The sun is shining and Hodbarrow has come to life today. Just had a wander around taking some ‘before’ pictures for the litter pick (I’ll put some up after we’ve had it). All the birds, plants and insects seem to really be enjoying the brilliant weather.
Out of the bird breeding season Dave and some of the Campfield volunteers had been clearing scrub to create channels through the gorse which is ideal for butterflies and flowers. It was a bit breezy today but I managed to see a few butterflies including Wall, Common blue and Small White without too much delving. I’m not much of an expert so if anyone local to Millom has an interest in Butterflies and can help me do some surveying then get in touch.
It has kind of caught up on me a little bit but all of a sudden there seems to be a splash of colour everywhere with some of the earlier Flowers coming into bloom. It’s a welcome addition to Hodbarrow! Although this isn’t the best of photos you can see one of my favourite flowers Bird’s Foot Trefoil that creates the yellow carpet you see particularly around the dunes. There is also an orchid species which I think is an Early Marsh orchid which I found near to the quarry pool. I’ve see lot’s of other flowers starting to come through I'll try and get some pictures!
As you can see there is more to Hodbarrow than just the Birds. Next time don't hurry to the hide have a meander through the scrub and have a look at some of the dunes there so much to see as well as out brilliant birds.
Does litter and fly tipping at RSPB Hodbarrow annoy you? Can you spare a few hours at 2p.m. on 30th May?
The RSPB and Copeland Borough Council as part of the Copeland Health Week have organised a Community Clean up at Hodbarrow on 30th May 2-6pm.
If you could spare a few hours to help us collect litter and generally clean up Hodbarrow then please come down and show your support. We’ll be meeting at the main car park from Mainsgate road at 2p.m. bring outdoor clothes and sturdy shoes and we’ll provide the rest.
Litter at Hodbarrow is not only unsightly but can be harmful to the amazing wildlife that makes the reserve its home. By helping with our community clean up you’ll be helping to enhance a brilliant local resource which will benefit everyone in the community. Please help by giving us your time and enthusiasm the support would be greatly appreciated.
For more information contact:
Mhairi Maclauchlan
Assistant Warden, Hodbarrow Reserve
Millom Network CentreSalthouse Road
LA185AB
Email: mhairi.maclauchlan@rspb.org.uk
Firstly - Dave and myself along with a few others were very privelidged to get our eyes on to a possible reserve first.......At 12.30p.m. a Long Billed Dowitcher was sat probing right in front of the hide on the bank of the main shingle island. I won't mention that Dave and I were trying to name all the peaks we could see whilst having our lunch when some kind chap pointed a funny looking snipe out to us........ whoops....... it was still there when we left about 1.00pm and I'll have a wee look tonight sometime aswell. If any one has any pictures they might have taken of the said bird then please post them in the photos. what a surprise at lunch time!
I was also speaking to a lovely couple from london in the hide who commented that the blog hadn't been updated lately. Sorry about that all I'll try and write a bit more particularly now I know someones reading it!
Anyway other birds about..... Following the deployment of the decoy terns I thought I’d give a little bit of an update about terns! I have been seeing two little terns regularly often on the single in the bay next to the left hand spit. They tend to come in at High tide or on a rising tide and stop there or with the other terns on the spit. Recently I have been seeing up to 5 and have had reports of 6 on the island. They do not seem to be displaying just yet but positive thinking on my part. I might start to play some Barry White to help them out.
On the other hand, the Sandwich terns are certainly enjoying themselves! There have been up to 120 + on the spits on the island. They have started bringing in quite sizeable small fish some 2 or 3 times their bill length and there have been some passes between birds which is a really promising sign. Commons have also been bringing in a fish and strutting around with each other and doing this also on the ski bank just of the reserve. White throats have come in as well with reports of lessers too. I heard what could have been the start of a reed warbler getting into song but after standing around looking a little silly for a good twenty minutes nothing! Thats one to look/hear out for maybe.
Anyway here's a nice picture of the terns going over head when I was on the sea wall. Cheers and see you on the reserve - Mhairi
Hey its blawing a hooley out there!
After taking delivery of a large box Dave from campfield proudly produced 20+ resin painted little terns (or least terns if you are being pedantic as they are from America). The aim is to place the fake little terns onto the shingle islands in an attempt to lure any real ones into the area to breed. It’s a technique known as social attraction and seems to have worked in America to lure whole colonies away from certain areas and into others. Anyway it seems worth a try and below is a pair in place!
A mere 20 minutes after putting the decoys out yesterday we were called back into the hide by a helpful person to see what is thought to be one of the first little tern of the season! What a great coincidence. The two we saw seem to be sticking around too as I was in the hide today and they were still there alongside the Sandwich terns.
Oh and I took a wee bit of time to have a look out to sea and managed to catch up with one of my favourites Gannets! You can’t get much better than that.
Cheers
Mhairi
Well a week into my post as Hodbarrow Warden and I understand how people can be so passionate about the place. The site is so well used by Millom and Haverigg folk who have been very welcoming to me. During a recent litter pick around the car park I managed to receive some very encouraging comments (we'll ignore the "it'll go back to the same mess tomorrow" one). I've also been chatting to quite a few visitors to Hodbarrow who have put it on their holiday itinery which shows what a draw the site has for birdwatchers form further afield.
I've been spending a bit of time in the hide and Sandwhich terns seem to be settling in using the estuary and the reserve to move between . The main birds of the moment are the Sedge and Grasshoper warblers that have started singing and getting into fine voice around the site. The first Sedge warbler of the year I think was heard on Monday and I managed to catch up with one on Tuesday morning (Although if anyone knows of an earlier one let me know!) and now they've starting to sing over a few places. I also had a 'gropper of the track past the car park. We seem to be doing o.k. for 1st arrival dates in cumbria (I was given a rough list today) but I'm still keeping my eye out for Common tern.
Anyway keep me posted of any sightings you have on the reserve that might be of interest and I'll see you out and about.