June

June is always a fairly quiet month but some good birds still appear. The month started with a Green winged Teal at Campfield RSPB from 2-6th June and a Quail calling nearby. Quail appeared at a few places with 3 near Dalston, 1 near Bromfield and another near Longtown in the first 2 weeks on June.

Red Kite over Anthorn was a good record on the 5/6/10 and a summer plumage Spotted Redshank was near Port Carlisle harbour on the 21/6. 3 Green Sandpiper were seen at Carr beds, Rockliffe on the 25/6 presumably returning birds but just possibly still going North.
Two Whooper Swans, both injured birds, were also at Rockliffe with one bird now having been present for 4 years and a Grasshopper Warbler reeled regularly late evening at Carr beds.

A walk at Miltonrigg on the 14/6 was well rewarded with 2 adult and 4 recently fledged young wood Warblers and a Crossbill over.

The last week or so of June proved to be excellent for Owls on the Geltsdale reserve with up to 3 Short Eared Owls, 2 Barn Owls and a lovely long Eared Owl showing well. Cuckoo and Tree Pipits are also both around in good numbers.


For me the bird of the month apart from the owls was this stunning Marmoras Warbler in Gwent, Wales

May

May is always a great month where ever you live. I'll start with a pic of last month Curlew Sandpiper which i forgot to include, a lovely summer plumage individual.


Two more late records for April were a drake Garganey at Campfield Marsh RSPB on the 30/4 and 2 Dotterel on Melmerby Fell on the same date. The Gargeney remained until the 1/5 and a female Marsh Harrier was reported from Bowness Common on the 6/5.

After that it went a bit quiet for a few days but 5 male Yellow wagtails at Longtown on the 5/5 was a pleasing count and a Greenshank was at Carr beds on the 7/5. The 9/5 proved good for me though finding a Wood sandpiper on the river shingle at Longtown, it seemed settled when I left late evening but there was no sign the following morning

On the 12/5 the wind returned to the western direction that brings Skuas up the Solway and 4 Pomarine Skuas and 2 Artic were seen from Bowness. On the 13/5 6 Poms went past with a single of Bonxie and Artic Skua then on the 15/5 that great prize a Long Tailed Skua was seen and also 3 Poms, 2 Artics and a Great skua. The following day proved to be the best of the season with 11 long tailed Skua, 11 Poms, 2 Artics and a Great skua. Interestingly though none of these were seen particularly well 10 of the long Taileds in a single group were seen to come in high then rise up and up until they eventually disappeared into dark cloud, not something I have ever seen before and contrary to the belief that cloud cover keeps the skuas low down. The last of the skuas of the season on the 17/5 were 2 Artics and a Great Skua and a distant but possible 4 Long Tailed skuas.

A trip up to jockey shield/upper Gelt was well rewarded on the 18/5 with short Eared Owl, Barn Owl, Long Eared Owl and calling Tawny Owl as well as 2 male Black Grouse, 3 cuckoos and a Tree pipit.

Two Ospreys went through over Tindale Tarn on the 19/5 and the following day another passed over Dalston.

The 20/5 saw a Little Ringed plover in the vicinty of Rockliffe which was still present two days later and the 2o/5 also saw 2 lovely Spoonbills on the roadside scrape at Campfield Marsh unusually they were still present the following day and a careful sneak throught the gorse allowed a photo without bothering the birds. They were joined by a full summer plumage Spotted redshank on the 21/5 as well while several Grasshopper Warbler reeled from nearby gorse scrub.

The last week of May for me was spent on Mull which was heavenly with the pick of the birds being this calling Corncrake, though finding a Black Kite and watching a White Tailed Eagle attack a Gannet rate pretty highly to.


In North Cumbria a Wood Sandpiper graced the roadside scrape at Campfield Marsh for the 23 and 24/5.