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The
arrival of those summer migrants not yet here will be eagerly
anticipated. The real gem would be a sighting of Garganey, peak
times being late March into April (hot spots being Walney, Hodbarrow
and around the Leven estuary). The first Swallow, House Martin
and Willow Warbler are usually reported by the end of the first
week of the month, with the main influx soon afterwards. Common
Sandpiper, Redstart and Cuckoo have often been sighted by mid-month.
By the month end Swift should be riding the thermals and our
woods should provide the opportunity to hear, if not see, Garden
and Wood Warbler together with Pied Flycatcher. The raucous
"song" of Sedge Warbler will be starting again around water
with reed beds. The two Whitethroat species could just make
it before the month is out - each following a different route
from Africa - but peak numbers won't be here until May, the
preferred arrival time of Spotted Flycatcher. Now should be
the time to look out for the Ospreys returning to Bassenthwaite
to breed. On the Solway, around Walney and in both the Leven
and Kent Estuaries late April to early May is the peak time
for passage Whimbrel.
April is the best time to see and hear an otherwise difficult
bird to spot. At dusk Woodcock make their roding flights - damp
woodland is the place to look, especially the Rusland and Greenodd
areas.
Many insects should get on the move this month, if continuing
cold weather does not hold them back. In the garden, warm sunshine
will tempt 7-spot Ladybirds to the surface of any conifer where
they might have been over-wintering. We are fortunate to have
the foodplant of Brimstone occurring widely, if rather sparsely,
across the southern parts of the county - Buckthorn on wooded
limestone and Alder Buckthorn on lowland mosses. This month
these strong flyers seek out the most favoured bushes, those
in sheltered spots that get plenty of sunshine! Other butterflies
which have over-wintered as the adult, Comma, Peacock and Small
Tortoiseshell will also be tempted out on warm sunny days.
Frogs
and Common Toads will have already spawned but by the start
of the month Natterjack Toads should be laying their long strings
of spawn - remember it is illegal to disturb them.
The
county's Red Deer population will be shedding their antlers
at this time of year. Strongholds for the species are the fells
south of Haweswater and east of Thirlmere, together with Grizedale
Forest and the Cartmel Fells. The much smaller Roe Deer are
much more widespread throughout the county, but will already
have developed new antlers and the velvet will be fraying off.
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