Late April

Late April is the start of the skua passage in Cumbria and after a disappointing year last year it was good to see some passage. The first Pomarine Skuas went past on the 22/4/09 with 2 pale phase adults past Bowness Viaduct on a day when I didnt expect anything as the wind was a light easterly, but as birds had been reported from Newbie in Dumfries and Galloway on the previous 2 days with similar winds I thought it was worth a try. Three Pomarines skuas were then seen past the Viaduct on the 24/4 before the passage ground to a halt again with winds staying easterly, hopefully May will be better. The only other skua reported was a Great Skua past the Viaduct on the 19/4.

Other than skuas it was a time of migrants arriving, with the first Swifts early on the 18/4/09, House Martins also early on the 22/4, Lesser Whitethroat also early on the 19/4 at Campfield RSPB and Grasshopper Warbler reeling on the same date also at Campfield while Pied Flycatchers were back in Lower Gelt woods on the 20/4/09.

Some Species were notable by their abscence with very few Sedge warbler having arrived by the end of the Month.

Of the Waders Whimbrel showed a good passage with a count of 25 at Longtown on the Esk on the 26/4/09 while at Carr Beds passage green Sandpipers were seen on the 16/4 and 19/4 with a Greenshank present on the 23/4. An adult Little Gull was also present on the Esk at Longtown on the 25/4 and 26/4, possibly the bird that flew past the Viaduct on the 22/4/09.

Also on the 22/4/09 4 ruff, 12 Black Tailed godwit and a good count of 40 White Wagtails were reported from Wedholme Flow.

Passage Ospreys continued to move through with one fishing the Eden at Carlisle just east of the M6 bridge on the 30/4/09.