Friday 15th April 2011

An evening visit was quite productive with the following of note;

Stoneybeck Lake
7 Mute Swan & 1 Whooper Swan.

Castle Lake
A female Marsh Harrier slowly drifted north following the A177 before gaining height over Stoneybeck and flying east between 6.05pm to 6.12pm. The bird only received a small amount of harassment from a couple of gull's and corvids.
Others of interest included 1 Cormorant, 2pair Shelduck, 1f Goosander, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6+ Little Ringed Plover (including a pair mating), 1 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 22 Common Gull,  2+ Yellow Wagtail, and 4+ Whearear.

One of the first Common Sandpiper to stop off at Castle Lake this spring.

A1 Flashes
3 Grey Heron, 9 Teal and a drake Shoveler.

(Marsh Harrier takes my Bishop Middleham bird list to 133)