Here are recent sightings submitted to us, which may not be verified. Please submit a sighting. If you have a query about a sighting please contact us on sightings@cumbriabirdclub.org.uk.
See also the Walney Bird Observatory blog, latest photos from Cumbria on BirdGuides and the Cumbria Birding Facebook group.
1: 19 May 2024 Gropper
Location: Geltsdale RSPB Reserve
Name: Andy Lester
Totals today: 3m grasshopper warbler incl x1 showing well from trail near visitor centre 6 cuckoo. 4m 2f 5 whinchat. 3m 2f 3m sedge w 3m whitethroat 3m garden warbler but not a single wheatear!!
2: 18 May 2024 CBC Dawn chorus event
Location: Livingstone Homestead
Name: Andy Lester
Species list from dawn chorus event: Cuckoo 1 tree sparrow 5 Redpoll 1 siskin 8 redstart 3 willow Warbler 7 chiff chaff 4 dipper 1 grey Wagtail 1 also: blue tit 8. Great tit 5. coal tit 3. Goldcrest 2. Buzzard 1. House sp 10 Swallow 5. House Martin 4. sand martin 1. Nuthatch 1. treecreeper 2. blackcap 5 Skylark 1. jackdaw 12. carrion crow 3 Rook 2. bullfinch 4. Chaffinch 12. Greenfinch 1. starling 25. Blackbird 6. song Thrush 8. Wren 14. Robin 6 dunnock 3. Goldfinch 7. woodpigeon 12. collated Dove 2. stock Dove 2. pheasant 4. Great sp Woodpecker 2
Total: 40 species
3: 18 May 2024 Honey Buzzard over garden heading north
Location: New Hutton, Kendal
Name: Robert Petley-Jones
Single bird flying low over garden being harassed by rooks and jackdaws. Long tail and broad wings clear, as was flat wing profile as it circled over the site. Observer familiar with the species from time as Senior Reserves Manager at Roudsea Wood and Mosses NNR, when birds from nearby were regularly seen over the site. It moved north towards Fisher Tarn reservoir. Sighting at c, 16.45.
5: 13 May 2024 Migrant count
Location: Longtown Gravel Pits
Name: Andy Lester
Longtown Pits area incl Arthuret Pools. whitethroat 8male garden warbler 7m blackcap 8m willow Warbler 12 chiff chaff 6 swift 4 sand martin 150-200 swallow 60-80 goosander 2. 1m 1f shelduck 3 yellow Wagtail. 1 wigeon 2 shoveler 4. 2m 2f gadwall 2. 1m 1f kingfisher 3. 2ad 1juv common sandpiper 5
6: 12 May 2024 Red Kite
Location: Penrith
Name: John France
Bird flying West over Penrith town centre at 12.10pm
7: 12 May 2024 Little gull
Location: Wedholme Flow
Name: Andy Lester
Wedholme Flow this am with Connor Fraser: 1 male garganey 1 1st summer little gull 7 garden warbler 12 black tailed godwit 2 sedge Warbler 2 cuckoo (males) 18-20 willow Warbler 9m reed bunting
8: 11 May 2024 Migrants move through
Location: Livingstone Homestead
Name: Andy Lester
Weird sighting of a sedge warbler in sitka spruce for an hour before heading north. Also: tree pipit, redstart, common whitethroat, tree sparrow
9: 10 May 2024 Cockoos
Location: Lowick Beacon, Ulverston
Name: Andrea Collins
At least six Cuckoos. Lots of interesting interactions between individual Cuckoos, and between Cuckoos and Willow Warblers / Stonechats / Meadow Pipits.
10: 10 May 2024 Snow Goose flock
Location: Halforth, Kent Estuary
Name: Ronnie Irving
A flock of 24 Snow Geese, including a ‘blue’ morph, flew in calling from the south at 1140am, apparently the same flock (23 white and 1 blue) left Belvide Reservoir, Staffs. earlier today at 0810am a flight of 110 miles!