11th March.
After a frosty night a milder misty day ensued.
New gatepost to Discovery Field by kind permission of SWLPS - part of this year's installation in the locality.
A new addition to the Picnic area.
Frogspawn in the Discovery Pool.
Swalesdales from Hawswater RSPB Reserve - looking very pleased with themselves on the Troll bridge.
Pheasant picking about under the bird feeding station - Solway Wetlands Centre.
Teal and Wigeon on Saltmarsh Pool.
High tide roost viewed from Maryland lay-by.
Four of ten Grey Heron seen along the saltmarsh east of the Viaduct during the afternoon.
Pinkfeet near the Reserve boundary gate.
FURTHER ACTIVITY ROUND THE PENINSULA.
Whitrigg Marsh - in the region of 3000 Pinkfeet . . .
. . . with a rare Richardsons Canada (Cackling) Goose amongst them.
South of Longcroft a further 1000 mixed Pinkfeet and Barnacle Geese.
Anthorn - Redshank with Oystercatchers.
Bowness railings - Ringed Plover at high tide.
12th March.
A milder, dull and damp day. A small flock of Siskin (6) and a Lesser Redpoll descended on the hamlet feeders, to add a bit of cheer to the day.
Three Male Siskins and a female on hamlet niger seed feeder . . .
. . . and Goldfinch, too.
Female Siskin.
Male Lesser Redpoll.
A splendid Robin added further colour.
13th March.
A warmer grey day. Only a pair of Siskin seen today from yesterday's fall. Joe Murphy reported having seen up to 5 Little Egret from the hide.
14th March.
A beautifully warm, if not hazy, Spring-like day.
The surprise of the day was a Black-tailed Godwit (a passage migrant) already in full Summer plumage, feeding in the wet meadows surrounding the floodwater pool (LHS of Lonning). Up to six Pied Wagtail also could be seen darting about catching insects. These wet meadows have been carefully managed over the last few years for the benefit of breeding waders: Lapwing, Curlew and Snipe.
Walking further along the Lonning a Little Grebe could be heard whinneying.
Black-tailed Godwit . . .
. . . and taking off - showing its black tail.
Lapwing interaction.
15th March.
After a changeable morning the cloud cleared away by 12.30pm and thus a beautiful day ensued. The wildlife responded accordingly.
4 Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll again seen feeding on niger seed feeder in the hamlet. A flock of 200+ Golden Plover were frequenting the grassland round the Meadow Pools, with in the region of 300 Teal and some Wigeon using the new scrape area. The meadows to the left of the Lonning are starting to accommodate pairing Lapwing with 6 Pied Wagtail using it also. A number of Snipe have been noted in this area - with a Buzzard, 4 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret and 6 Pintail on the wetlands in front of the hide. A single Black-tailed Godwit was seen on the Reserve again today (Chris Taylor).
Lesser Redpoll and Siskin bickering on the feeders.
More bickering!
Male Redpoll feeding on niger seed - showing its colourful plumage.
New scrape and surrounding area are suitably wetted now - Wigeon and Teal are certainly enjoying it.
Golden Plover overhead - signs of Summer plumage starting to show . . .
. . . and gathering on wetted areas around the Meadow Pools.
Pied Wagtail out on wet meadows.
Little Grebe on Meadow Pools.
Little Egret, Wigeon and Teal - Meadow Pools.
Pair of Pintail - viewed from the hide.