To go or not to go

Well what a day as regards the weather !!. It was raining first thing so gave Mrs W a lift to work then continued on my way up to Thacka to give the Westies an early morning walk. Now yesterday when I was up there I was surprise to fined an Oystercatcher on the remains of the flash, then this morning there was 2 . Now if anyone wants to do some digging into the blog archives they will see that not last year but the year before we were getting counts of upward of 30. I wonder if they are going to build to those numbers again for this year.
        I was watching the weather for the rest of the morning while playing about on the computer, then deciding it was time for some fresh air, I decided to head West hoping I could escape the bad weather of Penrith and find better conditions round Workington. Also on my mind was the possibility of finding some Purple Sandpipers and the Med gull thus adding 2 good ticks to my year list.

Well I'll say one thing it was dry just, but the wind was quite strong to say the least. I searched in vain for the Purps but no sign anywhere. Also Stumpy (the Med gull) let me down as it had done a bunk.

Water crashing over the old jetty on the beach

Herring Gull enjoying a bath in the fresh water near the harbour

Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were the only birds in the area, and not surprising considering the conditions. So it was time to move on, lets try Siddick Ponds.

At Siddick a kindly gentleman had been leaving piles of seed at various stages along the footpath, which was attracting good numbers of House Sparrows, as well as Great Tits, Blue Tits, Chaffinches, and Bullfinches.

I had just got onto the footpath when a Bittern came flapping along and into the reedbed, not to be seen again, but a good year tick. Also these 2 whooper Swans were nice to see and also 2 Cormorants. The rain managed to keep off while I was there so it was enjoyable strolling along and chatting to the kind man that had put all the seed down. I was amazed to see so many Goosanders getting on for 200.

2 Whoopers

On the way home I decided to call in at Silver Meadows NR. Where on the feeders amongst the tits I got 2 more year ticks, Siskin and Nuthatch, Keep em cumming.
           Lots of Snow on various stretches of the A66 and the tops are plastered again, Kirkstone pass was closed first thing.

Odd Buddies

 Odd buddies,  Starling & Curlew sharing the same table.

Had a drive along the Solway yesterday picking up a few more year tics, I had a much later start than intended as I had to wait in for double glazing chap.
       I went up Thacka with the dogs first thing and counted 17 Lapwing on the remains of the Flash, a sorry state of affairs. So the Solway, it would be about 1-30 by the time I started to drive along stopping off a various points to have a scan. There were lots of Curlews, and oystercatchers, plus Redshank, and it was nice to watch half a dozen male Mergansers displaying to a few female.
        At Campfield scrape the Great White Egret was still on show feeding in the gullies, then round at Cardurnock I was hoping the Barnacle geese would still be there, but I think it was getting too late in the day. I did see a large skein of geese heading up the estuary and making for the Scottish side maybe going to roost, along with possible the Red-Breasted Goose !!
        Near Anthorn there was hundreds of Oystercatchers, but the highlight was a thousand or more Golden Plover.

Small section of the Golden Plover, the pic doesn't do the scene justice.

 

And the last two pics, sunset along the River Wampool.

Afternoon tea & Black Grouse

Black Grouse

Myself and Mrs W decided to have a ride up to Hartside cafe for some scones with cream and jam. While participating in these delights, I suggested that when we had eaten said delights, we might have a ride down the Alston side of the pass on the off chance that there might be the odd Black Grouse about.
       The wind was blowing a gale so I didn't hold much hope, but ever the optimist and with stomach suitably satisfied we set off. By the time we reached the area where we have seen them before it wasn't looking too good. And then the ever hawk eyed Mrs W came up trumps again," I think I saw something black just over the wall," so it was hazards on, grab camera and bingo Black Grouse on the year list. which I have to say is still very modest, so won't go public just yet.
          On the way back down to Penrith the sun was in our eyes but gave good photo opportunities

Hopefully there will be an improvement in the weather tomorrow giving me a chance to add to the year list.

Ones better than none

Mrs W needed the car this morning so took the Westies for a quick walk round the block, then after doing some jobs and a quick cuppa, I decided to make the most of the sun before the rain came in.  
     So heading out with the camera and bins I headed for the Thacka nature reserve. Not a great deal about as usual, Black-headed Gulls were the greatest numbers of anything, Moorhens coming a close second with at
 least 13, there would be more in the vegetation. The Little Grebe is still with us, and there was a few Mallard about

 Little Grebe at a distance, sharing the pool with a Moorhen.

I had a walk round the old pond but there was nothing on there, I then decided to head up the railway path. The first thing I came across was a small party of House Sparrows sharing a bush with a few Chaffinch and enjoying the sun.

One of a couple of little old bridges spanning Thacka beck

The feeder that Roy has put up by the railway was doing a good trade, with good numbers of Great & Blue tits, also good numbers of Chaffinch. Then looking through my camera lens I fleetingly pick up a Brambling, luckily I fired a shot off because it flew off immediately. this is the only one I have seen this winter so far.

One Brambling, a little camera shy.

I have decided for the first time to do  a year list, and I didn't think Brambling was going to be on it. I don't anticipate my list being very long by the end of the year, as I'm not one for twitching long distance, but just thought it would be interesting for a change.

A pecker on the patch

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Took the Westies for their usual morning walk, always look at what use to be the Flash, but very rare there is anything about, we are doing well to get 20 to 60 Lapwings when we use to get hundreds.

Always as I get out of the car Mats bulls are near the gate, this morning they were having a good munch.

This morning instead of just walking round the field, I decided to have a walk along the top track and then along the railway path. I hadn't been on the path long when the Woodpecker flew past me, I found out later talking to Roy, it had been on the feeder that Roy has put up on some bushes by the railway.
           There was a few small flocks of Starlings moving around, and quite a few Blue tits. Further along the path a Buzzard flew across and then I found another perched by the path.

Common Buzzard

I thought it may have taken flight when theWesties passed below, but it just kept an eye on them. These are the first Buzzards I have seen on the patch for at least 8 months. Later while talking to Roy another one landed in a tree by the big house.

The Westies have found an interesting scent

Frost on seed heads

Footpath by the railway

After lunch I went over to see Kieth and burn some rubbish and 2 Hedge Sparrows were feeding close by.

Hedge Sparrow, or Dunnock

All in all not a bad day and the sun never stopped shinning.

Soddy

Part of the main pond at Soddy Gap

First of all may I wish every one out there a belated Happy New Year and many of them!!.

A beautiful morning this morning with quite a frost, but the sun was shinning and so decided not to wast it.

I noticed on Bird Guides that the Long Tail Duck was still at Soddy so thought I would give it a go, as can be seen from my last post (a long time ago) I was heading to see it when I got diverted. On arrival at Soddy I scanned the main pool but no sign, but there was a good showing of Goosanders.

Male & female Goosanders, just a few of at least 60+

There was also quite a few Teal about and Wigeon, and I counted 5 Snipe

I also found a female Goldeneye and good numbers of Tufted. There was also a large flock of Canada & Greylag Geese mixed, they later moved on to a nearby field to graze.
       I moved on to the first of the two smaller pools and bingo one female Long-tailed Duck. I had just got my scope and camera set up and squeezed a shot off when it and the 2 tufties it was swimming with got spooked by dogs and took off.

I tried to relocate it but couldn't find it anywhere, so the one poor shot is all I got.

Just a small portion of the flock of geese

There is always at least one on guard.

I started to head back home about 1-30 and as I got near to Penrith I ran into thick mist so I had seen the best of the day as regards the weather.

A feast of geese.

The sun was shining first thing, but when I made a move to take the Westies for their walk, work was needed on the car to free it of last nights snow and frost. Nothing on the flash just a few gulls feeding in the field close by, mainly Black-headed, and a couple of Common. Roy has seen Little grebe on the reserve but not much has been happening on there either.
Back home weather still fine so decided to head off to Soddy Gap on the off chance that the Long- tail duck would still be there. I had just got onto the A 66 heading West when  a text came in I pull into the next lay by to read it, it was from Roy saying 93 wf geese between Langwathby & Little Selkeld. Also 5 w swans & 4 Barnacles, consequently I never got to Soddy.
In fact on arriving at the field Roy was still there, and as well as the above listed , there was  also the odd Greylag, and Pink-footed mixed in, only 3 or 4 short of a full house.

In view Whooper Swan, Barnacles, and White-fronted

2 Whoopers and White-fronts

It was a terrific sight and in fact there could easy have been up to 100 White-fronts, spread across 2 fields,

Just looks like the Whooper is guarding the White-fronts

One snap shot doesn't give the whole picture, there was masses of them.

Whooper.

Juvenile Whooper, with Barnacles and White-fronts

View from high ground Penrith looking over to the Lakeland fells this morning.

Hopefully the weather will be good tomorrow and I might make it to Soddy, toodle pip.