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Birds in Cumbria (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter thorin
- Start date
thorin
Well-known member
Grune Point this morning 1 Little Stint, Greenshank, Ring Tail Hen Harrier, Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 1 Brambling with c20 Chaffinch, 20 Fieldfare, 25 Grey Plover, c4000 Barnacle Geese, Jack Snipe, Snipe, c600 Widgeon, c50 Bar Tailed Godwit, c20 Twite lots of dunlin and Knot.
Port Carlisle lunchtime LB Dowitcher showed very well, Spotted Redshank, 2 drake Goldeneye, Raven
cheers nick
Port Carlisle lunchtime LB Dowitcher showed very well, Spotted Redshank, 2 drake Goldeneye, Raven
cheers nick
Binocularface
You've all got one...............!
At Grune Point today the highlights were:
1 Little Stint
2 Greenshank
1 Merlin
50+ Twite
Plus the usual!
Long-billed Dowitcher was still present at Port Carlisle and 10 Brambling in Beeches at Swallow Bank/Barney House near Wigton (NY242463)
Regards
B
1 Little Stint
2 Greenshank
1 Merlin
50+ Twite
Plus the usual!
Long-billed Dowitcher was still present at Port Carlisle and 10 Brambling in Beeches at Swallow Bank/Barney House near Wigton (NY242463)
Regards
B
thorin
Well-known member
oncebittern
Steve Sheehan
Took a walk up to the Dodd Wood feeding station this afternoon. First 3 photos were from there, Redwing was taken as I left home. GSW was interesting, as it was picking up the hazelnuts, and bringing them to this stump, which it was using as an anvil. Squirrel seem to like the spot too.
As an aside, I was up at Talkin Tarn just before Xmas, and saw no red squirrels at all; however, I did see TWO greys, which was somewhat disheartening; does anyone know if there's any plan for their eradication from this area?
As an aside, I was up at Talkin Tarn just before Xmas, and saw no red squirrels at all; however, I did see TWO greys, which was somewhat disheartening; does anyone know if there's any plan for their eradication from this area?
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kendalcottages
Member
Nice picture, Nick. I'm ashamed to say I've never been to Port Carlisle (that I recall, at least). Judging by the posts in this thread, it looks well worth a visit.
Nick Tonge
Well-known member
Status of Marsh/Willow Tits in Cumbria?
Hi all,
I'm currently visiting Cumbria (holed up in Grasmere for a few days for my birthday), and I saw a Willow Tit (I think) today on the peanut feeder I set up. I didn't get a great view, maybe 5 seconds in the fading 4pm light, but the black cap seemed pretty dull - not helped by the light of course - which swayed it. Didn't catch any view of the wings or a chance to check the neck size. Black bib looked small (a la Marsh) but not neat...
Anyway, this got me thinking about which of Marsh and Willow Tit I was most likely to encounter in The Lakes in Winter. I've had a look at the BTO BirdAtlas maps online but these seem inconclusive (or, more likely, I can't interpret them properly!) so wondered if any of you guys could help?
Hopefully I'll get some more and better views tomorrow.
Cheers all
Nick
Hi all,
I'm currently visiting Cumbria (holed up in Grasmere for a few days for my birthday), and I saw a Willow Tit (I think) today on the peanut feeder I set up. I didn't get a great view, maybe 5 seconds in the fading 4pm light, but the black cap seemed pretty dull - not helped by the light of course - which swayed it. Didn't catch any view of the wings or a chance to check the neck size. Black bib looked small (a la Marsh) but not neat...
Anyway, this got me thinking about which of Marsh and Willow Tit I was most likely to encounter in The Lakes in Winter. I've had a look at the BTO BirdAtlas maps online but these seem inconclusive (or, more likely, I can't interpret them properly!) so wondered if any of you guys could help?
Hopefully I'll get some more and better views tomorrow.
Cheers all
Nick
Stephen Dunstan
Registered User
I would have thought Marsh was more likely in Grasmere.
Stephen.
Stephen.
Binocularface
You've all got one...............!
Hi Nick,
Grasmere is a good area to see Marsh Tits; I have seen them regularly there over recent years. Willow Tits are much more localised in Cumbria; with the strongest population occurring near the Inner Solway.
Regards
B
Binocularface
You've all got one...............!
There is still at least two Brambling present with a mixed finch flock near Barney House c1mile to the SW of Wigton. Slightly further along the road at NY241462 (or thereabouts) there is a winter stubble field ( a rarity in itself nowadays) that is attracting 100+ Yellowhammers, 50+ Reed Buntings and 70+ Tree Sparrows.
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kendalcottages
Member
Great pictures both of you... thanks for sharing!
Must go and take a look at the ospreys myself some time...
Must go and take a look at the ospreys myself some time...
Hi Nick,
On distribution alone, as the others say, almost certainly your bird was a Marsh Tit.
Now, if you were down by Bassenthwaite or Derwentwater, say up to ten or so years ago, a bird of this 'specie pair', would, almost certainly, be Willow Tit.
However, the Willow Tits range has retreated in North Cumbria, and, as Tristan says, they are mainly confined to areas near the Solway coast. Most of us haven't seen them in the North Lakes recently.
atb
Derek
On distribution alone, as the others say, almost certainly your bird was a Marsh Tit.
Now, if you were down by Bassenthwaite or Derwentwater, say up to ten or so years ago, a bird of this 'specie pair', would, almost certainly, be Willow Tit.
However, the Willow Tits range has retreated in North Cumbria, and, as Tristan says, they are mainly confined to areas near the Solway coast. Most of us haven't seen them in the North Lakes recently.
atb
Derek
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Nick Tonge
Well-known member
Thanks Derek, Tristan (is that you, Binocularface?), and Stephen,
I did get some much better views today of a couple of them. Small, neat bibs; plain, uniform wing colour; smart, dainty (not thick-necked) appearance... With your info too: certainly Marsh Tits, without hearing their calls. I got some less-than-great record shots too, but no means of uploading via my phone.
I live in the Bradford area, where Willow Tits are scarce and Marsh Tits non-existent, so I'm not familar with either other than on trips to Fairburn to see Willows, so it's been an education.
Thanks again all
Nick
I did get some much better views today of a couple of them. Small, neat bibs; plain, uniform wing colour; smart, dainty (not thick-necked) appearance... With your info too: certainly Marsh Tits, without hearing their calls. I got some less-than-great record shots too, but no means of uploading via my phone.
I live in the Bradford area, where Willow Tits are scarce and Marsh Tits non-existent, so I'm not familar with either other than on trips to Fairburn to see Willows, so it's been an education.
Thanks again all
Nick
oncebittern
Steve Sheehan
Is feeding the birds always a good thing?
May sound like a daft question, but after today's experience, I'm not so sure.
I went out to the garden early this morning to find a Redwing scratching about under the bushes, and a couple of Fieldfares not far away, all far too easy to approach, and probably very hungry. I had a bunch of grapes that were going spare, so I hung them in the tree that hosts the other feeders, assuming I was doing the right thing. Within 5 minutes, the dominant Fieldfare had starting feeding on them...so far so good. Unfortunately though, he continued to stay there all day, jealously guarding his prize, and chasing off every other bird that came within 30 feet of the tree; my other garden regulars got nothing all day!
Tomorrow I think I'll put his grapes at the other end of the garden
The culprit:
Edit: Nice pics Craig :t:
May sound like a daft question, but after today's experience, I'm not so sure.
I went out to the garden early this morning to find a Redwing scratching about under the bushes, and a couple of Fieldfares not far away, all far too easy to approach, and probably very hungry. I had a bunch of grapes that were going spare, so I hung them in the tree that hosts the other feeders, assuming I was doing the right thing. Within 5 minutes, the dominant Fieldfare had starting feeding on them...so far so good. Unfortunately though, he continued to stay there all day, jealously guarding his prize, and chasing off every other bird that came within 30 feet of the tree; my other garden regulars got nothing all day!
Tomorrow I think I'll put his grapes at the other end of the garden
The culprit:
Edit: Nice pics Craig :t:
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