Autumn '25: Back to Local Birding

There was nothing of great note locally in the months of August and September, and to be honest, after the Madagascar extravaganza, everything paled into insignificance for a while. A fair few Curlew Sandpipers turned up at various locations, and I had fun trying to get my best shots of this photogenic species. Work took over from the start of the academic year, and it wasn’t until late September than I took up my binoculars again.

The 28th of the month proved to be good for photography, and I took some pleasing shots locally of Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Little Egret and Common Sandpiper in particular. A couple of days later, on the 6th October, I struck gold when I fluked a Short-eared Owl drifting past over the local mudflats. These birds are rare around here, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to get a photo.

I anticipated a little more than just a record shot, but the bird didn’t hang around for long and made its way swiftly up the coast. I did manage to get something to remember the experience by, but how nice it would have been if I’d got into position sooner. On the 18th, there was great excitement as a Glossy Ibis dropped in at the local RSPB Reserve. (A national influx meant that there was always the possibility of one making a county appearance.) At first, the bird was some way off, and I had a frustrating time of it trying to get something half decent to remember the bird by, but later on, after I’d made a brief visit to the most distant hide to get shots of Marsh Harrier, the bird flew in much closer, and I ended up being rather pleased with the final images I took.

The 25th was a sunny day, and I enjoyed trying to capture some of the commoner species in all their glory, the most handsome of which was perhaps the Lapwing; there was a small gathering of these beauties on the shore line and by crawling through the wet grass and mud, I managed to get close to the birds in question. The 27th of the month brought nothing new, so I went in pursuit of the recent thrush invasion, attempting to get something decent to send in for the local bird report. I noticed a group of Fieldfare hanging around in distant bushes off the coastal road, and after some stealthy manoeuvres, I worked my way into position to get some decent images. I’m actually rather pleased with the shots I took of this shy species. Nearby I fluked a nice Tree Sparrow on a more natural perch than the ones on which they usually alight.

It was, however, the following day (28th October) that proved to be one of the best. I’d been over to the local patch a few times by this stage observing the raptor movements, and I knew now where I could position myself to get the best views. The light today was exceptional, and I knew that if the birds showed, I’d be in with a shout of some good images. Rather than the male Hen Harrier I was anticipating, a couple of females made an appearance, but this suited me with a male having shown well back in January. These birds performed very nicely indeed against the setting sun, and I was very close to achieving the shots I wanted. Amongst all the Harrier mayhem, I also spotted a raptor perched in a tree, which I believe was a Merlin; I quite like the atmospheric appeal of the wide view shot here (and secretly wish I’d been much closer to this gem of a bird!) Anyway, I was quite content in the end focussing on the stays of the show – not one but two female Hen Harriers, quartering the marshes and interacting occasionally, twisting and banking like kites in the wind – all in the golden light of the setting sun. Beautiful.

At the turn of the month, I spotted, at the same location, a Peregrine cutting through the crisp crepuscular air, and on the 1st November, a Fox amongst the heather and, further along the boardwalk, some Roe Deer (a mother with young) on the 2nd. Things picked up on the 8th when a lone Richardson’s Cackling Goose was found amongst the Barnacle Geese further afield, and I was keen to make amends for past failures on this front. (Whilst I’d connected with the original first for Cumbria a few years ago, my photo was poor.) So, I turned up expecting the bird to be miles away, but I was in luck and found it far closer than I had anticipated. Personally, I was expecting something much smaller (and might have even passed this off as a larger relative), but it was the only Canada-type individual here, and I had no doubts that this was the bird in question. I got decent views and patiently waited for it to separate itself from any ‘overlapping’ Barnacle Geese before pressing the shutter release.

The 16th November proved to be even better: news of a scarcity came through, but atypically, the bird in question was not a coastal fly-past or one on choppy waters miles from prying eyes. It was in fact a confiding individual on flooded fields (next to Brougham Castle near Penrith). As luck would have it, I could not have timed things better; the bird in question was the most delightful Grey Phalarope, and it showed brilliantly, feeding on insects on the still frosty flood waters. To cut a long story short, I came away with my best shots of this species – ever! Indeed, it’s been over a decade perhaps since I’ve seen this species, so all told, this was a special moment indeed. I spend a very happy half-hour with this delightful bird trying to get my best images of it, ideally with its reflection in the icy water. I came away very happy with the results – and soon forgot about my frostbitten knees and sopping wet trousers!

The 22nd November brought nothing special, but I did manage to find a Peregrine Falcon on the marsh, perched on a fence post. I was careful in my approach and did well to get withing shooting distance (given the complete lack of cover here). Further afield, the returning female Ring-necked Duck showed well at Longtown on the 30th of the month.

On the 6th December 2025, there wasn’t much about, but I did come across a weird hybrid goose. Because of the diffuse breast band, darker grey underparts and bizarre necklace, I took this to be a Brent-Barnacle hybrid.