BTO Nest Record Scheme

This morning my BTO Nest Record Scheme pack arrived, I'd been inspired through the work of Kane and Gillian. Taking a break from my final project I headed over to Red House Farm, mainly to check the bird boxes (courtesy of Wellfield Middle School) I had put up over the winter, in an attempt to hold the visiting Tree Sparrows.


Unfortunately the Tree Sparrows haven't used the boxes, although at least one bird is still present, calling from within the Hawthorns. Thankfully 2 out of 3 boxes are in use, both by Tit species. Both Blue Tit and Great Tit were calling in the vicinity. Box RHF Box 2 contained a half built nest, and RHF Box 3 had just recently begun gaining nesting material.

The area holds a huge number of breeding Wood Pigeons, although most are inaccessible. After searching some of the lower Hawthorns I eventually found this nest with 2 eggs. 

And for anyone interested, the post mortem for the Buzzard I found February 2011 in Cliburn Moss (near Penrith) was sent through today. Glad to see it hadn't been poisoned or shot. (double click for larger view)

Warblers, and em Warblers

I thought I would try and get involved with some survey work, so after contacting the necessary people a few tetrads were picked up. One of which is the Universities campus and farmland. So this morning, joined by a friend who's just getting into birding we headed out for a 2 hour timed tetrad.

We started at my block, Blencathra, we headed towards the small Rookery, and House Sparrow hot spots first. Over the day we counted 31 House Sparrows, the Rookery held 6 nests with young. Highlights of the day were a total of 12 Stock Dove, discovery of a Yellowhammer nest with 4 eggs, a Chaffinch nest with 2, a Long-Tailed Tit nest, a Female Blackbird incubating, and a Common Buzzard nest. Through the day there was also a lot of Warbler song and activity, with 11 Willow Warbler singing, 8 Blackcap, a smaller number of Chiff Chaff than expected with only 3 singing birds, same again with Whitethroat with only 1 singing male, but by the far the highlight of the day was 2 singing Garden Warblers.

Scribblies

The rest of the day was spent revising until 18:00 when I needed a breather, so Cliburn Moss seemed like the perfect place to have a wander. As I got out the car I was hit by what sounded like the M6 of Warbler song, walking the circular route I picked up 14 Willow Warbler, 4 male Blackcap, and another 2 Garden Warbler, not a single whisper from a Chiff Chaff. Also about, 2 ducklings in the small pool, although no adults in sight, a Moorhen nest with 4 eggs was also on the pool, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jay, Pair of Tufted on larger pond, 2 Curlew, Wren, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Song Thrush, 3 Treecreeper, House Sparrow, Swallow, 2 Red Legged Partridge, and 3 Willow Tit which I was very pleased to find as they are a declining species in the county.

I love this wood.

Cliburn Moss

Took a friend along to Cliburn Moss today, as we approached 2 Jay were in trees just by main gate. As I was putting my wellies on a Red Squirrel was spotted running across the road.

Just the usual Woodpigeon until we reached the Eastern edge, a single Stock Dove fed in the stubble, a flock of Starlings joined by 4 Fieldfare were in the sheep field and a Mistle Thrush in the distance. We followed the path past the houses, a new route for me, a large number of Chaffinch were present, joined by Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock, House Sparrow, and Robin.

As we left a Red Squirrel made it self present by making a noise up 20ft a Scots Pine, even on this small tree it was difficult to locate, due to its camouflage, that amazing orange.

Yesterday at Cliburn Moss

This was going to be updated yesterday, but the studentcom internet service in my uni digs decided not to work with my recently purchased Macbook Pro. Fixed now, and I love my Mac, should of got one earlier.

I came back to Penrith early than usual to try and sort my next years accommodation, which isn't going well. After sorting a few bits and pieces out I headed for Cliburn Moss, arriving at 14:30.

As parked up, and put my wellies on a tribe of Long Tailed Tit fed in the silver birch canopy above. I was taken North along the western edge of the reserve, as I entered the mature Scots Pine the need to stop and listen seem apparent, firstly from the silence I picked up the song ofGoldcrests, quite a few, scanning the thick canopy above I found numerous birds feeding. Continuing North a Jay made a brief appearance, flying up off the track. Reaching the Northern-most edge of the reserve again I stopped to listen, I could hear the flack ofWoodpigeons to the North, the sound of Jackdaws and Rooks to the North, as wellCarrion Crow, but the most noise was coming from a presumed flock of Starling, chattering to the North. Naturally I headed north, though the gate off the reserve, up onto the disused railway, with the hawthorn hedgerow. Looking over the field, I could see a winter crop had been left, and large numbers of Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Rook, and Starling were feeding.Lapwing were also present amongst the Starlings, 4 Fieldfare fed close to the hedgerow and a single Stock Dove fed amongst the Woodpigeon. As I re-entered the reserve a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew overhead.

The track now headed East, it leaves behind the Scots Pines for a small marshy meadow area, with a small pond, 6 Mallard, and 1 Drake Teal were flushed from the pond as I approached. I followed this track it began to head towards the houses, not wanting to walk this way, I went for a bit of wandering, and headed South along the reserve perimeter, which I'm pleased I did. Just as I re-entered the Scots Pine a couple of Woodpigeons flew out of the canopy above, and a scratching noise on the tree in front of me followed. A Red Squirrel was frozen against the orange trunk of a mature Scots Pine, heading downwards. It camouflaged in so well, with that beautiful orange colour it shares with the Scots Pine, if it had not made a sound I may of missed it. Retracing 2 or 3 steps another tree provided me with cover, as I sat down the Squirrel repositioned onto a horizontal branch, it sat, cleaned and scratched for about 5 minutes before it move upwards into the canopy.

Pheasant, Blue Tit, Great Tit, and Common Buzzard were heard throughout my wonder of the reserve.

Cliburn Moss

Went down for a wander at a local nature reserve today Cliburn Moss, here's some info : http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006039.aspx

Its one of those places which just grab you instantly, it felt like I was in Scotland, and looks like a perfect place for Red Squirrels although I didn't see any. Walking through the large Scots Pine and Birch brings a sense of silence and create a strange natural atmosphere, as I walked a grabbed a few Bilberry to munch on.

Where I pulled in to park up, the field opposite had been ploughed and held large numbers of Woodpigeon and Pheasant. The conifers above also held Goldcrests. In the reserve Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, and Jays were present. There was quite a few Bat boxes on site.

As the path left the reserve it opened up to a disused railway line, heavily lined with Hawthorns. A mixed flock of Greenfinch and Linnet were floating about in the maize, as I watched a Juv Sparrowhawk made an attempt at the flock, then carrying on along the space between one row and the next until it reached an old crooked oak in the centre of the field, another was heard calling nearby. A large flock of Tits past through, containing, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, Robin, and a lone Chiff Chaff.

A Musket flew over the maize and headed for the same crooked Oak landing in it out of sight, as I began to leave I heard the characteristic sound of Carrion Crows mobbing something I turned round to find a Common Buzzard leaving from the same crooked Oak!

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Stock Doves were also about.

At the opening of the entrance there was a large amount of these, I think they are Devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Would like to here what other people think.