After organising the black grouse co-ordinated lek count this morning, Ian Ryding (Farmland Warden) was on the way back to the office when he found a little egret near Tindale Tarn.
Record shot of the little egret on Stagsike Meadow (Adam Moan)
The bird flew onto the meadow in front of the office and was feeding for a short while before flying off at height. This was the 200th bird species to be seen on the reserve. Ian also found an osprey at the tarn yesterday, that did not linger either. The black grouse numbers this year are on a record high, 59 males has been the highest count so far this spring. Good weather last June meant breeding productivity was high last year.
With the warmer and settled weather more migrants are being seen, meadow pipits scarce a few weeks ago are now back in numbers. Goldcrests and the chiffchaffs, more usually seen in autumn, have been passing through. Wheatears, in small numbers, are dotted around the reserve and early in the morning, ring ouzels are singing, though difficult to see. Over the last few days sand martins and swallows have been seen.
Waders are starting to nest, lapwings are sitting now and redshank, back in good numbers, are displaying. Curlew and snipe can be heard displaying over the reserve.
Highlight last week was a rough-legged buzzard passing over the reserve, found by Pete Howard. Although very scarce locally, we have recorded this species regularly over the last 10 years.