Past Couple of Days

The past couple of days have been spent with Gary Storey, starting in Cumbria on Thursday.

Heading over early our first destination was the Solway, in search of the reported American Golden Plover, unfortunately we never did find the it but we were treated to an assortment of other waders compromising of Redshank, Lapwing, Curlew, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Knot, Golden Plover, Snipe and Ruff, with a supporting cast of 4 Scaup, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Pintail, Barnacle Geese, Pink-Footed Geese, and a massive amount of Lesser Black Backed Gulls.

The Solway itself was unbelievably calm, almost mirror like, the vastness of this landscape is always memorising.

Next stop was Martindale in the hope of some early rutting, this wasn't to be the case but we did find over 200+ Red Deer and a few young stags. The weather continued to be good to us and so we spent a good few hours in the valley. I'll be revisiting the area in a couple of weeks time.

Our final spot of the day was the Badger Sett, I've visited this site a number of times and without fail I've been rewarded. Meeting Andrew at 18:30 we quietly made our way to the viewpoint, within ten minutes or so your absorb into the landscape, senses finely tuned. Generally its an hour - an hour and a half wait for the Badgers so your attention turns to the wildlife going about its business as the sun sets. The first of which was the hammering of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, unseen but definitely heard, the visualised image of it foraging for grubs in the branches dominated the mind. Next a Robin began feeding beneath us, a birds eye view of its activity, completely oblivious to our presence and a nearby Blackbird bathed in a small pool, yet again unseen but every splash could be seen, in the mind.

The use of all the senses whilst watching wildlife has always interested me, experience the same event in a number of ways. Taking away one of those senses brings an entirely different sense of feeling to that particular moment. I like to think it takes you back to the bare bones, no over thinking, just the realisation and appreciation of the moment.

As the last of the light faded the Blackbirds began alarm calling in the plantation to our right, the reaction to an emerging Tawny Owl, within a couple of minutes it began to echo out its own call. 

The Badgers soon began to emerge, the first individual gave great views as it sniffed around the sett, scratching as it went, at one point laying down to scratch its front. One Badger soon turned into 7, once they had made their way away from the sett to feed, we quietly snook out from out viewpoint and back to the car.

Friday started a bit later with the plan to head for Holy Island, unfortunately I mixed the tides up and we missed our crossing, so instead we headed for Seahouses for some fish and chips and to meet some of the locals.

A trip to Seahouses isn't complete without feeding the Eiders.

We did eventually get onto Holy Island in the fading light, unbelievably picking up the stunning Arctic Warbler on arrival, within 2 metres or so of us! The rest of the night was spent moon lapsing over the castle.

A quality couple of days.

Back on patch, a text off BD today had me down in search of a Redstart in the hedge line by the Public Hide.

All done...

… University that is, the last assignment was handed in yesterday. With the afternoon now completely free, myself and Ciara headed up to RSPB Campfield Marsh, in search of the reported Spoonbill. On arrival, scanning the large salt marsh pool, where it had been present only 20 minutes prior, it couldn't be seen, instead Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, and a couple of Teal. Heading up the track to the main hide the above Willow Warbler happily sat in the open, staring us out at the sound of the shutter.


On reaching the main hide Ciara picked up the Spoonbill almost straight away, right on the far side of the pool, although you could still see that it was a dapper bird. Curlew, Black Headed Gull and Lapwing were also present. Following the track back we picked up a Sedge Warbler singing, my first for the year. 


The same evening we headed down to the Badgers, have a look HERE.

Gdale

Spent this morning with GWW and Danny, covering the area of Geltsdale nearest to Ewan's house We had at least 3 male Pied Flycatchers, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk pair, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Stonechat, Skylark, Wheatear, 3 Ring Ouzel, 5 Roe Deer and a Badger.

I'll be back down later in the summer to try to capture some images of these beautiful birds.

Almost there...

I'm back over in Cumbria completing my final University assignments, I don't know where the past three years have gone !


With almost continuous messages with sightings from the East Coast since I arrived in the West, the need to get out was felt more than ever! Handing in my final Media Production at 12:00, I found myself travelling South, to South Walney Nature Reserve. I'd never visited the site before, but had heard plenty about it.

I wasn't disappointed, by the time I arrived the sun was out, with a light easterly breeze. Driving through and past Windermere with its extensive woodlands, and peaks in the background really does make Cumbria a beautiful county. Walney Island is no exception, with its vast marshes, mudflats and grazed sandy ground, coupled with industry and the areas history it provides some stunningly unusual views. 

The afternoon held, Linnet, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Lapwing, Eider, Herring, Lesser Black Backed, Great Black Backed, and Black Headed Gulls, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Starling, some foreign Emperor Geese, Sandwich Tern and a tiercel Peregrine which had just caught a Skylark.

Heading home via Kirkstone Pass I couldn't resist stopping off at last years haunts on the River Eamont. Parking on the Ullswater road opposite the Sockbridge Mill, you head down a old holloway, with overhanging Hawthorns and Blackthorns which leads you to the river. Once you reach the river a small ford breaks the river into two, forming an island, which was today blanketed with Wood Anemones and Wild Garlic. A Willow Warbler song overhead, a Blackcap and a Chiff Chaff fed low in a nearby Willow, with a Dipper flying by once or twice.

Following the river downstream you reach a small steep sided woodland. It doesn't cover a large area of ground, but its definitely one of my favourite spots in Cumbria. I always seem to be drawn to woodland, especially woodland that can hit all your senses as soon as you pass under its canopy. The first thing is the noise, the tree tops are filled with Rooks and Jackdaws, the Rooks form a substantial Rookery and the Jackdaws fill the cracks in the nearby red sandstone outcrops. They protest your approach and trespassing under their tree's by calling harshly, flying on mass now and again. Scent follows, the congregation of birds has filled the air with the smell of their droppings, almost like that of the Farne's but not as fishy, the closed canopy seems to bottle it up, but every now and then the overpowering smell of the Ramsons pushes through, and you notice the brilliant white clustered flowers, sight. Not a patch of ground is bare, Dogs Mercury, Bluebells, Primroses, Wood Anemones, Violets, Ferns and Mosses to name a few, Honeysuckle and Ivy climb the tree's. Through all of this you can eventually feel the wood.

The River Eamont runs gently alongside, I was surprised to find a reasonably confiding Red Breasted Merganser feeding amongst the root systems.

Roe Deer, roading Woodcock, and Tawny Owls drew the day to an end.

Bass Lake

This morning I had my first shift at Center Parcs, teaching Wildlife Photography sessions. The amount and tameness of Red Squirrels there is unbelievable, I'm looking forward to getting some shots!

Later on myself and Roger headed over to Bass Lake, in search of Ospreys. The female had returned a couple of weeks ago, and the male just last week (which is a 2007 youngster). They've set up camp in the flooded basin nest site again this year, so distant scope views from The Dodd's feeding station were had, although apparently there are now nest cams streaming to the Whinlatter Centre.


The feeding station was worth the visit in itself, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Coal Tit, Great Tit, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker fed on the feeders, whilst Stock Doves, Jays, Jackdaws and a single Red Squirrel fed on the ground. On a beautiful afternoon like today, the feeding station view must be one of the best in the country.

Out and About

Last night we headed back down to the Badgers, had great views of 2 of the residents, with the highlight of seeing some new behaviour, mutual grooming.


Today started early, leaving the house at 05:30am and heading into the Pennines. Arriving at our destination the characteristic sound could be heard straight away, the bubbling of 20  male Black Grouse at their lek, 3 females were also present. I always find the atmosphere amazing on moors in the morning, when all its inhabitants make themselves heard, Curlew, Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, Redshank, Skylark, Red Grouse, and Golden Plover could all be heard in the vicinity of the lek. It was great to see so many Black Grouse, the most I've had at this site.





Had a Booths breakfast in Penrith, and we headed back out, this time heading South to Leighton Moss. The glorious weather saw us sitting a Warton Crag watching the Peregrines, and Ravens (with chicks) for the majority of the afternoon, but we also made a visit to the reserve.

A couple of Pheasants were coming really close, but unfortunately I only had the 100-400 lens.

The day finished with 3 Long-Eared Owls up on the moors again.

Wild-Eye (New and Improved)

New and improved version of the Wild-Eye, have a look :)

Open publication - Free publishing - More cumbria

Remain unseen and unheard,

and diligently use your eyes and ears, and some of the sweetest secrets of the sod are sure to be revealed to you. A quote from the Kearton Brother's, Wild Life at Home. 


Setting off at 17:00 myself and Roger headed out. On approaching our destination a Roe Deer and her yearling stood on the road, jumping the dry stone wall as we approached, but not travelling far, happily feeding just the other side. This was to be the first of our close encounters.





Parking up and walking through the forest, along an old wall colonised by heather, mosses and lichens, it was quiet, a Woodpigeon breaking cover here and there, and the sound of Song Thrush singing from the uppermost branches. A short 1/4 mile walk and we were there, sitting down with are backs against a 5ft dry-stone wall, waiting for the light to fade. A Common Buzzard made the first appearance heading to roost, followed by a couple of Grey Herons.Tawny Owls began calling and the distinct bark of a Roe Deer could be heard nearby, very nearby, the sound echoing off the dark wall of conifers, so much so that it sounded like there was a second individual deep within the forest.


As I was scanning the boundary between moor and forest, Roger nudged me, and in an excited whisper he said 'Cain, Roe Deer'. Looking up a head could be seen rising just above the horizon, looking directly towards us, I whispered back 'don't move'. There was little wind, the slightest of breezes was hitting my right cheek, but at the moment we were down wind of the deer. Motionless we sat and watched the deer approaching closer and closer, steadily moving down wind of us, it knew something was there, as it walked it stomped, the sound echoing, it could almost be felt. Still it was getting closer, down to 10-15 metres, standing above us and as we sat in the heather. It let out one bark, so close that I jumped. We watched for another 5 minutes or so before it had walked round, putting us up wind, and it was off, once again below the horizon.


By this time the light had dropped significantly, Red Grouse could be heard in the distance, and an odd Woodcock passed by roading. At 18:45 I heard the faintest of hoo hoo hoo hoo's, then wing clapping, and then a Long-Eared Owl appeared, flying in front of, then above the tree's. At least two birds were present and continued to show on the boundary edge, and above the forest for the entirety of our time there. A second owl also showed, out the corner of my eye I caught movement to my left, just below the top of the wall, following its line, on our side! First thought was Long-Eared Owl, but as it appeared out the darkness it was clear, Barn Owl. Continuing its path, it flew just above our heads, no further away than my arm stretched. It passed, and then returned hovering just above us, slightly higher this time. Engrossed in the Barn Owl, we just caught sight of the Long-Eared Owl approaching, as the Barn Owl moved off the LEO returned to its forest.


Walking back to the car the screeches of the Barn Owl pair could be heard in valley, the Long-Eared Owls wing clapping from the forest boundary, and the Tawny Owl from its interior. A great night.

Wild-Eye

The first issue of Wild-Eye, a University of Cumbria student magazine, has just went LIVE. You can access it HERE.


(Due to the interactive nature of the magazine it may take a minute or so to load)


An accumulation of photographs, articles and footage from mainly BA(Hons) Wildlife and Media students, but also Animal Conservation students. Paul was the original founder, and he's done a brilliant job putting it together, please give it a look.


Find my article about my time at the Loch of Strathbeg inside.



Today I've mainly been working on an editorial assignment, but once I finished the Tree Sparrows at Red house Farm were on my mind, at least 6 are still present but extremely difficult to photograph. On to the SEO' next, getting some great close encounters with one of the owls. Images can be seen below.

Haven't been far...

From the Velux this morning.

Star Trail

Here's a star trail image from the other week, taken just outside of Penrith.

A visit to the Heronry...

Up with the Owls...

Headed up into the North Pennines early this morning to take some star time-lapses. Passing through a small plantation, just before the terrain began to steepen, a Badger dawdled across the road. Beautifully clear skies, and below zero temperatures awaited me.







To finish the morning off I managed to get an image of this roadside Tawny Owl.