Hen Harrier new in

29th January 2012 – overcast/early frost/E1/2
Offshore
A quick check over the sea early morning produced small numbers of Kittiwake, Red-throated Diver and Common Scoter.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and female Scaup were again in residence while 8 Greenshank were seen.
Miscellaneous
The pale looking 1stW Glaucous Gull – a hulking great beast, was again present and a ringtail Hen Harrier was logged.

Glaucous Gull headlines

28th January 2012 – bright and sunny/early frost/calm
Offshore
A quick check over the sea early morning produced 5 Shag and small numbers of Red-throated Diver and Common Scoter.
Diurnal Migration
Several small skeins of Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and female Scaup remain in residence.
Miscellaneous
A Glaucous Gull was seen and 4 Raven were logged.

WeBS Counts

23rd January 2012 – sunny spells WNW4/5
Offshore
Small numbers of Common Scoter and Red-throated Diver were again offshore.
Wildfowl and Waders
Totals from the monthly island WeBS count included: 149 pale-bellied Brent Goose, 450 Shelduck, 780 Wigeon, 668 Teal, 78 Mallard, 71 Pintail, 147 Eider, 26 Goldeneye, 44 Red-breasted Merganser, 4991 Oystercatcher, 78 Ringed Plover, 231 Grey Plover, 800 Golden Plover, 1024 Lapwing, 2784 Knot, 97 Sanderling, 10 Purple Sandpiper, 2000 Dunlin, 15 Snipe, 1378 Curlew, 16 Greenshank, 1197 Redshank and 194 Turnstone.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl hunted and 12 Rock Pipit were flushed from the salt marshes by the high tide.

Scaup newly arrived

22nd January 2012 – sunny spells W6/7
Offshore
A quick check over the sea early morning produced small numbers of Red-throated Diver and Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
A Blackbird – the first bird to trouble the ringers in 2012 – hinted at some movement.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck remains in residence also seen were a female Scaup and redhead Goosander.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl and 2 Short-eared Owl were seen.

Long-tailed Duck still in residence

15th January 2012 – bright and sunny/early frost SE3/4
Offshore
Small numbers of Common Scoter and Red-throated Diver were again on the move.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 120 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Long-tailed Duck remained amongst 26 Goldeneye and 6 Greenshank were seen.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 20 Twite were seen and 6 Rock Pipit were logged
Images
Long-tailed Duck amongst Goldeneye.


Excellent winter birding

14th January 2012 – bright and sunny/early frost E2/3
Offshore
Small numbers of Common Scoter and Red-throated Diver were on the move but the highlights involved 10 Shag and an out of season Great Skua.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of 11 Whooper Swan headed north and a total of 110 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
A brace of Black-necked Grebe were the pick of the sightings which also included the long-staying Long-tailed Duck amongst 20 Goldeneye and 10 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl hunted over the salt marsh with both Little Owl and Peregrine also seen.

Goosander heads sightings

11th January 2012 – overcast/drizzle at times SW3
Offshore
Small numbers of Common Scoter and Red-throated Diver were on the move.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of 10 Whooper Swan flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
A redhead Goosander was the bird of the day, however the Long-tailed Duck remains, 143 pale-bellied Brent Geese were logged and waders included 800 Lapwing, 600 Golden Plover and 12 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
At least 22 Little Egret remain and a flock of 36 Twite were logged.

Bird Racing!

8th January 2012 – overcast/drizzle soon SW1/2
Offshore
A quick check over the sea early morning produced 10 Shag and small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter, Razorbill, Kittiwake and Guillemot.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck remains in residence and waders included 11 Greenshank and 4 Purple Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
Single Barn Owl and Little Owl were seen.
Bird Racing
Walney Wanderers, the team representing Walney Bird Observatory, again took up the challenge of the annual Cumbria Winter Bird Race and amassed a total of 108 species within the confines of the county boundaries to once again lift the trophy. The team, assembled at a local woodland to broken skies and light winds and soon a Tawny Owl called at 0630hrs to set the total running. Heading back on to more familiar territory steady progress was made with local specialities such as Brent Goose, Long-tailed Duck, Merlin, Purple Sandpiper, Greenshank and Twite all added and the total had increased to an impressive 70 species by the time the team left Walney Island at 1020hrs. A tour of the Furness Peninsula in increasingly wet and murky conditions, due to the onset of persistent drizzle, added a further 15 species, although Gadwall, Peregrine, Green Sandpiper and Mediterranean Gull were all missed, before a Kingfisher was added en route to the woodland stage. Woodland species were steadily accumulated and a Lakeland stream provided Grey Wagtail and Dipper before a Treecreeper brought up the century at 1430hrs – remarkably the same species that had brought up the 100 in 2011. Several Goldcrest, a flock of six Hawfinches and a Sparrowhawk were further additions as the weather relented before roadside stubble fields near Flookburgh provided the long-staying flock of Eurasian White-fronted Geese. Raven and Goosander were then added before the same stubble fields yielded a flock of Linnet. A final dash to Whinfell Tarn on the outskirts of Kendal produced redhead Smew in fading light before a leisurely drive to the 1700hrs finish in The Hawkshead Brewery at Staveley failed to add to the total.

Brent Geese remain

6th January 2012 – overcast SW2
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 105 pale-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A Little Owl was logged.

Glaucous Gull

5th January 2012
Offshore
A Glaucous Gull flew south along the maritime shore.

Whooper Swans on the move

4th January 2012
Wildfowl and Waders
Two Whooper Swan flew north and 10 Shoveler were logged.
Miscellaneous
Little Egrets are still to be found along the eastern shore.

Long-tailed Duck sees in the New Year

1st January 2012 – rain at times SW3/4/5
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck remains in residence.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 50 Twite were logged