Trudy's First List

Alun and Trudy were already installed in Askam when I arrived at 08.30 on Saturday 14th January. Trudy had recieved a sparkly new pair of Pentax binoculars from Father Christmas and, having more or less learned how to focus them without being obscured too much by eye-lashes, it was time to place her feet tentatively on the next rung of the ornithological ladder, namely constructing a species list. The first site chosen was the RSPB reserve at Hodbarrow, near Millom. It was a lovely day some 4 weeks after the Winter Solstice and the sunshine was already generating some real warmth. We were soon off the mark with various waterfowl including Red-breasted Merganser, Eider, Goldeneye, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard, Little and Great Crested Grebes. A circuit of the lake on foot was concluded with a picnic of Mabel's pies supplemented by cheesy buns and mince pies. A quick visit to Borwick Rail on the way home added Collared Dove, Shelduck and Wigeon and better views of some waders like Redshank, Knot, Turnstone and Curlew leaving us with a list of a tantalising 46.

Trudy locates a Goldeneye at the RSPB Hodbarrow Reserve

Sunday morning was bright as the sun rose with a bracing cold breeze, but a stroll to the end of Askam Pier added a flock of Twite (Trudy seemed twite pleased with that), Greylag Goose and Mistle Thrush. However a walk to the monument at the top of Hoad Hill, Ulverston, was required to bring up the half-century with Kestrel, Meadow Pipit and Raven.

Trudy's List

1.Blackbird; 2.Rook; 3.Starling; 4.Jackdaw; 5.Black-headed Gull; 6.Buzzard; 7.Carrion Crow; 8.Common Gull; 9.Tufted Duck; 10.Pochard; 11.Robin; 12.Little Grebe; 13.Goldeneye; 14.Mallard; 15.Herring Gull; 16.Eider; 17.Red-breasted Merganser; 18.Teal; 19.Great Crested Grebe; 20.Oystercatcher; 21.Lapwing; 22.Canada Goose; 23.Reed Bunting; 24.Stonechat; 25.Turnstone; 26.Golden Plover; 27.Knot; 28. Cormorant; 29.Curlew; 30.Mute Swan; 31.Great Black-backed Gull; 32.House Sparrow; 33.Chaffinch; 34.Magpie; 35.Great Tit; 36.Blue Tit; 37.Dunnock; 38.Goldfinch; 39.Greenfinch; 40.Wren; 41.Collared Dove; 42.Wigeon; 43.Shelduck; 44.Lesser Black-backed Gull; 45.Song Thrush; 46.Woodpigeon; 47.Twite; 48. Greylag Goose; 49.Mistle Thrush; 50.Kestrel; 51.Meadow Pipit; 52.Raven; 53. Coal Tit.