Hard Frozen Early January

Still hard frozen for the first week of January North Cumbria started to produce some birds in unusual places. The Red Throated Diver was still present at Carr beds on the 3/1/10 but was starting to look unwell as this picture of it hauled out on a very cold morning shows. i didn't see it subsequently but was pleased to hear it had been seen fishing the following day downriver. It or another was reported from the M6 motorway bridge over the Eden on the 10/1/10.

Also on the River Eden 2 Smew were on the river near Cargo on the 3/1/10, a RT Hen Harrier was also seen and further up river a Common Sandpiper was reported. A walk from Cargo to Rockliffe on the 11/1/10 produced 126 Goldeneye, 23 Goosander and a single Jack Snipe.

At Port Carlisle harbour the long staying Long Billed Dowitcher was still present up to the 5/1/10 when the harbour itself froze and its feeding area was covered, it has not been seen since.

Two Spotted redshank were present on New Years day, as was a Little Egret, though only 1 Spotted Redshank was seen after that until the big freeze.


Also on New years day I was lucky enough to get this nice photo of a Leucistic Barnacle Goose near Cardurnock and on the Saltmarsh opposite Anthorn a single Pale Bellied Brent Goose was present.


After the 5/1/10 the hard freezing weather meant fewer birds were reported and travel became tricky again. but a few hardy souls still ventured out and a good count of 47 Purple Sandpiper was recorded at Workington, Bittern and Water rail were seen at Siddick Ponds on the ice on the 8/1/10 and on the same day 3 Short Eared Owls and good numbers of Black Grouse (87) were reported from the Tindale Tarn area.

A thaw began on the 10/1/10 but birds remained few and far between as the ground and frozen pools took several more days to thaw. However Campfield RSPB came up trumps even though the pools remained frozen a good bird was still found on the 13/1/10 when a Snow Goose was present with c500 Pinkfeet. On the same day at Penrith a Black Redstart was reported and had apparently been around for at least a week.

Back on the coast at Grune Point a cold walk on the 5/1/10 saw Ring tailed Hen Harrier and 2 Peregrine hunting the saltmarsh while a single Little Stint was with the waders and a single Brambling still with the small Chaffinch flock. Only 4 Scaup, 30 Pintail and c500 Widgeon were present in a poor show for ducks but a Fox stalking them out on the marsh and in view for ages made a lovely sight against the snow.

The cold weather also meant Woodcock became more visible with 1 seen at Jockey shield on the 8/1/10 and another at Demesne Marsh on the same day, at least 2 in the area of north Plain farm on the 13/1/10 and 2 from Finlandrigg Woods on the 7/1/10.

Finally the pair of smew reappeared at Talkin Tarn as it slowly defrosted on the 13/1/10 and were still present on the 15/1/10.