4th Breeding Wader Survey

Another fine morning on your farm earlier today, doing the 4^th wader survey.

A lot of change since the last visit (17^th May), with most chicks now having turned into fledged youngsters, very capable of good flight. Large groups of adults and fledged young moving about, including using fields on adjacent farms, which makes the process of trying to count them quite interesting !

However the counts showed at least 76 adults still using your fields, with 27 fledged youngsters, and at least a further 5 young not yet fledged – shaping up to look like a good year.

Curlew, oystercatcher and redshank all still present, and also several skylark in good song.

A single raven flew over, calling loudly, and was hastely seen off by the lapwing.

Best wishes

Andrew.

Viewings from the bird hide

Lapwings 109+ including birds still sitting on eggs, chicks of various ages and a post-breeding flock of circa 35 birds.
Curlew - 2
Oystercatcher - 3
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - 2
Skylark - 1
Dunnock - 2
Swallows

Gavin Thomas and Sarah Blyth (RSPB)

Nature diary notes

Sound of lapwings as we got out of the car. Herds of curlews! Wonderful sounds. Swifts screaming. Lovely birds on the bird feeder in the garden too.
Saw a female deer running across a fell!

Brigit & Gwen Thurstan

Viewings from the bird hide

Starlings feeding under cows!

Charles & Linda, RSPB members

Viewings from the bird hide

Lapwing, skylark, mallard and ducklings, oystercatchers, hares

Viewings from the bird hide

2 brown hare, 2 skylark, numerous lapwings and young, swallows, house martins, curlew, mallard, oystercatchers

Birds in the garden

Spent a few minutes in the garden this afternoon and watched the blue tits on the bird table.