Thacka and the flood in the SUN

Small Tortoiseshell

                                 
The day got off to a poor start, cloudy and miserable, but as the day progressed the weather improved and soon after lunch the sun got out and the rest of the day was my kind of weather, sun and lots of it.
       I decided it was too good to miss, so with camera and binocs in hand I set off walking heading for Thacka.
       Its the first time we have had such warm sun for quite a while and the area was teeming with Small Tortoiseshell, the camera going into over drive. I've been keeping clear of the flood lately because a load of gypoes have taken up residence right near the right of way so its not that pleasant. Today however was different because from a distance I could see there was some larger waders which needed closer inspection, and bingo 12 Black-tailed Godwits, everything else seemed to pale into insignificance as this was just brilliant for our little patch. However there was also 29 Oystercatchers ,this is the largest count I have had on there. Also juvenile Redshank, over 50 Lapwing.

Black-tailed Godwit

In the evening I took my Daughter out for a driving lesson, and while she was driving through Hackthorpe I spotted over 200 Swallows perched on a  telephone wire. A terrific sight.

       

The flood, a brief visit

Had a ride up to Thacka flood just after lunch time, haven't been out in a while because of the dogs. Poor Kyfer has had the snip, He has had his nuts removed, He is nut less. Didn't want to put little Misty through any more trauma so Kyfer was volunteered, anyway He is slowly recovering, whether He will get over it mentally is another matter.
          Anyway back to the flood, I counted 17 Oystercatchers and was in the process of counting the Lapwings (0ver 50) when a Wood Sandpiper came into view. They have been seen on the flood before but not by myself, there was quite a few Malard on and round the edges Starlings and a Stockdove.
         John has had quite a bit up there of late including Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, and Green Sandpiper.
           The Swallows are still dipping the flood, so I've put a couple of pics of one on the wing and another perched on the barn.

Lost 1 but still got 2

Haven't done a lot of serious birding lately as the family have had other things on our minds. A while ago little Misty started showing signs of being in pup, but we thought it might be a phantom pregnancy, as we thought we had managed to keep Her and Kyfer apart. By Wednesday at 4pm she started twining and looking for somewhere to nest, and this kept us up all night. Thursday morning I decided to find out for sure and took Her to the vet. where a scan revealed possibly 2 large pups at least. At 6pm she started having Her first contractions, but by 8 things were not looking too good, and I rang the vet, She said give her another hour and I will ring you back. she did so and as there was no change in Her condition it was decided to take Her in to the clinic. An examination found a pup in the wrong position, the vet turned it and drew it out. At this stage Misty was in great pain, and not surprising as the pup was nearly as big as three normal pups. It was also more than obvious that it was dead, and it was the only pup Misty had been carrying.
     Today has been a better day as She has  spent less time crying and less time searching the house for pups. After taking advice from the vet it has been decided not to breed from Her as She is so small and the same thing could happen again. Looks like Kyfer could be loosing His nuts, as its a much easier way than putting Misty through more trauma.
        On a brighter note, up a Thacka flood this morning there was a Heron, not had one on there for ages. Also the Lapwings are beginning to come back in numbers now with between 30-50 and 15 Oystercatchers, the young Moorhens are fully grown now, but no sign of any ducklings, they have all succumb to predators. Also this morning the Little Ring Plover is back and there has been a common Sandpiper about.
       No new birding pics at the mo so will leave you with a resent pic of the westies pre trauma days .

Thacka flood & river Eden

Took the Westies for their morning walk and had a look at the flood, it was pretty quiet really. I thought only 2 moorhens had survived but all three are ok. there was just one Ostercatcher and a few corvids kicking around. surprisingly yet another clutch of mallards, this time 11, 2 of which are pure yellow, (who's been playing pick & mix then).  We didn't hang around too long as I was dressed for the sun and it started to rain.

                                        

              1 female Goosander and 11 young. 

 Later in the morning I set off for the river Eden taking the footpath near Lilliput just off the A66. just after the railway tunnel there was a Buzzard above me . Next I came across 2 oystercatchers in a field of veg. acting very suspicious as if there was a nest or young about. And apart from finding the Goosanders that was about it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

The colour Red

A rare sight these days but we came across this Red Squirrel near Grange in Borrowdale. When I say we, I was accompanied by Mrs W and the daughter fresh home from Oxford uni having finished her 3 year sentence, and now signed up to join the ranks of the unwashed ,unemployed, spongers.

       So yes we are in Borrowdale home to my favourite lake in my favourite valley, and where I lived for 8 years of my life in a house practically on the shore at Derwent Bay which belonged to the Lingholm estate.

        At one period while I lived there I had 7 different Red Squirrels coming to my feeder at the kitchen window. each one had a mark to distinguish it from the others. And one day from a window I saw 2 Hawfinches hopping about not far from the front door. The wild life was unbelievable, all the usual mammals, then the Roe deer seen all the time, Badgers and Fox.

         I called in to see my mate at Faw Park which is the next estate to Lingholm, near Portinscale and in a week He had shot 3 Greys ,  they are doing a tremendous amount of damage in the fruit and veg garden. They see very few Reds these days, and they use to get loads.

         Back to the river walk, also these others pics below.

Red Damselfly                                                                                  

                                                     And Demoiselle. (My Daughter)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Maryport & Siddick pond

Mrs W and myself had a ride over to Maryport today and had a walk along the coastal area and a small area of beach. 2 pair of Ring plover both pair behaving as if they had a nest close by. Also a few Oystercatchers feeding in various areas. By the harbour there was a Rock Pipit feeding young

                                                                                                                                     After making sure Mrs W's stomach had been satisfied , we moved on to Siddick pond. On the small pond, pair of Mute Swans with 5 young, and also a few Mallard. Moving on to the main pond , a count of 8 Heron, Mallard again of all ages, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Wren, a few Coot and another pair of Mute Swans with young but not showing well.

 From a distance we watched this Herring Gull fighting on with this morsel of food and couldn't make out what it was. On closer inspection it turned out to be the remains of a crab.

Warm sunny morning up Thacka

Made my way up to Thacka and the flood this morning taking Misty & Kyfer with me. It was nice to see John was already there scanning the flood, but had nothing unusual to report. The 2 Moorhen chicks are maturing well, but its worrying to see all the young mallard scattered all over the flood and I fear some have already been predated by the Black-backs. At a distance on one of the pylons there was a Buzzard and a second one circling above it.

       On heavily vegetated ground close to the M6 John picked up first 1 Sedge Warbler then another two, these were closely followed by 2 Whitethroats on fencing bordering the M6 I don't think I would have found them if John hadn't have been there, Thanks for that John.

The Westies enjoyed their run about and didn't stray too far when I was engrossed in birding. They don't like the heat though and once back home they have a good drink then collapse.