Buzzard U turn!!!!!!!!

In this mornings post there was letter in reply to an E mail I had sent to Tim Farron, telling me he had written to the minister in charge of the Buzzard control policy. I then switched on the news, there was a report saying the government had made a U turn on the capture of Buzzards near pheasant rearing pens. They reported that 'in light of public concerns expressed' they are going to rethink the policy.

Well that was quick work!!!!!!!!!!!!

Karen

Helsington Weir

Cross posted from my Wild Cumbrian Blog

Made a couple of visits with camera to Helsington Weir over the last couple of days, pretty much a selection of Hirundines, Swifts, Pied Wagtail and the occasional Grey Wagtail with one Dipper through.

Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions and more photos.

Osprey!

An Osprey flew towards Benson knott over my garden in Kendal at 19.45. Lishers

Nightjar!

At least 1 Nightjar 'Churring' at a site in SE of County last night(started Churring from 21.55). If you know this site and are thinking of going I would strongly advise taking a net to cover your head, as the mozzy's are unbearable. Also a few Woodcock giving good views as they were 'roding' over the site. Lishers.

Scout Scar Cuckoo and Stonechats

Took a stroll up Scout Scar to see how the Stonechats were doing.
There are two separate families one near the entrance to Helsington Barrow and the other north of the main path near the top.
Both consisted of a male and female and at least two juveniles each.
Seem to be having a good year.I have seen 19 separate individuals this year at Scout Scar,Foulshaw Moss .Bannisdale[two families ] and Kitmere.
The Scout Scar Cuckoo was calling persistently near the entrance to Helsington Barrow.
Also seen or heard -several Meadow Pippet,2 Linnet,3 Mistle Thrush,1 Kestrel,1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Wheatear on the racecourse.

Buzzards!!!!!!!!!!!! The removal of ????

I have just been reading the RSPB blog on the subject they need people to write to MPs.
Just follow the link.
http://www.rsphttp://www.rspb.org.uk/news/314516-rspb-stunned-by-defra-plan-to-imprison-buzzards
There is tab at the bottom of the page takes you to the blog.
Thanks
Karen

Burnsbeck Moss and the Old Scotch Road.

A beautiful walk along quiet lanes. This area is wild and remote, it resembles moorland areas of Scotland.
On the moss there were :
Large numbers of willow warblers, a sedge warbler, blackbirds , reed bunting,
 Over head, carrion crows, buzzard, blackheaded gulls, raven and swallow.
Pied wagtail in quarry.
In the forest behind song thrush, blackbird, many chaffinch, robin, chiff chaff, blackcap, blue and great tits.
On the moor just beyond skylark, meadow pipits, curlew.

As I walked round the lanes towards the cross roads and then towards Rigmaden:
Pheasants shouting in the wooded area, wood pigeon fly from tree, 5 red polls and housemartins over head, then a great spotted wood pecker in the plantation.

However the high light of the walk were a pair of cuckoos. I had been hearing them all the walk but now on a fence at the edge of a wood I got my first sighting of one male shouting.
At that moment another bird flew across the moor  at first it looked like a bird of prey but it was another  cuckoo!
 All the calling had paid off. This second  bird landed on a post close by, the pair then gave a wonderful courtship display. Something I have never seen before, it was a great privileged
'A champagne moment'!

Lets hope this weather holds and we can all get out and about birding this week.

Just a reminder that if anyone would like to join our regular bloggers, you would be more than welcome. Just get in touch with Tom our myself and we can join you up!

Bannisdale

Glorious morning in Bannisdale.
3 Whinchat
2 Wheater
3 Stonechat
4 Common Snipe
2 Redstart
2 Redpoll
3 Tree Warbler
15 Meadow Pippet
2 Pied Wagtail
1 Common Whitethroat
2 Swallow
8 Reed Bunting
2 Curlew
2 Raven
2 Buzzard
2 G.S. Woodpecker
1 Green Woodpecker
 A lot of Willow Warblers and Chaffinches about.

The boggy tussock area was the most busy with one Common Snipe singing on a fence post,another drumming and two seen flying.
There were also a pair of Stonechat here as well as a pair of Reed Bunting and  two male Reed Bunting with one Whinchat and several Meadow Pippet.

The Idiot Brigade Strikes Again

Looks like the miguided but unfortunatly powerful minority have got DEFRA in their pocket again......

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/314516-rspb-stunned-by-defra-plan-to-imprison-buzzards

Whinfell forest

Just back from a family holiday at centre parcs Whinfell forest.
Not a birding holiday, but had a walk out for half an hour a couple of times as you do.
The place was wick with fat wood pigeons & blackbirds. Mallard & tufted duck on the lake. Swallow, House Martin & an odd Swift over.
Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & Garden Warbler in good voice. Redpoll buzzing around the tree tops. Plenty of Goldcrest, Coal Tit & Long-tailed Tit to be seen.
On the mammal front a vole sp. at the feeding station and eventually caught up with a red squirrel, after my little girl had seen one earlier from the lodge.

Pied Flycatchers Bannisdale

There were 2 male Pied Flycatcher giving great views in the wooded area west of the entrance gate.First time I've seen any here this year.
A Common Whitethroat was seen as we drove into the valley with 4 Goldfinch
A Redstart was singing in the first copse as well as a Reed Bunting.
The boggy tussock area was full of life.
One Common Snipe was on a post singing for ages,another was drumming and flying around whilst a further Snipe was heard in the middle.
There were also 3 Reed Bunting,one Whinchat,a family of 4 Stonechat,and 4 Meadow Pippet around this area.
Another family of Stonechat[3] were seen further back to the entrance so there were 7 Stonechat seen  altogether.
A pair of Whinchat were around the same area making a total of 3 Whinchat.
A total of 12 Meadow Pippet were seen as well as 1  G.S. Woodpecker, 2 Curlew ,several Willow Warbler,1 Raven and 2 Mallard.
Most of the birds were seen or heard from about 7.30 p.m onwards.

North Norfolk!!

I had an excellent weekends birdin' in North Norfolk last weekend, I was B&B'd in Wells which is good centralish place on that stretch of coast!. This was my 9th May visit in the last 12 years and a noticeable Change in bird species seem is becoming evident, most notably the decline in Nightingale and Turtle dove, with non of the former heard or seen and only one dove seen, both were numerous at a few typical sites on my first few visits. But on the plus side Little Egrets, spoonbills and Cetti's warblers were every where!. First port of call on arriving into Norfolk on Fri morning was Wolferton, one of the few remaining places where Golden pheasants still reside and are deemed tickable! As per my last 19 visits out of 20 none were putting in an appearance!. Onto a known Monti' site where a male put in an appearance over the rape seed fields but only briefly, 2 Red kites over the village were a bit more showy! Whilst we were there news of a Bee-eater at Cley came through, so we set off, the bird showed well on wires at nearby Salthouse, but was a bit bedraggled after a shower! Popped into Cley reserve were 4 Cetti's , 5 little gull and 2 Temmincks stints were on view!. Saturday dawned cold and cloudy, good for keeping birds down but meant layering up, an early morning visit back to Cley gleend 3 spoonbill, an obliging Wood sand and yesterdays stints were joined by a 3rd. After breakfast a good walk on Kelling Heath obliged with first a nice singing Woodlark and a purring Turtle dove, but after an hour or so it finally gave up its speciality with 2 Dartford warblers with a shy male and a bit more showy female. Always nice to see these secretive birds. News of a Red backed shrike at Stiffkey was our next stop were along with 40 other birders the bird showed well at times on top of the gorse! The message said 200m from the carpark, but was actually nearer a mile! Whilst there 2 birders spotted a bluethroat, but quickly dived into cover and not to be seen again. A later visit to Kelling Heath for Nightjar proved fruitless, but with the cold northerly wind I wasn't suprised. Sunday morning had us at Grambourgh hill, we're a male Siberian stonechat put on a good show, but another Bluethroat at Cley was again a no show! After bumping into 4 spoonbill on Burnham overy marsh, a potential lifer in the rather surprising form of a Red breasted fly at warham greens, the bird eventually showed intermittently to the gathered 50 or so! I was personally pleased to get this rather overdue tick finally in the book.! Another brief visit for the Bee-eater offered much better views as it fed next to the road side at Glanford. Monday had us heading back to Cumbria, via weeting Heath for a nice obliging Stone curlew, nearby at Lakenheath was a little mixed with the Golden orioles keeping stum, though there was a stiff breeze, the 2 Crane put in an appearance whilst tending to the chicks. 2 Hobby and 3 Bittern leaving together Ind spiralling high into the sky were a good supporting cast. All in all an good weekends birding!! Lishers

Grasshopper Warbler Foulshaw Moss

Grasshopper Warbler heard briefly to the right of the viewing platform.
Good time to hear or see Redpoll. At least 8 around the car park area.
also- 1 male Stonechat   near the car park.
3 Tree Pippet
3 Reed Bunting
1 Raven
1 Linnet
1 G.S. Woodpecker
2 Meadow Pippet
Several Willow Warbler
8 Greylag
1 Mistle Thrush
A visitor told me there had been a male Marsh Harrier on Saturday.

Winster Valley Spotted Flycatcher

There was a Spotted Flycatcher near Wood End Farm in the Winster Valley tonight.
Did a circular walk from Barkbooth Lot[CWT reserve] to Woodend Farm and back.
There were 5 Garden Warbler and 1 Blackcap on the way round.
Also lots of Willow Warbler,
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Reed Bunting
1 Chiffchaff,
7 Mistle Thrush
1 Grey Heron
1 Redpoll
4 Linnet
1 G.S. Woodpecker
2 Canada Geese

Scout Scar Cuckoo

First time I've heard a Cuckoo on Scout Scar this year.
There was a singing  male Redstart near the top gate of Helsington Barrow.
Also a pair of Stonechat near the exit .
Other birds -Linnet,Meadow Pippet,2 Blackcap,Chiffchaff,Bullfinch,Willow Warbler,Oystercatcher, Green Woodpecker.

Test your ID skills.

In the BTO News letter E mail there is a link to a web site where you can test your ID skills.

May feature: test your bird ID skills		Grasshopper Warbler
We're pleased to announce that we have teamed up with Nord-Trondelag University to help them develop their Bird ID website. The site is free and can be used for training quizzes by both sight and sound for birds of the UK, other European countries and the whole of the Western Palearctic. There is also a certificated test and all successful applicants receive a free limited edition t-shirt! How will you fare? Go on, you know you want to.

Its in Norwegian so you need to click the English tab.
I have had a go it is very addictive!

There has been increasing numbers swallows, house martins and a couple of swifts this week.
There has also been more whitethroats singing in the hedges. This morning the blue tit in the box has been going in and out with food in its mouth, so maybe the eggs have hatched.
Thank you for the postings this week.
The weather forecast looks warmer next week!
Regards
Karen

Bannisdale

Early morning visit.
Greeted by a singing Whinchat and singing Redstart near the beginning of the walk.
A further singing Whinchat just further on and another near the tussock area at the end.
A pair of Whinchats in between.[6 in total]
Another Redstart just to the north of the stone bridge.
There were some Redpoll heard near the copse on the left as the path begins.
Also - 4 Wheater
1 Reed bunting
15 Meadow Pippet
2 Curlew
1 Dipper near the path where it meets the stream.
1 G.S. Woodpecker
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Buzzard
1 Raven
1 Grey Heron
2 Mallard
1 Pied Wagtail
Several Willow Warbler,Swallow,Chaffinch and Great Tit.

The Old Scotch Road and Burnsbeck Moss

Parked at the junction of the Old Scotch Road and the road to Sedbergh.
Heard a Cuckoo at the Swarther Plantation.
There is a plantation of young conifers just south of here.
2 pairs of Redpoll seen and others heard here.
Curlew heard and one Jay seen.
Walked towards Kitmere and back towards the car.
A pair of Tufted Duck on Kitmere plus one male.Also 2 Mute Swan and a Cormorant.
1 Garden Warbler heard here as well.
Meadow Pippets and 1 Wheatear on the way to Burnsbeck Moss.
Another Cuckoo heard at Burnsbeck Moss in the woods immediatly behind the moss.
2 Sedge Warblers,several Meadow Pippet and Skylarks around with 2 Mallard.
A Common Snipe was making a half hearted attempt to sing.
A Bullfinch was seen gathering nesting material.
Lots of willow Warblers about.
As you drive through Old Hutton there were quite a few House Martins in evidence.

Bannisdale

1 Whinchat singing from a tree near the start.Another possibly second one singing from the gorse bushes.
2 separate pairs of Whinchats further on.
1 Redstart
6 Wheatear
6 Meadow pippet
1 Tree Pippet
1 Common Snipe singing in the tussock area.
1 Green Woodpecker
1 G.S. Woodpecker
1 Raven
2 Buzzard
1 Grey Heron
2 Mallard
Lots of Willow Warbler
One pair of Stonechat near the start and 1 male and 1 juvenile plus a further bird heard in the tussock area.

Scout Scar

Early morning walk.
1 Stonechat and 4 Wheatear near the top.
8 Linnet
2 Bullfinch
Lots of Willow Warbler
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Tree pippet
4 Meadow Pippet
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Wheatear on the racecourse.
Swallows passing through.