Author: Walney Wildlife

Another dry day but with a cool easterly breeze. Brian must have been up yesterday and opened the gate at the top of the long pond, cows were spread on both sides of the gate and not very happy,. lots of calling and wandering, then the penny dropped and we realised the calves were missing.
Took some photos of Blue Tits,Robin and Bullfinch, at the owl bench, and waterfowl on one of the small square ponds.

Bob and Bri

A beautiful sunrise this morning, couple of shots over the airfield and the new tower.
There are still a few swans about the number varies day to day.
Also a few Magpies and one caught on top of cow’s back.
The tides are fairly low this week, caught a few Oystercatchers resting at Earnse Bay.

Bob and Bri

Today we counted a total of 13 swans, two residents on the fishing pond, a single on the north square pond and a group of 10 on the long pond, one of the group had a number 4CPA, not previously recorded.
Yesterday we were talking to Roy, one of the bird recorders and after we mentioned the increase in the number of swans and their ring identities, he was very interested because he thought they were ones he had previously rung himself on Ormsgill reservoir.
When we have confirmation we will add it to the blog.

Bob and Bri

The swan numbers are now up to 15 including the resident pair, which are normally found on the fishing pond, all the others are usually on the long pond.
One pair are usually at the top end of the pond, one has a number H6P, which we know was tagged on Ormsgill reservoir in August 2011, the remainder are normally at the south end, and two numbers are 4CVS and 4BTC. All are Blue rings with White writing, see photos.
Brian has cut the fields, first time for three years, lets hope it encourages more variety of flowers next year.
One of the owl boxes was removed, to be replaced due to it’s poor condition, contained three eggs. The last time it was checked, before the camera stopped working, was 27th Sept last year. This is the second time Barn Owls have abandoned the nest.

Bob and Bri

This morning spotted a much cheaper way for fast-food delivery.

Bob and Bri

The number of swans on the long pond grew to eight, not including the resident pair on the fishing pond.
A flock of about 400 Jackdaws flew over this morning, collective noun "Clattering" which is very appropriate.
We still are seeing Jays at the feeder, see photo with it’s favourite food.
This time of year is excellent for seeing fungi, and came across a colony yesterday.

Bob and Bri

There have been the odd couple of swans dropping in now and then but this weekend there were seven, and normally the resident pair just harass the visitors until they leave. This morning there was a truce, while they all fed, see photos.

Bri

It was reported to be the warmest October day for a few years and there were a few butterflies taking advantage, a few Small Copper on the reserve and in the garden, I counted 8 Red Admirals on one plant. Also a few Common Darter dragonfly were hunting through the swarms of insects.
Two young swans were paying a visit, could be from a previous brood, one on the fishing pond and one on the long pond , which proved to be a bad choice, as it was being harassed by the resident female, see photos.
Teal are now here,and in the early morning enjoy sitting around the edges of the various small islands in the long pond, to catch the warmth of the sun.
A Cormorant on the fishing pond had eaten too much this morning it was too heavy to take off, see photo.

Bri

The last of the swallows are taking advantage of the High Pressure and moving quickly through, we also spotted 3 Fieldfare passing through.
A pair of swans have arrived on the long pond and after a long battle, the resident pair lost, and have now been relegated to the smaller ponds.
Still quite a few Red Admirals about and the odd Small Copper.
Goldfinches numbers are down again but found a few feeding in the grass on the tip.
Once again with a clear view of the hills we can appreciate what a beautiful this is.

Not much to report at the moment,most of the summer visitors are on the way south, Swallows in the stable had two broods this year but unfortunately, even with the help of the first brood, they had to leave two behind to die in the nest.
There is an unusual coloured Carrion Crow often seen on West Shore Road. it looks like it has been crossed with a Magpie, see photo.
On the way home this morning we came across a young Common Lizard on the path over the tip.
We have also seen a couple of Dragonflies flying around the area between the two small ponds, but difficult to confirm, but appear to be similar to Southern Hawkers.

Bob and Bri