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.