/Linnet at times, but despite trying to sight it from the other side of the river it didn't show and after over 30 mins sat waiting for it to show or call again it did not come out and play, so I will have to put it down to one that got away!? As I was working I couldn't sit it out for the day unfortunately and although I went past the same point several more times over the day I did not hear it again....
Hi Sean,
Read the above detailed description with interest. Jogged my memory of a Dipper singing at Piethorne on 21/09/06 - after a quick search of my computer "field" notes the description of my record from that day read "The song was muted but lengthy (at least 3 minutes). It reminded me in structure of say a Sedge or a Reed Warbler with several slightly different phrases to the song, which didn't particularly go well together and gave the song a stop/start, slow/quick paced feel, akin to that of the two mentioned warblers".
Just a suggestion, as Dipper is also a species known for singing "out of season" and you recorded 2 of them on your recent survey as well.
Cheers,
Bill.
Sean Sweeney said
Mon Oct 11 8:57 PM, 2010
Today I did some inter-tidal surveys from low to high tide near Sellafield. Cracking sunshine all day and some good bird to match, but nothing rare or unusual!? Surveys completed between 830 and 1430. I had the following:
Teal 2 Mallard 50+ Goosander 2 Great Crested Grebe 1 Buzzard 3+ Kestrel 1 Merlin 1 (female, my first of the autumn/winter) Sparrowhawk 1 Peregrine 1 Curlew 80+ Oystercatcher 600+ Snipe 1 Sanderling 2 Dunlin 8 Redshank 25+ Grey Plover 2 Guillemot 2 G S Woodpecker 1 Dipper 2 Kingfisher 1 Meadow Pipit 200+ Rock Pipit 1 Skylark 30+ Pied Wagtail 3 Linnet 12 Stonechat 3
Did hear a very strange bird call from the other side of the river, sounded like a sedge warblers vigorous and varied melody, with up and down notes, but with the notes of a Song Thrush/Skylark/Linnet at times, but despite trying to sight it from the other side of the river it didn't show and after over 30 mins sat waiting for it to show or call again it did not come out and play, so I will have to put it down to one that got away!? As I was working I couldn't sit it out for the day unfortunately and although I went past the same point several more times over the day I did not hear it again....
Sean Sweeney said
Fri Oct 1 5:03 PM, 2010
Was up completing a walkover survey on surrounding land yesterday, Thursday between 9am and 3pm. I didn't get as close to coast, but there was plenty of movement (vis mig) overhead and suprisingly good numbers of some species like Buzzard and Curlew in the fields. It was fairly pleasant conditions all day, with sun and cloud dominating, but only needed a T-shirt, which was nice .
I had the following within and over the field systems:
Teal 14 Mallard 40+ Buzzard 15+ Kestrel 3 Sparrowhawk 2 Curlew 20+ Snipe 12 Herring Gull 200+ (moving south) G S Woodpecker 1 Swallow 200+ House Martin 8 Meadow Pipit 400+ Skylark 40+ Alba Wagtail 40+ Grey Wagtail 2 Goldcrest 4 Willow Warbler 1 Linnet 100+ Twite 20+ (1 flock feeding in borders of wheat field) Goldfinch 200+ Chaffinch 50+ Stonechat 5 Tree Sparrow 8 Reed Bunting 14+ (checked every single one in the hope of a Lapland, but no such luck )
So many Jays knocking about all over the place, with 3s and 4s flying overhead on way up and back, muct have seen over 50 birds on travels between Manchester and Sellafield return!! It's that time of year I suppose, with them trying to beat those pesky squirrels for all the nuts!?
Sean Sweeney said
Sat Sep 25 11:26 AM, 2010
Just started some survey work over near Sellafield, so found this thread to hijack for the winter!? I'm conducting inter-tidal and walkover surveys near to the nuclear plant complex and on the coast there, so hoping to get more familiar with the area and its avifauna. It's a long drive up there though and a 5 am set off time was pretty tiring.
Yesterday was pretty windy all day, with my tripod almost being swept over several times while I was pouring a brew from my flask. Unfortunately it was in the wrong direction to bring birds in to the coast, as it was a north easterly, but still plenty of Guillemots, Razorbills, lots of Gannets very far out and the odd Kittiwakes flying about. Also had two flocks of Pink-footed Geese fly over moving south (28 and 18).
As for the beach, I had the following on the beach and river nearby:
The bizarre thing was that Goosander were feeding in the rock pools on the beach and Red-breasted Merganser were on the river, with some moving between the two. As I left they were all on the river and in a mixed flock, not something I've seen much and made me realise if I ever miss the odd Merg locally in between the larger roost of Goosanders?
There was also a lot of movement along the coast overhead and in the bushes too with the following being seen and heard:
Swallow 20+ House Martin 2 Meadow Pipit 200+ Rock Pipit 2 Skylark 30+ Alba Wagtail 8 Grey Wagtail 6 Wheatear 12 Goldcrest (2 hiding in the bushes in the sand dunes) Chiffchaff 2 Lesser Whitethroat 3 Linnet 50+ Goldfinch 100+ Chaffinch 200+ Stonechat 4
Looking forward to the winter up there, but reackon it will only get colder. As with many new places there are many other sites in the region I'm not familiar with and hope to explore between now and the end of March.
Almost forgot, I had a female/juv Merlin chasing Meadow Pipits on route, then a Red Kite on the way back. Wasn't expecting to see a Red Kite, as wasn't sure where the release area was, but obviously they are moving about a bit.
TO be continued........
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Saturday 25th of September 2010 11:28:29 AM
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Saturday 25th of September 2010 11:34:52 AM
Ian Woosey said
Mon Aug 2 1:03 PM, 2010
1/8/10
Kentmere
A six mile circular walk from the hamlet of Kentmere (NE of Windermere), following the River Kent nearly up to its source, past Kentmere Reservoir:
A five mile circular walk from the village of Bolton (near Appleby-in-Westmorland), predominantly through farmland, along the course of the Eden:
2 Hobby - 1ml SE of Kirkby Thore 1 Green Sandpiper (on small flood near Bolton bridge) 5 Redstart (inc 4 juvs near Ousenstand Bridge) 5 Common Sandpiper 2 Buzzard 5 Oystercatcher 8+ Tree Sparrow 6 Yellowhammer 1 Kingfisher 1 Grey Wagtail 20 Greylag Goose 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Coal Tit 1 Stock Dove 12 Pied Wagtail
Ian Woosey said
Sun Jul 11 9:05 PM, 2010
11/7/10
Elterwater & Little Langdale
A six mile circular walk starting from the village of Elterwater (near Ambleside), in the shadows of Loughrigg and Lingmoor Fells and along the Cumbria Way:
Up in Cumbria for a couple of days this week - highlights:
Thousands of Guillemots at St Bees with the odd Razorbill, peregrine and raven and fly past by Gannets but no sign of the Shearwaters I was kind of hoping for with the good north westerly!
A party of eight ravens being mobbed by carrion crows over the shore at Ravenglass, plenty of Sprawk sightings - often being mobbed by swallows and best of all I walked through Muncaster Castle grounds one evening on the public footpath which gave me fantastic views of Siskin - at least six at a time on the niger seed feeders by the owl sanctuary [handily on the route of the public path] and some excellent views in the surrounding gardens and woodland. I haven't seen many Siskin so to see them at such close range and in the evening sun was fantastic!
Jonathan Platt said
Sun Jul 4 10:18 PM, 2010
Visited Sizergh Castle car park yesterday morning at 6.00am. A hawfinch flew in to a hornbeam shortly after I arrived, then four flew over heading west. I walked around to the pool at the back of the castle and four more hawfinches flew out of a large cherry tree there. Presumably the cherries are attracting them. There's at least one family of spotted flycatchers kicking about around the car park and pool too.
I then nipped a couple of miles down the A590 and spent an hour at Foulshaw Moss. A green sandpiper flushed from the pool in front of the viewing platform, several hundred sand martins were hawking above the moss where five red deer hinds grazed. I heard at least one tree pipit but they certainly aren't singing with the same gusto as they did a few weeks ago.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jun 3 8:38 PM, 2010
Originally posted by Ian Campbell today:
First visit to this excellent site yesterday. Redstart and Tree Pipit, at least 7 of each species giving fantastic views. Also Green Woodpecker, Spotted Flycatcher, Raven, Cuckoo heard plus all the usual woodland species. Take road out of Barbon to Dent for about 2 miles then park, cross bridge over river and walk towards wood in Barbon direction. most birds seen before you reach the dense wood. Cheers Ian
Jimmy Meadows said
Wed May 12 9:38 PM, 2010
Midweek visit with Wigan RSPB Group Redstart at least 5m singing seen 3m 2f 2 Pied Flycatchers singing 1 seen by some of the group but not by me 4 Tree Pipits 2pr Grey Wagtail both feeding young Pr Dipper feeding young Willow Warbler feeding young Coal Tit feeding young pr Whinchat 2 Buzzards 2 Kestrels pr Pied Wagtails 2 Ravens 5+Wheatear 2 Goldcrest 2 Red Leg Partridge 1 Reed Bunting 4 + Siskins 4 + Lesser Redpolls Pr Green Woodpeckers Pr Mistle Thrush feeding young Also Mallard,Great Tit,Blue Tit,Chaffinch,Blackbird,
Cheers Jimmy
Ian Woosey said
Sun May 9 3:52 PM, 2010
9/5/10
Barbondale
A walk from Barbon village, along the course of Barbon Beck and out onto the fells:
A six mile circular walk from Whitbeck, along the coast northwards to Annaside, back inland past Barfield Tarn, then back to Whitbeck along the base of Black Combe hill:
9 Gannets close inshore past Gutterby Spa 6 Wheatear 5 Stonechat 2 Dippers on the River Annas 30+ Oystercatcher 12 Shelduck 7 Buzzard 11 Yellowhammer 25+ Linnet 3 Kestrel Sand Martins, Whitethroats, Reed Buntings, Rooks, Swallows, Willow Warblers, Skylarks & Lapwings all provided constant background noise to a pleasant walk......We did not encounter a single soul all day, apart from one farmer on his quad
Nev Wright said
Sun Apr 11 9:00 PM, 2010
10/04/2010 1300-1400 Middle Gelt Woods, near Brampton, North Cumbria I was amazed to see a stunning male Pied Flycatcher singing and showing very well in the leaf-less trees only 50yds from car park ....seems rather early to me...I was looking for the Dippers along the river after a visit to Geltsdale RSPB and Tindale Tarn earlier in the morning!
Ian Woosey said
Sun Apr 11 8:12 PM, 2010
11/4/10
Perhaps not the best time of year to visit a saltmarsh (plus the tide was out ), but a beltin circular walk none the less, starting from Flookburgh village, through country lanes and rolling farmland, and then out onto the estuary. Breathtaking clear views of the Southern Lakes, and the whole of Morecambe Bay, from Heysham across to Piel Island:
Flookburgh Marshes:
2 Wheatear (m&f) 1 Little Egret 4 Buzzard 45+ Redshank 50+ Shelduck 4 Oystercatcher 7 Linnet 1 Kestrel Plentiful numbers of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Lapwings, Pied Wagtails. A few Swallows over, and a handful of Great Black-backed Gulls loafing on the sands. A count of 20+ House Sparrows at Sand Gate Farm..........(I normally don`t see that many locally these days )
Ian Woosey said
Wed Mar 10 7:06 PM, 2010
10/3/10
Sizergh Castle (and Holeslack Farm, Brigsteer):
5 Hawfinch, giving excellent views as they fed on the ground in the car-park @ 09:00
Had a work trip to Cumbria today - saw three Ravens over Corney Fell [seems to have been a family [?] group on Corney for the last few months], a large female sparrowhawk just off the fell, lots of geese on the move near the coast and then used my lunch hour to go and see the Long Tailed Duck at Talkin Tarn - a shameless twitch but so much better than seeing them in captivity at Martin Mere!
Talkin also had a large flock of Goosanders - 20+, Tufties, Coot, Widgeon and the normal mix of Mallards and gulls but was a really interesting lake and for its size held a lot of wildfowl. Also saw a Tuftie with a large amount of white round the bill which could just have been a female Scaup but I'll not claim it as I've been caught out by Tufties with more white than you'd expect before!
About ten minutes off the M6 and 5 mins from the A69 if anyone's ever passing through !
brandon mulhern said
Mon Jun 8 6:40 PM, 2009
Just got back from center parcs in Whinfell, birding highlights for us were several crossbill and a single goldcrest which landed right beside me, lots of pheasant, chaffinch, bull finch, greenfinch, goldfinch, siskin, chiff chaff, garden warbler, grasshopper warbler, coal tits, blue tits, great tits, gs woodpecker, blackbird, jackdaw, carrion, rook (just 2 of them), jay, song and mistle thrush, wren, mallard, mute swan, tufted, lapwing, coot, moorhen, robin with juvenile, we had a family of pied wagtail visit us morning noon and night to be fed and a few buzzard flying overhead. In surrounding fields oystercatcher, red leg partridge, swift, sand martin, swallow and a few others we could not correctly identify 1 almost(!) definate corn bunting and either tree or meadow pipit kept popping in to see us but we never saw its feet long enough for us to be sure. Did the bird of prey experience with eagle owl, harris hawk, peregrine and buzzard all on the arm! oops forgot to mention heard a tawny owl over the 3 days and never saw it once! Plenty of red squirrel.
-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Monday 8th of June 2009 07:14:24 PM
Gary Gorner said
Mon Jun 1 8:43 AM, 2009
hi pete you can get sandwich terns on the shoreline somtimes at formby which is also a good day out.google formby nature reserve.
Pete Welch said
Sun May 31 9:02 PM, 2009
Non birding family day out today - wander round Sizergh Castle - really well laid out gardens, sadly no sign of Hawfinch, but at least three Spotted Flycatcher [lifer], Blackcaps, Swift, Swallow and House Martin and loads of other bits and pieces.
The on to Hodbarrow where I got excellent flight shots of Sandwich Terns [lifer] good views of Eider, Common Tern, Oystercatcher but only distant views of probable Little Tern - seemed to be based on the "wrong" side of a spit.
Thoroughly recommend Sizergh as a stop off as its only 5 or 6 mins from the M6 and I'll be back for the Hawfinch when its quieter. Hodbarrow is a bit of a trek [an hour from Sizergh] but worth it just for the Sandwich Terns. Best strategy for flight shots was sit on the concrete blocks of the surrounding lagoon wall between the colony and the channel out to sea. Seemed to be 50/50 sand eels and small fish coming in today.
-- Edited by Pete Welch on Sunday 31st of May 2009 09:02:56 PM
Andy Goldsmith said
Mon May 5 10:14 PM, 2008
First Post, but couldn't resist making this one.
Just got back from a long day at Hodbarrow and St Bees Head.
Hodbarrow; 100+ of Common Eider as well as 3 Terns. (Sandwich, Common and Little). 30+ Turnstone in full Summer plumage. Winchat, Stonechat, Whitethoat.
St Bees; 5 Miles over the head to see one Guillimot & 15 Kittiwake.
But the best was on the way home stuck in traffic. A Big Red Kite over head. Fantastic.........
In comparison however we had many more black grouse, two pairs of ring ousel, wheatear, red grouse, common snipe, etc. within half a mile of the reserve.
Osprey seen hunting daily at Esthwaite with 2, probably 3 individuals seen at once
A flock of c.250 swallows whirling around me on the lake itself one evening, some passing no more than 10 feet away.
2 bullfinch and a treecreeper also by the the lake
A flock of c.300 siskin at Tarn Hows
Half way up the North/East side of Buttermere:
female redstart
2 treecreeper - included what looked like a juvenile
4 buzzards together
2 family parties of nuthatch
family party of spotted flycatchers
7 goosander
2 pied wagtails including a youngster
Muncaster Castle:
Spotted flycatcher
4 raven
Stockley farm (near Seathwaite)
a family of at least 7 willow warblers - including the brightest individual I have ever seen.
female restart
siskin
grey wagtail
2 pied wagtails including a youngster
Ravens and wheatear higher up the slopes
High Lights:
Grizedale Forest-10 Crossbills, Pied Flycatcher and young, Nuthatch, Green and GS Woddpeckers.
Lake Windermere- 2 Oystercatchers, 9 Red Breasted Mergansers(7 young)
Above Troutbeck village- 2 Spotted Flycatchhers, 2 Redstarts, nesting Buzzards
2 Cuckoos (both males)
8 Redstarts (6 males, female and juvenile)
2 Pied Flycatchers (male and female)
3 Whinchats (2 males and female)
4 Ravens over
2 Crows (presumably juveniles) entertained by trying to catch Meadow Pipits in flight!
4 Buzzards
3, poss 4 Kestrels
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Tree Pipit
10 Wheatears
2 Blackbirds (both males)
Mistle Thrush
2 Reed Buntings
2 Garden Warblers (males)
Grey Wagtail
6 Pied Wagtails (pair plus 4 juveniles)
16+ Willow Warblers (inc adult feeding 2 juveniles)
4 Swifts
8 Swallows
11 House Martins
Cheers Ian
Geltsdale RSPB, Tindale Tarn
2 male and one female Smew
19 Red Grouse (no Black seen, although apparently around)
11 Brambling
Black Swan
Mute Swan 4
Mallard 100+
Teal 2
Wigeon 40
Goosander 12
Buzzard 3
Kestrel 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Merlin 1 (lovely female chasing meadow pipits and displacing Woodcock low over a field, then perched on a pine for about 10 minutes)
Curlew 50+
Oystercatcher 2
Snipe 1
Woodcock 3
Redshank 3
Raven 1
Meadow Pipit 8+
Fieldfare 30+
Redwing 20+
Linnet 450+
Waxwing 1 ( a lone bird seen on a berry bush on the roadside on way up!?)
Reed Bunting 20+
Tree Sparrow 30+
Also had over 1500+ Pink-footed Geese in multiple skeems flying north in line with the M6 around the Carnforth Junction.
Also drove back via Cartmel and bought a couple of the famous Sticky Toffee puddings for over Christmas time, you can't beat it
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Thursday 16th of December 2010 03:43:46 PM
Little Grebe
Mute Swan 9
Mallard 100+
Teal 4
Wigeon 120+
Goosander 14
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Buzzard 4
Kestrel 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine 1
Curlew 120+
Oystercatcher 350+
Snipe 6
Woodcock 4
Redshank 20+
Grey Plover 6
Dunlin 7
Turnstone 40+
Purple Sandpiper 1
Dipper 1
Meadow Pipit 15+
Skylark 2,500 to 3,000+ (mainly flying low over the beach area from north to south, but flocks 50-100 strong stopping to feed on the beach at times, no sign of Laplands or Shorelarks with them though)
Fieldfare 100+ (all moving north to south overhead)
Linnet 14
Stonechat 3
Bullfinch 2
Very cold, but lovely days birding with raptors galore and the Purple Sandpiper on the beach (not more than 10m away from me) was a real delight .
Mute Swan 6
Pink-footed Goose (70 and 110 S to N)
Mallard 60+
Teal 2
Buzzard 5
Kestrel 2
Sparrowhawk 3 (one lovely blue male with red streaked chest on a post before it bombed the local gorse bushes )
Peregrine 1
Curlew 30+
Snipe 6
Redshank 3
Lapwing 400
Meadow Pipit 3
Skylark 50+
Linnet 10
Twite (2 flocks of 60 and 70)
Tree Sparrow (3 flocks of 30, 35+ and 20+)
Stonechat 5
Yellowhammer 10+
Reed Bunting 15+
Chaffinch 200+
Fieldfare 100+
Redwing 20+
Snow Bunting (1 heard calling overhead N to S)
Time playing back bird calls in the evenings has already paid off with Snow Bunting overhead!?
Red-throated Diver 2 (north to south offshore)
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 45+
Wigeon 5
Goosander 7
Red-breasted Merganser 3
Great Crested Grebe 1
Buzzard 2
Kestrel 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Curlew 70+
Oystercatcher 500+
Snipe 1
Sanderling 55+
Redshank 30+
Grey Plover 4
Guillemot 6
Razorbill 1
Barn Owl 1 (dead off the track I was on, looked like a peregrine kill)
Dipper 1
Meadow Pipit 30+
Skylark 10+
Linnet 20+
Twite 6 (overhead north to south)
Stonechat 5
Still lots of birds flying over north to south, including Reed Bunting, Skylarks, Twite and some unidentified bird calls. Back to the computer and CDs for me this winter during the dark nights, as I need to get more sharp on calls, as must have missed a few birds this year!?
16 of us managed to get to the summit of Helvellyn on Sat 23rd Oct. In the hail and the mist 4 Snow Buntings brightened the day up.
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Thursday 14th of October 2010 11:34:50 AM
Steve
Hi Sean,
Read the above detailed description with interest. Jogged my memory of a Dipper singing at Piethorne on 21/09/06 - after a quick search of my computer "field" notes the description of my record from that day read "The song was muted but lengthy (at least 3 minutes). It reminded me in structure of say a Sedge or a Reed Warbler with several slightly different phrases to the song, which didn't particularly go well together and gave the song a stop/start, slow/quick paced feel, akin to that of the two mentioned warblers".
Just a suggestion, as Dipper is also a species known for singing "out of season" and you recorded 2 of them on your recent survey as well.
Cheers,
Bill.
Teal 2
Mallard 50+
Goosander 2
Great Crested Grebe 1
Buzzard 3+
Kestrel 1
Merlin 1 (female, my first of the autumn/winter)
Sparrowhawk 1
Peregrine 1
Curlew 80+
Oystercatcher 600+
Snipe 1
Sanderling 2
Dunlin 8
Redshank 25+
Grey Plover 2
Guillemot 2
G S Woodpecker 1
Dipper 2
Kingfisher 1
Meadow Pipit 200+
Rock Pipit 1
Skylark 30+
Pied Wagtail 3
Linnet 12
Stonechat 3
Did hear a very strange bird call from the other side of the river, sounded like a sedge warblers vigorous and varied melody, with up and down notes, but with the notes of a Song Thrush/Skylark/Linnet at times, but despite trying to sight it from the other side of the river it didn't show and after over 30 mins sat waiting for it to show or call again it did not come out and play, so I will have to put it down to one that got away!? As I was working I couldn't sit it out for the day unfortunately and although I went past the same point several more times over the day I did not hear it again....
I had the following within and over the field systems:
Teal 14
Mallard 40+
Buzzard 15+
Kestrel 3
Sparrowhawk 2
Curlew 20+
Snipe 12
Herring Gull 200+ (moving south)
G S Woodpecker 1
Swallow 200+
House Martin 8
Meadow Pipit 400+
Skylark 40+
Alba Wagtail 40+
Grey Wagtail 2
Goldcrest 4
Willow Warbler 1
Linnet 100+
Twite 20+ (1 flock feeding in borders of wheat field)
Goldfinch 200+
Chaffinch 50+
Stonechat 5
Tree Sparrow 8
Reed Bunting 14+ (checked every single one in the hope of a Lapland, but no such luck )
So many Jays knocking about all over the place, with 3s and 4s flying overhead on way up and back, muct have seen over 50 birds on travels between Manchester and Sellafield return!! It's that time of year I suppose, with them trying to beat those pesky squirrels for all the nuts!?
Yesterday was pretty windy all day, with my tripod almost being swept over several times while I was pouring a brew from my flask. Unfortunately it was in the wrong direction to bring birds in to the coast, as it was a north easterly, but still plenty of Guillemots, Razorbills, lots of Gannets very far out and the odd Kittiwakes flying about. Also had two flocks of Pink-footed Geese fly over moving south (28 and 18).
As for the beach, I had the following on the beach and river nearby:
Goosander 10
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Lapwing 54
Ringed Plover 2
Curlew 200+
Oystercatcher 1500+
Kingfisher 1
Dipper 1
The bizarre thing was that Goosander were feeding in the rock pools on the beach and Red-breasted Merganser were on the river, with some moving between the two. As I left they were all on the river and in a mixed flock, not something I've seen much and made me realise if I ever miss the odd Merg locally in between the larger roost of Goosanders?
There was also a lot of movement along the coast overhead and in the bushes too with the following being seen and heard:
Swallow 20+
House Martin 2
Meadow Pipit 200+
Rock Pipit 2
Skylark 30+
Alba Wagtail 8
Grey Wagtail 6
Wheatear 12
Goldcrest (2 hiding in the bushes in the sand dunes)
Chiffchaff 2
Lesser Whitethroat 3
Linnet 50+
Goldfinch 100+
Chaffinch 200+
Stonechat 4
Looking forward to the winter up there, but reackon it will only get colder. As with many new places there are many other sites in the region I'm not familiar with and hope to explore between now and the end of March.
Almost forgot, I had a female/juv Merlin chasing Meadow Pipits on route, then a Red Kite on the way back. Wasn't expecting to see a Red Kite, as wasn't sure where the release area was, but obviously they are moving about a bit.
TO be continued........
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Saturday 25th of September 2010 11:28:29 AM
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Saturday 25th of September 2010 11:34:52 AM
Kentmere
A six mile circular walk from the hamlet of Kentmere (NE of Windermere), following the River Kent nearly up to its source, past Kentmere Reservoir:
5 Peregrine (inc juvs)
6 Raven
5+ Buzzard
2 Spotted Flycatcher
3 Redstart (inc juvs)
11 Wheatear (inc juvs)
2 Green Woodpecker
2 Grey Wagtail
3 Kestrel (inc juv)
Only one mon and his two sheepdogs encountered all day on this impressive walk..
Port Carlisle:
1 Semipalmated Sandpiper (present for its 3rd day)
1 Spotted Redshank
1 Little Egret
5 Knot
6 Golden Plover
5 Black-tailed Godwit
3 Common Sandpiper
4 Whimbrel
c15 Ringed Plover
2 Sanderling
100+ Dunlin
70+ Redshank
3 Gannet
25+ Manx Shearwater
1 Red-breasted Merganser
8 Goosander
c5 Sandwich Tern
(I Greenshank @ Campfield Marsh RSPB)
Kirkby Thore & the River Eden
A five mile circular walk from the village of Bolton (near Appleby-in-Westmorland), predominantly through farmland, along the course of the Eden:
2 Hobby - 1ml SE of Kirkby Thore
1 Green Sandpiper (on small flood near Bolton bridge)
5 Redstart (inc 4 juvs near Ousenstand Bridge)
5 Common Sandpiper
2 Buzzard
5 Oystercatcher
8+ Tree Sparrow
6 Yellowhammer
1 Kingfisher
1 Grey Wagtail
20 Greylag Goose
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Coal Tit
1 Stock Dove
12 Pied Wagtail
Elterwater & Little Langdale
A six mile circular walk starting from the village of Elterwater (near Ambleside), in the shadows of Loughrigg and Lingmoor Fells and along the Cumbria Way:
1 Peregrine
9 Buzzard
2 Raven
1 Redstart (Yew Crags)
3 Spotted Flycatcher (Sawreys Wood)
1 Dipper (Great Langdale Beck)
3 Grey Wagtail
1 Goosander with 8 ducklings (River Brathey)
2 Treecreeper
1 Siskin
1 Great Crested Grebe (Little Langdale Tarn)
1 Blackcap
1 Common Gull
Thousands of Guillemots at St Bees with the odd Razorbill, peregrine and raven and fly past by Gannets but no sign of the Shearwaters I was kind of hoping for with the good north westerly!
A party of eight ravens being mobbed by carrion crows over the shore at Ravenglass, plenty of Sprawk sightings - often being mobbed by swallows and best of all I walked through Muncaster Castle grounds one evening on the public footpath which gave me fantastic views of Siskin - at least six at a time on the niger seed feeders by the owl sanctuary [handily on the route of the public path] and some excellent views in the surrounding gardens and woodland. I haven't seen many Siskin so to see them at such close range and in the evening sun was fantastic!
I then nipped a couple of miles down the A590 and spent an hour at Foulshaw Moss. A green sandpiper flushed from the pool in front of the viewing platform, several hundred sand martins were hawking above the moss where five red deer hinds grazed. I heard at least one tree pipit but they certainly aren't singing with the same gusto as they did a few weeks ago.
First visit to this excellent site yesterday. Redstart and Tree Pipit, at least 7 of each species giving fantastic views. Also Green Woodpecker, Spotted Flycatcher, Raven, Cuckoo heard plus all the usual woodland species.
Take road out of Barbon to Dent for about 2 miles then park, cross bridge over river and walk towards wood in Barbon direction. most birds seen before you reach the dense wood.
Cheers Ian
Redstart at least 5m singing seen 3m 2f
2 Pied Flycatchers singing 1 seen by some of the group but not by me
4 Tree Pipits
2pr Grey Wagtail both feeding young
Pr Dipper feeding young
Willow Warbler feeding young
Coal Tit feeding young
pr Whinchat
2 Buzzards
2 Kestrels
pr Pied Wagtails
2 Ravens
5+Wheatear
2 Goldcrest
2 Red Leg Partridge
1 Reed Bunting
4 + Siskins
4 + Lesser Redpolls
Pr Green Woodpeckers
Pr Mistle Thrush feeding young
Also Mallard,Great Tit,Blue Tit,Chaffinch,Blackbird,
Cheers Jimmy
Barbondale
A walk from Barbon village, along the course of Barbon Beck and out onto the fells:
1 Pied Flycatcher (m)
1 Whinchat (m)
1 Redstart (m)
3 Tree Pipit
1 Wheatear
1 Dipper
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Siskin
5 Lesser Redpoll
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Kestrel
c12 Willow Warbler
2 Spotted Flycatcher (heard only)
Annaside Banks
A six mile circular walk from Whitbeck, along the coast northwards to Annaside, back inland past Barfield Tarn, then back to Whitbeck along the base of Black Combe hill:
9 Gannets close inshore past Gutterby Spa
6 Wheatear
5 Stonechat
2 Dippers on the River Annas
30+ Oystercatcher
12 Shelduck
7 Buzzard
11 Yellowhammer
25+ Linnet
3 Kestrel
Sand Martins, Whitethroats, Reed Buntings, Rooks, Swallows, Willow Warblers, Skylarks & Lapwings all provided constant background noise to a pleasant walk......We did not encounter a single soul all day, apart from one farmer on his quad
Middle Gelt Woods, near Brampton, North Cumbria
I was amazed to see a stunning male Pied Flycatcher singing and showing very well in the leaf-less trees only 50yds from car park ....seems rather early to me...I was looking for the Dippers along the river after a visit to Geltsdale RSPB and Tindale Tarn earlier in the morning!
Perhaps not the best time of year to visit a saltmarsh (plus the tide was out ), but a beltin circular walk none the less, starting from Flookburgh village, through country lanes and rolling farmland, and then out onto the estuary. Breathtaking clear views of the Southern Lakes, and the whole of Morecambe Bay, from Heysham across to Piel Island:
Flookburgh Marshes:
2 Wheatear (m&f)
1 Little Egret
4 Buzzard
45+ Redshank
50+ Shelduck
4 Oystercatcher
7 Linnet
1 Kestrel
Plentiful numbers of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Lapwings, Pied Wagtails. A few Swallows over, and a handful of Great Black-backed Gulls loafing on the sands.
A count of 20+ House Sparrows at Sand Gate Farm..........(I normally don`t see that many locally these days )
Sizergh Castle (and Holeslack Farm, Brigsteer):
5 Hawfinch, giving excellent views as they fed on the ground in the car-park @ 09:00
3 Marsh Tit
1 Raven
1 Buzzard
3 Goldcrest
2 Kestrel
Levens Park (a walk up the River Kent):
2 Dipper
2 Kingfisher
5 Shelduck
3 Redshank
2 Raven
1 Buzzard
4 Grey Wagtail
28 Curlew.
Talkin also had a large flock of Goosanders - 20+, Tufties, Coot, Widgeon and the normal mix of Mallards and gulls but was a really interesting lake and for its size held a lot of wildfowl. Also saw a Tuftie with a large amount of white round the bill which could just have been a female Scaup but I'll not claim it as I've been caught out by Tufties with more white than you'd expect before!
About ten minutes off the M6 and 5 mins from the A69 if anyone's ever passing through !
In surrounding fields oystercatcher, red leg partridge, swift, sand martin, swallow and a few others we could not correctly identify 1 almost(!) definate corn bunting and either tree or meadow pipit kept popping in to see us but we never saw its feet long enough for us to be sure.
Did the bird of prey experience with eagle owl, harris hawk, peregrine and buzzard all on the arm!
oops forgot to mention heard a tawny owl over the 3 days and never saw it once! Plenty of red squirrel.
-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Monday 8th of June 2009 07:14:24 PM
The on to Hodbarrow where I got excellent flight shots of Sandwich Terns [lifer] good views of Eider, Common Tern, Oystercatcher but only distant views of probable Little Tern - seemed to be based on the "wrong" side of a spit.
Thoroughly recommend Sizergh as a stop off as its only 5 or 6 mins from the M6 and I'll be back for the Hawfinch when its quieter. Hodbarrow is a bit of a trek [an hour from Sizergh] but worth it just for the Sandwich Terns. Best strategy for flight shots was sit on the concrete blocks of the surrounding lagoon wall between the colony and the channel out to sea. Seemed to be 50/50 sand eels and small fish coming in today.
-- Edited by Pete Welch on Sunday 31st of May 2009 09:02:56 PM