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.