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BIRDS
OF PREY IN CUMBRIA HOBBY:
occasional records of passage birds; could it begin to breed here soon? MARSH
HARRIER:
occasional records of passage birds. Leighton Moss birds sometimes hunt
over the salt marsh at Grange and Arnside. RED
KITE:
how long will it be before the Yorkshire birds discover the delights
of Cumbria? ROUGH-LEGGED
BUZZARD:
rare winter visitor.
Recent
years have seen an improvement in the fortunes of birds of prey in Cumbria
after disastrous times in the 1960's and 1970's. By the mid-1970's Peregrines
were so rare that 24-hour watches were mounted during the breeding season;
now, numbers have probably reached the limit that can be supported. Merlins
have also recovered, Buzzards have expanded their range and both Osprey
and Honey Buzzard have started and continued to breed in the last few
years. However, Hen Harriers continue to give cause for concern due to
persecution and the Lake District's famous Golden Eagle pair have not
successfully fledged young for several years.
Habitat:
wooded
valleys with open ground
Status:
increasing,
common
Where:
almost
every part of the county
Winter:
resident
Notes:
from
below, plumage varied light and dark.
Habitat:
mountains
Status:
one
unsuccessful breeding pair
Where:
Haweswater
Winter:
disperses
Notes:
new
male in 2002 may improve prospects; lack of carrion may hinder breeding
success.
Habitat:
coniferous
and old deciduous woodland
Status:
about
10 sites occupied
Where:
north-east
Cumbria
Winter:
resident
Notes:
illegally
persecuted; habitat may also be felled
Habitat:
moorland
Status:
a
few pairs only
Where:
Geltsdale
Winter:
Walney,
Duddon, Solway, Bassenthwaite
Notes:
heavy
persecution on shooting estates leads to poor breeding success
Male Sparrowhawk
digiscoped photo reproduced by kind permission of Andy Bright
www.digiscopingUKbirds.co.uk
Habitat:
deciduous
woodland
Status:
probably
two or three breeding pairs
Where:
L.
D. National Park
Winter:
tropical
Africa
Notes:
needs
bee and wasp nests!; paler beneath, longer head and tail barring
help to distinguish from Buzzard
Habitat:
open
areas, often urban
Status:
common
Where:
countywide,
but less common in Eden Valley and central Lakes area
Winter:
resident
Notes:
nest
in old crow nests, tree holes, cliff ledges and on tall buildings
Habitat:
moorland
Status:
recovering;
c.50 breeding pairs
Where:
Pennines,
Lakes High Fells
Winter:
on
coast - Walney, Solway
Notes:
ground
nesting, smallest falcon, prey taken in level flight
Habitat:
pine/spruce
forest near lakes
Status:
possibly
three pairs
Where:
Bassenthwaite
area
Winter:
tropical
Africa
Notes:
passage
birds to and from Scotland also recorded; spectacular dives into
water for fish.
Habitat:
cliffs
both coastal and inland
Status:
c.
90 occupied territories
Where:
west
and south of county especially
Winter:
resident
Notes:
unpopular
with pigeons; may be declining slightly again.
Habitat:
woodland,
large gardens
Status:
stable
and common
Where:
countywide
Winter:
resident
Notes:
secretive
woodland species increasingly seen at bird feeders (as farmland
birds decline?)