Thacka flood

Still a lot of water about making it still unsuitable for waders. so not really a lot about , on or around the flood there was c.200 lapwing, 1 Black Headed gull, 1 Lesser Black back gull, 1 moorhen, and on the grass by the water a pair of Stock dove.

Up on the Beacon when the sun is out (which is not often at the moment) there are quite a few butterflies and for the first time this year Peacocks are about (pic.)

Friday 7th , Hot day at Walney Island

Not a day for the Westies as Mrs W and myself headed down the M6 on our way to Walney , making good time we arrived about 10-30 and already the sun was hot.

It was a good mix of birding and planting , the first birds of the day was a small flock of about 15 to 20 linnets on the road just before the entrance. We made our way toward the oyster proccessing plant and the pools in that area. On the various pools there was 1 Sandpiper , 6 Greenshank, c.150 Redshank with Dunlin mixed with them. A count of 20 Cormorant sitting on posts in water , and close by 6 Canada geese. Out on the grass by the same pool quite a few Barnacle geese and with them two with compleatly white heads. We also saw a few Meadow Pipits , and a lone Gannet flew South. On pools behind the entrance there was Moorhen and in the reeds a Sedge Warbler.

The three pics are Yellow Horned Poppy, Mallow, and Caloplaca marina (orange lichen )

Thacka birding and butterflies

Firstly has any one come across this before ? its about the size of a small white but without the markings other than the black tips to the wings.

On or near the the Thacka flood, A juvenile Grey Partridge on side of road near flood. Then c.100 lapwing, Moorhen 2 and juveniles, 9 Lesser Black Backed Gulls, 1 Sandpiper 3 Stock Dove, about 6 Mallard, 1 Heron, and 3 Black Headed Gulls. And at long last after seeing all the pics of Painted Ladies flooding into the Wirral and other places in there thousands yet leaving Penrith a Painted Lady free zone, I see a few !!

North East Cumbria 31st July

A day of exploring , birding, and for a change a day out for the Westies. We pottered North along the A6 and made our way to Tolkin tarn (didn't find any rings,) (I know different spelling ) or for that matter many birds.

There was a mixture of ducks near the visitor centre mallard as usual being the most in number, there was also a few Coot about and Moorhen, Female mallard with newly hatched chicks, and these two ducks about the size of Teal but of unknown make or origin, maybe some kind of cross ?.

Next we headed for Tindale tarn (definitely no tin) ,this is in a beautiful area on the edge of the moors and comes under the RSPB Geltsdale umbrella. The tarn is quite isolated and quiet so attracts quite a bit of wildfowl and other things. This was our first rece of the area and unfortunately approached it from the wrong side, and so couldn't get close enough to do it justice. And as we had left the scope in the car we only had bins to scan with, the one thing of note was a Black swan which had been seen previously at Tolkin tarn and isn't that far for it to commute to Tindale. So now we know the area a visit in the Autumn is definitely one for the diary.