The recent cold weather has meant a slow start to the breeding season with meadow pipits arriving back in lower numbers than usual along with low numbers of summer migrants. Cuckoos are now present in the Bruthwaite woodland (at least 2 males have been heard). Grasshopper warbler can be heard singing in the morning by the main cark park and sedge warbler occasionally by the tarn. We have curlews sitting on eggs and lapwings with chicks at Stagsike. When the sun is shining the Bruthwaite woodland is alive with a multitude of singing willow warblers, which is a joy to hear. Barn owls are regularly seen on the trails but short-eared owls are back in low numbers due to a lull in the vole cycle. Common sandpiper has been seen at Tindale Tarn. Whinchats have yet to arrive back in any numbers, with just one sighting so far on 23rd April. We've seen large numbers of golden plover stopping over on passage, held back by the winds from the north.