Natural Selection

‘Garganey Group’ by the late British artist Noel Cusa

Five years ago I took on the Breeding Bird Survey square on the outskirts of Lindal-in-Furness. I was up in South Cumbria more often to watch Barrow AFC, and when I enquired this was the nearest empty square to my parents. It was something of a bonus when the walk back to the start point passed a couple of waters.

The larger site in particular showed some promise, with Little Grebes in particular but also some Tufted Ducks and Teal. I approached Dave Shackleton about setting it up as a Wetland Bird Survey site. He came back to me saying it already was, and apparently it was called Birkune Tarn although the OS map as you can see is silent on the matter.

Last Friday lunchtime partly to get some ‘5k a Day in May’ steps on for a charity thing I’m doing I nipped to Lindal from my parents house where I was working. There were good numbers of gulls and waterfowl on and around the tarn. My initial attention was taken by a ringed Lesser-black Backed Gull though it was frustratingly difficult to read in the grass.

Larger gulls ringed in the area now have green rings. The yellow ring with a code ending in :W points to the bird being part of an older scheme monitoring individual feeding routines as part of a wind farm study. If that’s the case this bird is likely to be around ten years old. I’ve contacted the BTO to see if it can be pinned down to a bird rather than one of several.

I was about to pack up having done the count when my attention was drawn to a small bird in the margins on the opposite side of the expanse. I was delighted to see it was a drake Garganey. Closer scrutiny showed a female was also present. These scarce (in UK terms) ducks migrate here from Africa so it’s always a privilege to see them.

The drake above, spot the duck below

I’ve found a few Garganey on the Fylde over the years. They are expected in small numbers in spring in northwest England, with a more protracted autumn passage of birds in the autumn. Nevertheless it was very pleasing to have had my faith in the Birkune Tarn site rewarded with something to brighten a cold and overcasts spring day.