Another Day another litter pick! Last Thursday saw Hodbarrow take part in the North West Evening News Big Clean. Every year they help communities to clean up their areas and we saw this as a great opportunity to pick up the last little bits we didn't get last time. Last little bits turned into 20 to 30 bags. Amazing! The RSPB volunteers from West Cumbria Local Group came down and helped in between looking for Butterflies. If you remember the weather of last week needles to say not many butterflies were found but I think everyone had a good time.The West Cumbria Local group which is based in Cockermouth come down to Hodbarrow regularly to do work on the reserve. They have an RSPB website if you would like more information about what they do http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/westcumbria/ .
I can't write without mentioning the weather! Some of the younger chicks and juveniles will have had a tough few days in this wind and rain. Hopefully we will get some warm weather to dry everyone out. One Cumbrian resident that enjoyed the rain were our Natterjacks. Having found adults and tadpoles in the pools on the island we worried they might dry up and scupper any toady chances. We need not have worried the rain has topped them up nicely and even created some new ones - at least someones happy.
NatterJack Tadpoles On the Island in May (DB)
On sunday I had a whole site bird count even straying as far a field as Haverigg point. On the beach at Haverigg near the sea wall there were 40 Sandwich terns all making a din. It's good to see them some where if not on Hodbarrow lagoon itself. Common terns seem to be doing quite well on the ski bank with about 30 there and several of those sitting tight on scrapes despite the bad weather. Waders and Wildfowl were the order of the day and on the lagoon there was a large flock of 80 oystercatchers. Lapwing are increasing in numbers aswell with 40 dotted around the site but mostly on the island.
Red-breasted mergansers are also increasing in numbers (40+) and there was a nice flock of half a dozen pochard near the duck feeding platform. It just shows that things are on the move again after the longest day. The geese are also building rank with an intruder.....see if you can see it....a bar headed goose has found its way to Hodbarrow. This species of Asian goose is the highest flying goose on the planet and has even been known to fly over the Himalaya. I'm not sure where this one has come from.... maybe over Black Combe?
An RSPB Image of a Bar headed Goose with a Canada. Not taken at Hodbarrow
you mean I can't count it pete?
The BH goose probably followed you from the Humber Mha via the M62, you can keep it too as I'm feeling in a generous mood.
Beautiful bar headed goose. Never seen these before