Extracted from Birdwatch Magazine, December 1999

Copyright Mark Ward

As I stood on the south shore of the Solway Firth at Grune Point, the view across the water to the towering hills of Scotland was breathtaking. Cumbria's west coast is a real jewel in the county's crown with a range of bird life to match its impressive scenery.

The Solway Firth is the third largest area of continuous intertidal habitat in the UK and hosts thousands of wintering wildfowl and waders. This was immediately obvious as we drove along side it with skeins of Pink-footed Geese passing over. They had spent the night roosting on the estuary and were heading to rich farmland feeding grounds nearby. Our first stop gave further insights into the riches on offer: We counted 400 Pinkfooted gees feeding on an area of saltmarsh while large numbers of curlew, dunlin, ringed plover and redshank fed in the muddy creeks. The sudden appearance of a young male peregrine falcon shattered the peaceful scene. It perched obligingly on a rock near to where we stood, affording excellent views. Cumbria is home to a high density of this majestic raptor.

Wildfowl were much in evidence on the estuary: a large flotilla of wigeon and pintail bobbed off shore; red breasted merganser were plentiful and a flock of 60 scaup swept past and landed. This elegant duck is a speciality of the Solway Firth - recent counts of 2,300 birds represent 58% of the British wintering population.

Campfield Marsh RSPB Reserve
We arrived at Campfield Marsh RSPB reserve further up the estuary for a rendezvous with warden Norman Holton. The 200 acres of peat based farmland on the reserve have been managed sensitively to provide feeding for wintering geese. As a result large numbers of barnacle geese now spend time on the English side of the Solway.

As we walked up the reserve drive, Norman's well trained ears picked up the conversational calls of these birds. We peered carefully round a hedge and were treated to the wonderful spectacle of a field full of these delightful geese. He estimated 1,250 birds in the flock, a good proportion of the 12,000 that come to the Solway from Svalbard.

"That's the sound of the Solway," said Norman as the flock to the air in a flurry of wingbeats and yapping calls. A red breasted goose wintered with the barnacle geese here for three years between 1991 and 1994

Wildfowl predominate in the winter on the purposely flooded fields and pintail, wigeon, teal and shoveler were very much in evidence. Several rarities have appeared over the years, contributing to the total of 189 species logged on this varied but relatively new reserve. Breeding waders are also thriving thanks to the RSPB's management, and there is hope that black tailed godwits might return to breed.

The raised mire habitat of the reserve is a valuable resource which can boast sea level nesting red grouse and a winter hen harrier roost among its attractions. As we walked back, the day's second peregrine falcon passed menacingly over heading towards the estuary in search of food

Viewing Points

Various lay-bys along the minor road from Bowness to Cardurnock provide excellent viewing positions and we were greeted with a hive of activity as hundreds of birds moved around in response to their ever changing surroundings. Waders were assembling on the high ground on the near side of the estuary - the largest roosts on the Solway form here. Grey plovers and bar tailed godwits were the commonest and excitable oystercatchers gathered in force. I counted at least 20 red throated divers out on the estuary, goldeneye and redbreasted merganser were also numerous while another flock of scaup was engrossed in bouts of active diving.

Specials

Other winter attractions here include flocks of snow bunting and twite and glaucous and Iceland gulls can be found among the large gatherings of their commoner cousins. In recent years it has become apparent that the Solway is a major migration route for seabirds and the railway viaduct at Bowness on Solway is a good place to watch them from. A variety of species move inland up the Solway in both spring and autumn. In late April and May pomarine skuas are a speciality here and long tailed skuas have also been sighted. From late summer shearwaters, storm petrels terns and a variety of passage waders pass by daily. Late in the autumn three species of diver, grebes (including red necked) and seaduck can be seen arriving for the winter.

Inland

In the fells, a short way inland, buzzards and ravens are a common sight. We passed through spectacular valleys with craggy hillsides towering above the roadside where, in the summer, ring ouzels, whinchats, northern wheatears, wood warblers common redstarts and pied flycatchers are common. Dippers go about their business on the fast flowing rivers.

Good local reserves

1) RSPB Campfield Marsh, near Bowness on Solway (geese, wildfowl, waders, raptors)

2 RSPB Geltsdale (other side of Carlisle - upland reserve for ravens, etc. but especially black grouse

3) WWT Caerlaverock - a short swim over the estuary (or a longer drive). WWT Caerlaverock is situated 9 miles south east of Dumfries. Signposted "Wildfowl Trust" from A75 (St Michael's Church) and from A75 west of Annan ("Solway Coast Heritage Trail"). Nearest railway station Dumfries; limited bus service to Caerlaverock. Please see the duty warden on arrival.

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