Last Updated: 1 January 2017
Birds Species
It is sad to have to update this page and record that for
reasons yet to be established there has been a major decline in the
population of water fowl frequenting Urswick Tarn. The near
total absence of coot, once present on this tarn in extremely large
numbers, both within living memory and similarly recorded in
historical papers, has been a matter of growing concern over recent
decades. But the avoidance of the tarn by other species once
commonly seen has become a matter of deepening concern.
Investigations and consultations are taking place in an attempt to
identify the reason. Septic tank outflows over its marl bench
thereby providing a pathway to the tarn for nutrients; farm effluent
disposed of via excavated soak-aways over fissured limestone bedrock
in close proximity to and at an appreciably higher elevation than
the tarn; and, herbicide use, are possible contributory factors with
plausible linkages with the tarn. Other possible causes are
not ruled out and an open mind is maintained at this stage.
The following retains the information previously on this page, but with the exception of Cormorant, Mallard and gulls it is no longer reliable in terms of the water fowl that might reasonably be seen, albeit on other than exceptional occasions.
The following are the bird species found at varying times on and around the immediate environs of Urswick Tarn:
Botaurus stellaris
Larus ridibundus
Chlidonias niger
Branta canadensis
Sterna paradisaea
Larus canus
Tringa hypoleucos
Fulica atra
Phalacrocorax carbo
Melanitta nigra
Anas strepera
Anas querquedula
Bucephala clangula
Mergus merganser
Anas platyrhynchos
Anas acuta
Aythya ferina
Mergus serrator
Netta rufina
Tadorna tadorna
Spatula clypeata
Anas crecca
Aythya marila
Anas penelope
Podiceps cristatus
Larus marinus
Tringa ochropus
Anser anser
Ardea cinerea
Motacilla cinerea
Larus argentatus
Delichon urbica
Lymnocryptes minimus
Alcedo atthis
Vanellus vanellua
Larus fuscus
Podiceps ruficollis
Cygnus olor
Haematopus ostralegus
Motacilla alba yarrellii
Tringa totanus
Emberiza schoeniclus
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Riparia riparia
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Podiceps auritus
Gallinago gallinago
Hirundo rustica
Gallinula chloropus
Rallus aquaticus
Cygnus cygnus
Bittern
Black headed gull
Black tern
Canada goose
'Comic' - Common arctic tern
Common gull
Common sandpiper
Coot
Cormorant
Duck
Common Scoter
Gadwall
Garganey
Goldeneye
Goosander
Mallard
Pintail
Pochard
Red Breasted Merganser
Red Crested Pochard
Shelduck
Shoveller
Teal
Tufted
Wigeon
Great Crested Grebe
Greater black backed gull
Green sandpiper
Greylag goose
Grey heron
Grey wagtail
Herring gull
House martin
Jack snipe
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Lesser black backed gull
Little Grebe (Dabchick)
Mute swan
Oystercatcher
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Reed bunting
Reed warbler
Sand martin
Sedge warbler
Slavonian Grebe
Snipe
Swallow
Waterhen
Water rail
Whooper swan
The following are other bird species found in the wider countryside around Urswick Tarn:
Tyto alba
Turdus merula
Sylvia atricapilla
Parus caeruleus
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Buteo buteo
Corvus corone corone
Fringilla coelebs
Phylloscopus collybita
Parus ater
Streptopelia decaocto
Cuculus canorus
Numenius arquata
Prunella modularis
Turdus pilaris
Sylvia borin
Regulus regulus
Carduelis carduelis
Dendrocopos major
Parus major
Carduelis chloris
Picus viridis
Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Circus cyaneus
Passer domesticus
Corvus monedula
Garrulus glandarius
Falco tinnunculus
Sylvia curruca
Athene noctua
Aegithalos caudatus
Pica pica
Anthus pratensis
Falco columbarius
Perdix perdix
Falco peregrinus
Phasianus colchicus
Corvus corax
Acanthis flammea
Turdus iliacus
Erithacus rubecula
Corvus frugilegus
Carduelis spinus
Aluda arvensis
Turdus philomelos
Accipiter nisus
Sturnus vulgaris
Apus apus
Strix aluco
Certhia familiaris
Sylvia communis
Phylloscopus trochilus
Scolopax rusticola
Columba palumbus
Troglodytes troglodytes
Barn owl
Blackbird
Blackcap
Blue tit
Bullfinch
Buzzard
Carrion crow
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Coal tit
Collared Dove
Cuckoo
Curlew
Dunnock
Fieldfare
Garden warbler
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Great spotted woodpecker
Great tit
Greenfinch
Green woodpecker
Hawfinch
Hen Harrier
House sparrow
Jackdaw
Jay
Kestrel
Lesser whitethroat
Little owl
Long tail tit
Magpie
Meadow pipit
Merlin
Partridge
Peregrine falcon
Pheasant
Raven
Redpoll
Redwing
Robin
Rook
Siskin
Skylark
Song thrush
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Swift
Tawny owl
Tree creeper
Whitethroat
Willow warbler
Woodcock
Wood pigeon
Wren
The following retains the information previously on this page, but with the exception of Cormorant, Mallard and gulls it is no longer reliable in terms of the water fowl that might reasonably be seen, albeit on other than exceptional occasions.
The following are the bird species found at varying times on and around the immediate environs of Urswick Tarn:
Botaurus stellaris
Larus ridibundus
Chlidonias niger
Branta canadensis
Sterna paradisaea
Larus canus
Tringa hypoleucos
Fulica atra
Phalacrocorax carbo
Melanitta nigra
Anas strepera
Anas querquedula
Bucephala clangula
Mergus merganser
Anas platyrhynchos
Anas acuta
Aythya ferina
Mergus serrator
Netta rufina
Tadorna tadorna
Spatula clypeata
Anas crecca
Aythya marila
Anas penelope
Podiceps cristatus
Larus marinus
Tringa ochropus
Anser anser
Ardea cinerea
Motacilla cinerea
Larus argentatus
Delichon urbica
Lymnocryptes minimus
Alcedo atthis
Vanellus vanellua
Larus fuscus
Podiceps ruficollis
Cygnus olor
Haematopus ostralegus
Motacilla alba yarrellii
Tringa totanus
Emberiza schoeniclus
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Riparia riparia
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Podiceps auritus
Gallinago gallinago
Hirundo rustica
Gallinula chloropus
Rallus aquaticus
Cygnus cygnus
Bittern
Black headed gull
Black tern
Canada goose
'Comic' - Common arctic tern
Common gull
Common sandpiper
Coot
Cormorant
Duck
Common Scoter
Gadwall
Garganey
Goldeneye
Goosander
Mallard
Pintail
Pochard
Red Breasted Merganser
Red Crested Pochard
Shelduck
Shoveller
Teal
Tufted
Wigeon
Great Crested Grebe
Greater black backed gull
Green sandpiper
Greylag goose
Grey heron
Grey wagtail
Herring gull
House martin
Jack snipe
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Lesser black backed gull
Little Grebe (Dabchick)
Mute swan
Oystercatcher
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Reed bunting
Reed warbler
Sand martin
Sedge warbler
Slavonian Grebe
Snipe
Swallow
Waterhen
Water rail
Whooper swan
The following are other bird species found in the wider countryside around Urswick Tarn:
Tyto alba
Turdus merula
Sylvia atricapilla
Parus caeruleus
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Buteo buteo
Corvus corone corone
Fringilla coelebs
Phylloscopus collybita
Parus ater
Streptopelia decaocto
Cuculus canorus
Numenius arquata
Prunella modularis
Turdus pilaris
Sylvia borin
Regulus regulus
Carduelis carduelis
Dendrocopos major
Parus major
Carduelis chloris
Picus viridis
Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Circus cyaneus
Passer domesticus
Corvus monedula
Garrulus glandarius
Falco tinnunculus
Sylvia curruca
Athene noctua
Aegithalos caudatus
Pica pica
Anthus pratensis
Falco columbarius
Perdix perdix
Falco peregrinus
Phasianus colchicus
Corvus corax
Acanthis flammea
Turdus iliacus
Erithacus rubecula
Corvus frugilegus
Carduelis spinus
Aluda arvensis
Turdus philomelos
Accipiter nisus
Sturnus vulgaris
Apus apus
Strix aluco
Certhia familiaris
Sylvia communis
Phylloscopus trochilus
Scolopax rusticola
Columba palumbus
Troglodytes troglodytes
Barn owl
Blackbird
Blackcap
Blue tit
Bullfinch
Buzzard
Carrion crow
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Coal tit
Collared Dove
Cuckoo
Curlew
Dunnock
Fieldfare
Garden warbler
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Great spotted woodpecker
Great tit
Greenfinch
Green woodpecker
Hawfinch
Hen Harrier
House sparrow
Jackdaw
Jay
Kestrel
Lesser whitethroat
Little owl
Long tail tit
Magpie
Meadow pipit
Merlin
Partridge
Peregrine falcon
Pheasant
Raven
Redpoll
Redwing
Robin
Rook
Siskin
Skylark
Song thrush
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Swift
Tawny owl
Tree creeper
Whitethroat
Willow warbler
Woodcock
Wood pigeon
Wren