Little new was found in North Cumbria this fortnight but several good birds remained from earlier, with Grune point being the best location. One big exception though was the White Tailed Sea eagle found on the sand off Bowness Viaduct on the morning of the 10/2/09, a juvenile bird with a radio transmitter it flew north around lunchtime but could still be seen over Annan and the following day was near Castle Douglas. Unfortunatley it was not available for the workers of the world.
At Grune the 3 Little Stints were still present, though often only 2 could be found, as were the 2 Long Tailed Ducks and both Short Eared Owl and Merlin. The Snow Bunting was refound on the 31/1/09 and stayed throughout providing some good photo opportunities it spent most of its time on the sea debris out past the old Pill box. A group of Scaup could regularly be found in the eastern channel as well with as many as 26 on the 15/2/09. A Greenshank was also present on the 6th and 13th of feb with good numbers of Black Tailed Gowits (30+) and Bar Tailed Godwits (c800) on the 13/2/09.
On the 13/2/09 Darren Robson found an Iceland Gull at Silloth which proved to be different to the Maryport bird which was still present though becoming more elusive on the 13th as well.
Good numbers of Whooper Swans were still around with 210 near Abbeytown on the 13th and up to 75 at Beaumont/Carr beds throughout. Also at Carr Beds lower water levels meant the Green Sandpiper was present on the 14/2/09.
Away from the coast 3 Waxwings were in a Wetheral Garden on the 3/2/09 and the drake Smew was still present on Talkin Tarn as Tindale Tarn froze over.
On a personal note we had an excellent trip to Norfolk with heavy snow mixed in with Blue skies. The birding high points were GG Shrike, Glaucous gull, a male Hen Harrier, a flock of over 150 Snow buntings, 6 Barn Owls in one scan and Short Eared Owl. We also managed to get stunning views of BearedTits and Black Brant, Water Pipits and Tundra Bean Goose, White Fronted Goose and 1000's of Pinkfeet and Brent Geese.
