Waders on the move Early July

This fortnight saw a fair few more waders back in North Cumbria, starting with a Green Sandpiper on the 2/7/09 at Carr Beds this rose to 2 on the 3/7 and then 3 on the 5/7 and the 9/7 with one remaining until at least the 14/7/09. Two Greenshank were also present on the 3/7/09 and at Demesne Marsh just down river on the 8/7/09. Bird of the fortnight for me was a Little Ringed Plover at Carr Beds late evening of the 14/7 accompanied by a Ringed plover on the same piece of shingle allowing nice comparisons. Even more excitement on the 15/7/09 when the adult LRP was joined by a juvenile and I managed to get a record shot of it.



Common Sandpipers peaked at around 22 on the 5/7/09 at Carr Beds but there were probably more downstream and 3 Snipe were regularly feeding in the open at Carr Beds.

A drake Scaup also remained at Carr Beds from the start of the month and Goosander numbers reached a minimum of 45.

Away from the water Quail were reported calling in several places including 2 at Aikbank near Wigton from the end of June at least, 2 more were near Longburgh on the 12/7 and another 2 near Cliburn on the 9/7 with another at Ousby on the 8/7/09.

A reeling Grasshopper Warbler was a nice sound near Mosedale on the 8/7/09 on a day when at least 15 Keeled Skimmer Dragonflies and a single bog Orchid were good finds nearby.

At Miltonrigg I was shown a Wood Warbler nest which was empty but had apparently fledged 6 young, it was beautifully concealed on the ground against a fallen pine bough.

At Finlandrigg at least 30 Crossbills were seen on the heath on the 1/7/09 with 9 at Jockey Shield a couple of days later.