Goshawk

Friday 9th October. Walking down the track at the rear of arnside playing field down to the station I was surprised to see a juvenile goshawk fly over- perhaps a Cumbrian bird wandering after the breeding season. I was struck by it's pigeon like characteristics - a much chunkier bird than the local sparrowhawks. 

Thurnham and Holme

A trip to North Norfolk and a walk from Thurnham to Holme bird observatory and back. Flocks of Brent geese on the marshes with wigeon ( still coming out of eclipse plumage), greenshank, curlew, dunlin, bar-tailed godwit, sanderling and many egrets and grey herons. Lots of passé runes including skylark, reed bunting and a single wheatear. Highlight was a yellow-browed warbler by Holme observatory- managed a few brief glimpses as it flitted about a bunch of trees. 

Return to Cumbria

Cumbria 1st to 2nd October Back in Arnside to see a few last minute migrants. A walk on Helm Crag produced buzzard and raven but also surprisingly a wheatear at the summit of Gibson knott. On the 2nd I heard a chiffchaff singing in ashmeadow.