July 2008
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Highlights: An adult Pectoral Sandpiper
lingered at Port Carlisle (27th-30th), a Honey Buzzard Furness: Two Great Skuas were seen at Foulney (12th). At least six different Mediterranean Gulls roosted at Bardsea and an exceptional 59 Common Sandpipers were on the Leven Estuary (11th).
Inner Solway: An unseasonable Whooper Swan was at Grinsdale.
A Marsh Harrier over Port Carlisle (27th) was followed by an
Osprey there
Kent Estuary: Up to five Little Egrets were present. An Egyptian Goose visited Halforth (15th). There were regular sightings of Marsh Harrier and an Osprey was also seen, as was an adult Mediterranean Gull (13th). Waders included the odd Greenshank and Whimbrel.
Outer Solway: Workington produced Storm Petrels (max. 15),
Manx Shearwaters (max. 106) Walney Bird Observatory: Offshore highlights involved totals of 30 Storm Petrels and 24 Arctic Skuas, two Shags (20th) and single Puffin (2nd), Black Guillemot (10th) and Great Skua (15th and 20th). There were regular sightings of Manx Shearwaters (max. 340 on 9th), Gannets (max. 425 on 15th), Common Scoters (max. 145 on 9th), Sandwich Terns (max. 205 on 10th), Arctic Terns (max. 40 on 8th) and Little Terns (max. 30 on 8th) along with small numbers of Fulmar, Kittiwake, Razorbill, Guillemot and Common Tern. Returning Red-throated Divers were logged (14th and 21st). The first Little Egret reappeared (13th) and a juvenile Water Rail was seen, raising speculation of breeding or early movement. An Osprey flew through (27th). A few Teal and Shoveler began to drift back and a female Gadwall was seen (30th). Wader sightings were led by two Little Ringed Plovers (27th) and single Wood Sandpiper (16th) and up to two Green Sandpipers (29th-31st). Also seen were up to 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 22 Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Greenshank, 12 Whimbrel and three Common Sandpipers. Reed Warblers were confirmed as breeding at two sites on the island and post-breeding dispersal produced a Treecreeper (6th) and good numbers of juvenile Stonechats (max. 14 on 20th). The first southbound migrants were on the move towards the end of the month with 80 Swifts (23rd), 51 Swallows (24th), 30 Pied Wagtails (21st) and 18 Sand Martins (28th). Others sightings included totals of 42 Willow Warblers, 19 Grey Wagtails, four Wheatears, three Lesser Whitethoats and single Yellow Wagtail and Lesser Redpoll. Other sites: Two Spoonbills, an adult and an immature, visited the Esk Estuary near Ravenglass (6th) and a Little Egret was at Killington (27th). The Bassenthwaite Lake Ospreys successfully fledged three young and a bird was also seen over Kendal (26th). Selker produced Storm Petrels (max. six) and Manx Shearwaters (max. 50). At least four Quail continued to call near Culgaith in the Eden Valley. A Turtle Dove visited a Kendal garden (7th).
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flew over Walney Island (27th) and the long-staying Lancashire
Chough strayed over the Cumbrian border to the Far Arnside area (29th)
(30th)
and one Quail still called at Fingland Rigg. Waders included
a Curlew Sandpiper (30th) and a
Ruff at Port Carlisle, Black-tailed Godwits (max. 12 at
Wedholme Flow) and a few Greenshank and Whimbrel. A total of
three Arctic Skuas were seen at Bowness-on-Solway along with both
an adult and a first-summer Little Gull and an adult
Mediterranean Gull was seen at Silloth. Crossbill sightings
comprised 107 at High Stand Plantation, seven at Cliburn Moss and four
over Glasson Moss. 
and a total of four Arctic Skuas. An unseasonable Whooper Swan
was at Sellafield (15th) and adult
Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Workington, Siddick Pond and
Maryport.