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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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    Check your local railway line

    If you live near a railway line which runs parallel to a footpath or close to a place you can access on foot, it's worth checking it out this Spring. My local patch in South Cumbria includes sections which crosses the railway either on road or foot bridges, and includes stretches close to a...
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    The North Sea v The Irish Sea

    We've just done a couple of cruises, one to Norway and Iceland, the other to Norway. It was interesting to compare the Irish Sea and the North Sea. We've sailed both several times on previous cruises and the Irish Sea always comes out the winner, probably because you're never far from land on...
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    United Utilities announce they will stop grouse shooting on their land

    Report from local paper. United Utilities signals end of grouse shooting on its land CUMBRIA'S water supply company has announced it will put a stop to grouse shooting on its land when the current leases come to an end. United Utilities, the largest corporate landowner in England, will...
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    Living in an overcrowded four storey block of flats

    Interesting to find these nesting Kittiwake in the middle of Alesund, Norway on a recent visit there. Not sure why it was thought necessary to create an artificial nesting site for them next to a building; Alesund is surrounded by no end of natural nesting areas but the Kittiwakes preferred this...
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    One in, one out

    It was sad not to see a Little Owl in its usual place at a local barn this year, but all's not lost. A Barn Owl has taken up residence instead. I guess in a residency dispute between a Barn Owl and a Little Owl there was only going to be one winner.
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    A 14 night Cruise from Southampton to Norway and Iceland, 22/6/23 to 6/7/23.

    A 14 night Cruise from Southampton to Norway and Iceland, 22/6/23 to 6/7/23. An interesting itinerary on the Arcadia, a P and O adult only cruise ship. We enjoyed calm seas for most of the voyage with the temperature varying from 3 degrees Celsius in Isafjordur to a balmy 26 degrees Celsius in...
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    Birdwatching by bus.

    We're fortunate to live in a rural location with an excellent bus service. Since retiring I've used a bus pass, so much so, that this week we filled up our small car with petrol for the first time in five months. We live near an estuary and some good inland birdwatching areas so if I can get...
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    Unusual Barn Swallow nest location

    A Barn Swallow has returned to a regular nesting site in the village pub's smoking annex. This year another has joined. There's usually one here every year, seemingly not bothered about the customers drinking, smoking and talking loudly every day. Its a busy area and stinks of smoke but that...
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    A female eider duck that was incubating eggs killed by a dog

    A tweet from Cumbria Wildlife Trust. This happened despite the site having a warden. I'm currently visiting some sites which remarkably aren't visited by any dog walkers or any other visitors. Already this year there've been successful breeding by Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Moorhen...
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    Good Willow Warbler numbers.

    I recall reading a thread where there was talk of a decline in Willow Warblers in parts of the UK. In Cumbria there appears to be as many as ever. I covered a relatively small patch yesterday and counted 17; every several yards another would be singing. A different larger patch often hosts...
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    Dog walkers disappear

    There's an excellent patch for birdwatching nearby. Potentially it could be overrun with dog walkers. It's close enough for local villagers to take their dogs for a walk and there's a lay-by opposite to park cars where the public footpath starts. After a dog walker was attacked by cows as he...
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    Birds along the railway line

    I know the railway authorities get some stick for chopping down trees alongside the tracks, but there's a considerable length of railway nearby which is surprisingly good for birds. Some of the track is raised so they've left trees growing below the line and there's also extensive brambles and...
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    The intriguing Sand martin nesting site saga

    The intriguing saga of an undisclosed Sand martin nesting site continues. Several years ago the Environmental Agency accidentally created a marvellous nesting site , leaving a large mound of spoils following works they were carrying out. Inexplicably they then flattened it, only for them to...
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    No need for fancy next boxes, just use an old Christmas decoration

    https://twitter.com/RealTimVine/status/1645329699592196097?s=20 Wren nesting in Christmas wreath.
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    New tern raft

    News of a new tern raft in Lancashire from the Lancaster and Fylde birdwatching societies involved with this project in conjunction with the RSPB. I'm not familiar with this area but I think I'm right in saying it suffers from some disturbance from leisure activities, so any additional help for...
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    Long-staying injured Whooper Swan

    I've been observing a long-staying injured Whooper Swan on the Kent Estuary which arrived well over two years ago. It has an injured wing which means it can't fly but it can waddle around on land and able to move about easily on the water. Fortunately it's in a location which is free of...
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    'Save Roanhead's Natterjacks from Tourism'

    Yet another huge holiday lodge site in the pipeline. If you'd like to sign the petition copy and paste 'Save Roanhead's Natterjacks from Tourism' on Change(dot)org website.
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    Excellent service from Hawke

    Bought 10 x 42 Hawke bins a couple of years ago. The focus went a bit off kilter recently. Sent them back and they were fixed and returned within a few days free of charge. Excellent service. Very pleased with them. Although a bit on the heavy side they are very robust and the bodywork is still...
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    Interesting article about bird flu

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/whats-killing-our-birds
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    A confiding owl.......

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    Increases in the number of gulls nesting and fledging at South Walney Nature Reserve

    An article from Cumbria Wildlife Trust about protecting the gull colony at Walney. Not far from here similar measures were taken to protect the tern colony at Hodbarrow resulting in a huge increase in successful breeding. They do a great job around the county supporting wildlife, including...
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    Whooper Swan with damaged wing

    A couple of years ago, after the Whoopers returned home for Summer, one stayed behind on the River Kent in Cumbria. After seeing it a few times I realised why: it had a damaged wing and couldn't fly. It spent its time between the marsh and the river. If anyone was around, it waddled into the...
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    Hodbarrow RSPB success

    When you read so much depressing news about of birds it makes a welcome change to find some good news. The main reasons why the terns have succeeeded would appear to be fox resistant fences around the nesting island and the ad hoc lasering of predatory gulls to deter them. A new island has...
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    Mallorca birds

    Spent 10 days in Cala D'Or from 15th to 25th May. Saw what I thought were Crested Lark in Mondrago Natural Park, around S'Horta, S'Alquerria Blanca and farmland trails heading out of Cala D'Or. Are these more likely to have been Thekla Lark. They appeared to be residents rather than migrants...
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