1st-5th July
Well Northern England Sucks!, Cumbria Sucks even more. Birds What F*cking Birds, non here mate, but if you travel 400 miles South or North you ll find the birds! Thanks a lot!!.
The Weathers been far too hot for birding anyway. But this weekend i decided to get out for the first time in weeks, Soddy was shit! Workington Shit! every wheres shit. So OK i Got Black Guillemot on a sea watch from Workington and a few Manxies.
Soddy hosted a load of Warblers, Chiff Chaff, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Redpoll etc. Mute swan with young but that was it.
So did a few plants with Common Spotted and Pyramidal Orchids, Yarrow and Common Broomrape.
Dragonfly's at Soddy were good with Rare for Cumbria 3 Broad-bodied Chasers, 2 males and a imm/fem, and my first ever Emerald Damselflys.
Quite a few butterflies knocking around but nothing special, Meadow Brown, Ringlet Small and Large Heath, Painted Lady's and Red Admiral were the pick of the bunch. Loads of 6 Spot Burnet moths were about.
Lets hope for a decent bird soon, im starting to go Mad!!!!
Well the end of June ended in disaster! a big fat DIP!!!!!Tristan and i went over to Saltholme pools for a Terek Sandpiper, now we went for a Terek sand this time last year and dipped again, so we weren't pleased. Unfortunately before we got there the bird had been flushed by rspb staff early in the morning and not seen again, although 1 did turn up at gib point later in the day. Unfortunately the message put out to the pages was misleading, we wouldn't have bothed had we known the bird had been seen for only seconds!!!! Why is it the RSPB have stopped people parking and viewing the best part of Saltholme pools, forcing people onto there main reserve which is miles away from all the decent waders..... get a grip RSPB!
We did see Yellow Wagtail family, Adult Med Gull and some other stuff, but a shit day had by all!!! thanks RSPB.
Butterflies
Mid Month no birds so decided to do a few Butterflies at Maryport. My first ever the rare Small Blues were in force. A few Painted Lady's were showing well, Small Copper and Wall Brown too.
June 5th-7th
Well Tristan Gripped me off by going to Norfolk last weekend. It wouldn't have been so bad had he not got Black-winged Pratincole and Squacco Heron, both lifers for me. Grrrrr.
OK so i got my brand new Fiesta and was told it needed a good run, Wooohoooo Norfolk here we come. So rach and I packed the tent and left Thursday night for Norfolk. The first night was spent at the Travel lodge in Long Sutton, This was OK until i was awoken by the sound of a rhythmic bed from above! hmmmm. The next morning we were on our Way to Thornham For Black-winged Pratincole. YES! it was still here and showing quite well although the heat haze was immense. It did show much better as it flew around fairly close. We got our lunch and were then on our way to Wicken Fen for my second lifer Squacco Heron.
But on the way good views of Stone Curlew near Weeting Heath and Golden Oriol on the nest at Lakenheath.
The next day was spent along the coast, doing sight seeing and then finishing at Titchwell, but little really of note. Sunday it was time for home, but not before visiting Cley for Little Stint and Spoonbill, then Corn Bunting at Chosely and Brilliant views of Little Owl and an Adult Med Gull calling over head.
Then on to Thornham before the rain came for good views of the Black-winged Pratincole again.
The campsite at Kelling Heath is a fantastic place for Nightjar, we had excellent views as they fed and sung over the tent on both nights, even great views in the early evening light, wing clapping.
What a Wicked Weekend.....
Did my first and last Skua watch of the season, I was surprised to get all 4 species.
Between 1200 and 1645 i had 3 Long-tailed Skuas (holy grail of Skuas), 6 Great Skuas, 2-4 Pom Skuas and 5 Arctics. Great few hours Skua Watching. Also 30+ Gannets flew in and out again and 3 Eider (scarce in north cumbria).
