Early April - Proper Spring

The trickle of migrants in late March turned into a proper Spring in early April. Willow Warbler arrived fairly early on the 5/4/09 with one singing in Bowness Nature Reserve and then were well established within a few days, Swallows started to appear in greater numbers and from the 7/4/09 small groups were reported from various locations in North Cumbria. The first Common Sandpipers were reported back on the upper Eden on the 9/4/09 and were back on the Eden at Carr Beds on the 10/4/09, then at longtown on the Esk two days later when an early Yellow Wagtail was also reported.

The first Redstarts were reported back at Talkin Tarn on the 12/4/09 with 2 singing in Sluice Wood and on the 14/4/09 a male Pied flycatcher was back at Jockey shield with Tree Pipits reported first on the 10/4/09.

At Campfield Marsh a drake Garganey appeared on the 9/4/09, another relatively early date, it was then joined that evening by a second drake and a female. These ducks were still present on the 13/4/09 but on the 14/4 only 1 drake was evident. A walk up to the hide at Campfield on the 10/4 also produced 28 Twite, 2 White Wagtails and 34 Black Tailed Godwits as well as the 3 Garganey. A lovely fox appeared at one point from the wood behind the pools and attempted to stalk the Garganey but they were quickly onto it and kept it in sight at all times. A Whimbrel also flew over the hide on the 12/4/09.

Wintering birds were still present in early April but started to fade away towards the middle of the month with the last reported date for the iceland Gull being the 7/4/09 at Old Sandsfield. there were still 60 Whooper Swans present at Beaumont on the 1/4/09 but by the 8/4 the herd was down to 15 and by the 14/4 only the regular injured bird was present. likewise Goldeneye on the Eden at Rockliffe had dwindled to only a few first winter birds by the 14/4/09. The Smew at Tindale Tarn was last reported on the 4/4/09 when it was displaying and seemed active.

The Ospreys appeared back on the nest area at Bass Lake in late March and during the first couple of weeks of April several migrants were seen travelling north with singles at Dalston on the 7/4/09, at Upper Gelt on the 4/4/09 and 13/4/09.

A good bird for North cumbria Great grey Shrike was first reported on the 1/4/09 at Alston Moor then independently found by Darren Robson on the 5/4/09 at the Alston Moor Golf club car park where it lingered until at least the 14/4/09.

The period ended nicely for me with a lovely Black Throated Diver from Bowness Viaduct on the 14/4/09 which floated in then treated me to a nice fly past as it flew out to sea again.

No bird photos this fortnight so hopefully a lovely female Tawny Mining Bee and a scarce flower Yellow Star of Bethlehem will make a nice change.

Springs arrived Late March in N Cumbria

Spring arrived properly this fortnight with some lovely weather and the first Sand Martins at Longtown Ponds on the 15/3/09. Chiffchaffs arrived on the 17/3/09 with one at Wetheral and then several reports on the 18/3/09, including one on Etterby scaur. The first Wheatears were in at Campfield wader scrape with 2 males present on the 19/3/09 and the same day the first Ring Ousel was reported at Geltsdale. Swallows were slower to arrive with just the first few passing through, the earliest reported was one on the Caldew at Cummersdale on the 18/03/09.
The first migrant Blackcap was a singing bird at Watchtree Nature Reserve on the 31/3/09.

A fair number of wintering birds remained with the drake Smew still present on Tindale Tarn until at least the 29/3/09 while 2 lovely male Brambling were still at Forest Head on the same day. The Iceland Gull was still present on Backenridge in Carlisle though it seems to now be commuting to Old Sandsfield where I found it on the 15/3/09 and it was seen again on the 26/3/09. A Jack Snipe was the only unusual bird at Carr beds seen on the 21/3/09 while the 2 Long Tailed Duck still remained with c20 Scaup at Grune point until the 31/3 at least.

A small flock of 16 Waxwings reappeared in Carlisle off Dalston Road on the 25/3/09, possibly the Wetheral birds from earlier in the month but equally likely winter visitors returning northwards.




A Green Sandpiper was found at Longtown on the 25/3/09 which could have been an early passage bird but was most likely wintering and the Greenshank was still wintering at port Carlisle on the 29/3/09.

A Green Winged Teal reported on the 25/3/09 at Campfield RSPB was potentially the rarest bird of the fortnight and it was still present in the following few days, with the odd Black Tailed Godwit also seen. A Little Egret was present on Burgh Marsh on the 26 and 27/3/09.

The first Osprey was reported back on the 25/3/09 at Bass Lake where a second bird quickly joined it.

The first few butterflies began to appear, all having hibernated. Painted Lady was reported at Dalston by the river Caldew and Peacock and Tortoishell were reported from several locations.