10th January 2016 – rain then showers W7/8
Rarities
At least one Water Pipit was again in the flooded horse paddocks along Carr Lane.
Offshore
A check of the sea revealed mountainous waves and just 16 Kittiwake. Although 2 Shag were found sheltering along the eastern shore.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 140 pale-bellied birds while waders included 2 Greenshank and a Jack Snipe.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl was flushed by the rising tide and 4 Tree Sparrow were seen.
Bird Race
WBO again entered a team in the CBC Winter Bird Race. Conditions were not ideal, the day began under monsoon conditions and a gale; however the team still managed to amass 96 species (including 70 on Walney Island) before arriving at Haverthwaite for a 1700hrs finish. Although good species such as Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe (Hodbarrow) and Water Pipit (Walney Island) were amongst the total it proved to be a difficult day to catch up with the so-called commoner species with Fieldfare, Redwing, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Nuthatch and Twite all missed.
