LATE JANUARY

North Cumbria produced some good birds in the second half of January mainly along the coast.

Craig Shaw found a lovely first winter Iceland Gull in the harbour at Maryport on the 17/1/09 which remained until at least the 27/1/09 affording some excellent photo opportunities particularly on the river Ellen near the Wave Centre. A brief seawatch off Maryport on the 18/1/09 also saw 26 Red Throated Divers, a Little Gull and an Artic Skua.


The coast also produced an unseasonal Pomarine Skua chasing Kittiwakes on the 17/1/09 off Bowness-on-Solway. A Great Skua was also seen off Maryport on the 26/1/09 by John Miles.
A walk along Grune Point on the 23/1/09 was well rewarded with 2 unseasonal Little Stints and Short Eared Owl, Merlin, a lovely male Hen Harrier and the wintering Long Tailed Duck with 22 Scaup. Large numbers of both Barnacle Geese and Pinkfeet were also present roosting on the Marsh, as were 110 Whooper Swans which were presumably part of the huge herd of Whooper Swans gathered on Silloth Airfield reaching at least 310 on the 21/1/09.

An adult Med Gull also frequented Flimby Rugby pitch, still present on the 28/1/09 and up to 30 Purple Sandpipers roosted at high tides on Workington Pier. 2 more Med Gulls were found at Siddick Pond, Workington. A Little Egret was reported from Drumburgh Marsh on the 20/1/09.

Away from the coast the drake Smew continued to winter on Tindale Tarn and 8 Bramblings were seen at Forest Head in a poor year locally for the species.