Newsletter - May 2008 to October 2008
Conservation work taking place inside the created 'reef' hedge of willows
growing in deep water - nearest to the camera; and in the
background, one
of the well conserved stretches of reed bed growing in the shallow
apron of the carbonate tarn, in this case bordering Common Land at
Church Road House.
Once again efforts have been made to monitor the Coot population following concerns about their reduced numbers.
7 nests were located which eventually contained a total of 49 eggs. As was the case last year, it was not known how many of these hatched and, as before, any young were initially very elusive. However, after some time young were found at or near all but one of the nests.
By mid-July 12, well grown young coot were on the tarn with 32 adults, but it was not until 6 August that the final total of 15 young put in an appearance with perhaps 34 adults. In addition, an 8th coot nest was found on the small pond at Holme Bank Farm. This hatched at least 3 young but these seemed to disappear fairly quickly. Although 15 young reared from a minimum of 52 eggs may not seem very many, it compares well with the 16 adults, 2 to 3 nests and 2 young produced in 1974!
The Swans produced a grand total of nine eggs, but of these, one egg rolled out of the nest and four failed to hatch; but the resulting 4 cygnets continue to thrive.
Little Grebes have been present throughout the period - a maximum of 4, but without evidence of successful breeding.
Great Crested Grebes - 2 pairs - have also been present, but while nest platforms were made by both pairs, no eggs were seen and no young were produced. For some reason, both pairs abandoned the tarn later in the summer.
During May, 12 newly hatched Mallard ducklings were found on the nearby school pond where they were very vulnerable. They, together with their mother, were 'persuaded' to walk to Gleaston Beck, the stragglers, one by one, hitching a lift in jacket pockets. All were reunited with their mother at the beck where they headed to the tarn - the last time they were seen. Apart from one report of 2 young having been seen, I am unaware of any young Mallard being seen on the tarn; so again, a very poor year for this species.
Somewhat surprisingly, Mallard numbers during early September were higher than for some time. On one occasion approximately 100 flew off the tarn in one big 'whoosh'.
Several pairs of Canada Geese plus one pair of Greylags nested, but very few young were produced and fewer survived due to the male swan's constant harassment. On one occasion the harassment went a stage further, with the male swan driving a Canada Goose off its nest, then pushing the eggs out of the nest. This is something that I have never heard of, let alone seen before! More recently, what was seen as the reduced numbers of geese on the tarn was being remarked on, but appearances were deceptive. Whilst there did seem to be fewer Canada Geese around, a count in late August found over 15 Canada Geese and 175 Greylags (the most ever seen here), plus 4 Snow Geese.
Reed Warblers appear to have done better than ever with 10 singing in various areas of the tarn and young being fed on numerous occasions.
Birds of prey appear to have had mixed fortunes.
Although there was considered to be two pairs of Kestrels in the area surrounding the tarn, there has been no sign of any young.
Buzzards on the other hand continue to thrive and although they roam over very large areas in their hunt for food, for the first time ever, 2 pairs each with one young, were round the tarn, one on the east side and one on the west.
While one of the pairs nested some distance away outside the parish and 'hunted-in', the other definitely reared its young one in the parish, the first successful breeding I am aware of here.
Sparrowhawks proved that predators don't always get things there own way, as in late May the remains of a female were found in the Brow fields. The skeleton breast-bone with attached wings and legs was a classic sign of a 'raptor' kill but which? Peregrine? Buzzard? Or something rarer?
In September, in a remarkable coincidence, yet another female was found in the Brow fields, alive but with a broken wing - a hazard of its dashing lifestyle - a fine specimen with piercing yellow eyes and amazingly strong needle-sharp talons which pierced skin like a knife. Believe me! Sadly, nothing could be done for it so it was put down, but at least 2 female Sparrowhawks are still in the area.
On 6 August male and female immature Peregrines were over the tarn chasing seagulls.
Kingfishers turned up again with 1, sometimes 2 present up to the time of writing with, once again, amazingly close views of one individual catching fish in the Croft area.
On 13 August what was, as far as I am aware, only the second Osprey ever seen on the tarn flew from the trees on the banks of Holme Bank Woods carrying a large fish and heading west. Twenty minutes later it was relocated soaring low over Little Urswick woods with half a fish in its talons. It then flew off southwest. Half an hour later, with the light fading, it was located yet again settling to roost in a dead tree surrounded by 12 irate crows and still clutching the, by now, meagre remains of its fish supper, or perhaps breakfast. Amazingly its route from the tarn to its roost was exactly the same as that used by the only other Osprey recorded here in October 2004. Perhaps the same bird?
On 25 August a 'White Tern' headed east over the tarn hawking for insects - identity unknown.
Although outside the parish, a dead Otter found near to Gleaston would certainly be 'one of ours'. The dog otter weighing 7.3 kilograms and 115 cm (45 inches) long, may well have been the dominant male of the area. The fact that the otter was run over, apparently crossing the road just north of Gleaston, going to who knows where, shows just how little we know about otter movements away from main water courses. On the tarn itself, very fresh otter spraint indicated that at least one otter had been frequenting the Croft reed bed on 26 September.
Water lilies are not something most people would associate with the tarn, but many years ago they grew in profusion. During the 1860s an area of the tarn, approximately half an acre in extent, was covered in lilies. By 1948 this area had shrunk considerably with 'at least 18 flower heads' recorded. By the 1970s just one small patch of 3 to 4 square metres remained in the shallows on the west edge of the tarn, but these too disappeared. In the last couple of years the lilies have made a small but significant comeback and this summer at least 10 flower heads have been noted. But there is clearly some way to go before we can be sure they will thrive in the long term.
The fish in the tarn appear to be doing well with fishermen reporting good catches and sizable specimens of all 'tarn' species.
Rudd have been caught much more frequently during the last year, most of these have been small and are easily caught by even the younger fishermen, which at least helps to keep their interest up.
Sea Trout have once again been much in evidence during recent months with large specimens often jumping clear of the water - surely a sign of a healthy tarn. There have been reports of anglers 'spinning' specifically for sea trout and of odd ones being taken for the 'pot'. Apart from consideration of close seasons, etc., it has already been pointed out that 'all fish caught in the tarn must be returned'.
Management work has continued for much of the period.
On the Hagg, grass cutting has been carried out in several areas and seeding of Yellow Rattle [Rhinanthus minor] to parasitize and weaken the grass appears to have been successful in one area.
In the area of the old boat house below the Hagg, large willows have been cleared and the branches placed in the shallows of the meadows to the southeast to deter the geese.
In the Croft, the boat launching area is in the process of being cleaned out again and the willow coppice cut down. These willow branches have been ferried to the 'reef' hedge on the west of the tarn (see the photograph above).
In all, 160 hours of management work has been carried out during the period of this report.
Harry Stables
Urswick Tarn Association
12 October 2008
Urswick Tarn Association
12 October 2008