In spite of the high pressure gloom of recent days, the birds keep coming. Now is one of the best times of the year to see flocks of waders and particularly wildfowl here at Campfield and its surrounding Solway area. Wigeon,Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler are notable on the Reserve wetlands. Lapwing, Oystercatchers, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Grey and Golden Plover provide a spectacle at high tide on the saltmarsh and mudflats. But the Solway's speciality this month are the thousands of wintering migrant Geese and hundreds of Swans. Barnacle Geese have been with us since October and will remain here well into March or possibly April, but those Pinkfooted Geese which stopped over briefly in November,on their way south east, are now gradually making their way back. In recent days large flocks have been grazing the area and have been regularly seen, along with flocks of Barnacles, flying back and forth round this peninsula on which we are situated. Also good flocks of Whooper Swans have been observed grazing the grassy meadows round the River Wampool, sporting fair numbers of juveniles amongst them. We would recommend to those sharp-eyed amongst you, a visit to Campfield Marsh and its surrounding south Solway area. You could be well rewarded by this wildlife spectacle!
Part 2.
9th February
At 8.15am a flock of about 200 Barnacles landed on the mudflats in the bay near the Viaduct (NY 209 624). Some eventually walked up onto the saltmarsh to graze. Another small flock joined them. Eventually they all took to the air and flew inland in the direction of the Reserve's wetlands.
Barnacle flock on viaduct bay mudflats - leucistic bird with them.
More geese landing.
Some of them making their way up onto the saltmarsh.
Suddenly taking off and flying inland.
Intent on tracking them, at 9.15 am we went down the Lonning. There was a solitary Pinkfoot amongst the reeds around the meadow Pools. Arriving at the hide we were greeted by half a dozen or so Pintail upending in the front of the wetland area on the right hand side of the causeway. Plenty of Teal, Wigeon , Mallard and Shoveler were also busy feeding. Looking along the new path a Buzzard was busy preening in its usual tree - this continued for about 20 minutes until the harassment it got from the Crows became too much to take and it retreated towards the wood. Suddenly from the NE, flocks of Barnacles and Pinks started to fly over in a circling movement as if they were uncertain where to land. What a spectacle it was from the hide, as more and more flocks joined them. After a while, it was now 10.30 am, they all in unison flew off in the direction of Cardurnock in long thin lines across the skyline.
Barnacles wheeling over the Reserve.
Continuous skeins of geese heading SW over the Lonning.
Distance skeins viewed from the hide.
Barnacles flying over the hide.
Pintails feeding in front of the hide.
At 11.15am, we were joined in the hide by another birdwatcher( PG) who reported that earlier in the morning at Rogersceugh, there had been a mixed flock of Pinks and Barnacles numbering 3-4000. On his way round he had also seen 2 Little Egret in Saltmarsh Pool.
10th February.
Having seen geese moving en masse in a SW direction, yesterday, we decided to have a look round the other side of the Wampool estuary. We soon came across a group of Whoopers and Pinks ( 2.15pm), all grazing together in the riverside meadows at Angerton (NY 225 571). There were 150 Whoopers in all, including 24 juveniles and 81 Pinks.
Whoopers at Angerton,
. . . grazing with Pinkfeet who seemed unconcerned.
Further groups.
More landing.
Greeting each other.
On the way back at high tide, a group of 80 Barnacles were up on the marsh front near the Anthorn masts entrance (NY 191 577).
Barnacles near Anthorn masts.
. . . grazing the saltmarsh.
Later on in the day (5.10pm) a Little Egret had been see on the bank of Campdfield's 1st Meadow Pool - along with Wigeon there.
Thank you for this record, Urisa Reungsuwan
It had been a milder hazy sort of day. A female Bullfinch was seen feeding on the hangers in the hamlet at West Common - first one of the season.
Female Bullfinch eating sunflower hearts.
12th February.
High pressure gloom persisted. 2 Little Egrets were seen working the dubs along Campfield marsh during the morning.
Coming back from Kirkbride via the estuary at 2.25pm, we came upon 57 Whoopers grazing the roadside meadow at Longcroft (NY 217 581) including 12 juveniles. No flock at Angerton today.
Some of the group. The juveniles have darker plumage and paler yellow/white and black bills.
A few more.
Then at 2.50pm, 1000+ Barnacles were seen grazing Campfield Marsh on the estuary side of Saltmarsh Pool (NY 192 613) - including three leucistics birds.
Barnacles (and two leucistic birds) grazing the marsh beyond Saltmarsh Pool.
Bathing and drinking in the pool.
They spread out along the marsh towards the boundary fence.
Two of the leucistics seem to keep together.
Enjoying the wet margins of the pool.
A Treecreeper is seen irregularly, working up the tree trunks in the hamlet (West Common).
Picking in the patches on the tree trunks that the Woodpecker has exposed.
13th February.
On the way to Carlisle at 11pm, we noticed a small flock of Barnacles on the edge of the marsh just east of Drumburgh.
14th February.
Valentine's day turned out to be sunny and a lot milder. There was a noticeable cheerfulness in the air and Gold and Greenfinches, along with a Moorhen were newcomers to the scene. Small skeins of Pinks and Barnacles passed over the hamlet during the morning.
John, on his walk down the Lonning, commented that there had been plenty of duck on the water. Brian B. who was on duty, had seen a Yellowhammer on the bird feeding station at the Wetlands Centre.
Other reports: BC - 3500 Pinks in a field just inland from Mawbray. Half took off and landed on land near Lowsay Farm.
16th February.
A bright crisp morning. Two Goldfinch were of note on the hamlet niger seed feeders, along with a Willow Tit which is now making regular visits to the seed feeders. Two Moorhens pay early morning visits, also.
Goldfinch balancing act.
Blue Tit deftly managing a piece of bread it had found.
An afternoon trip to Kirkbride via Cardurnock elicited a flock of about 500 Barnacles on the marsh by the masts at Anthorn. Further on at Whitrigg Bridge there was a small flock of Pinkfeet (310). On returning half an hour later we could see that there were indeed in the region of 3 - 4000 Barnacles and Pinkfeet spread out along the riverside meadows of Whitrigg Marsh.
Pinks at Whitrigg Bridge . . .
. . . grazing the riverside meadows.
Mixed flock of Pinkfeet and Barnacles (including a leucistic bird) . . .
. . . stretched out into the distance along Whitrigg marsh.
Back at the marsh by the masts at Anthorn, the group of Barnacles we'd seen earlier were still there. As it was now low tide, they were out on the mudflats - but some of them started to make their way up onto the saltmarsh to graze.
Barnacles on the mudflats near the masts at Anthorn.
Close up - on wet mud.
Making their way up onto the saltmarsh.
Returning to Campfield Marsh two Little Egrets were seen near Biglands, working their way along - flying in and out of the dubs as they came.
Little Egrets.
17th February.
A lovely sunny day. A cold brisk wind had covered the estuary with white horses as the tide made its way in. There had been some good aerial displays of grey waders up and down the tideline. The plumage of about 25 Shelduck was catching the sun's rays, making them stand out well on the mudflats.
Aerial display of grey waders.
Shelduck on the tideline.
On our way to Silloth for a fish and chip lunch, we were pleased to see the large flock of mixed geese (3-4000) we had previously seen on Whitrigg marsh, were still using this area. As we passed through Angerton about 500 Pinks were also grazing the riverside meadow there too.
Splendid Barnacles in morning light at Whitrigg.
Mixed flock - Whitrigg Marsh.
A small flock of Pinks can be seen in the background near Whitrigg Bridge.
A slight disturbance put the flock up.
. . . but not all took to the air.
They soon settled down again . . .
. . . and back to the serious business of the day.
Over near Whitrigg bridge a group of Pinks were seen in the foreground . . .
. . . with a few more landing.
The leucistic bird amongst the flock.