Late September

Both of the good birds from last week lingered on a short while with the black Tern departing from Longtown on the 16/9/09 and the Red Necked Grebe present until the 19/9 at Rockliffe.



Other highlights were a Little Egret which flew down river then high back up river at Carr Beds, Rockliffe on the 17/9 and a Hobby there on the 20/9. With lower water levels on the River Eden waders reappeared with 3 Green Sandpiper and a dozen Snipe at Carr Beds on the 19/9 and a Black Tailed Godwit there on the 27/9.

A small number of Curlew Sandpipers were reported from the Solway with one at Port Carlisle on the 16/9 and again on 19/9 and 2 at both Port Carlisle and Anthorn on the 20/9. A Spotted Redshank was also present at Anthorn on the 20/9/09.

An Otter was also seen really well in the River Eden at Carlisle Cricket pitch on the 18/9/09 unusually in the middle of the day.

A small number of Med Gulls remained at Workington including the injured bird while past on seawatching were seen 5 Common Scoter and a few Red Throated Divers. Seawatching from Bowness produced a Puffin and a Great Skua as well as a dozen Scaup, the first of the winter.

September closed with the first of the returning Barnacle Geese calling overhead at several places on the last day of the month.