This is a bit late, because it’s three weeks since we returned from a holiday in the Lake District, but better late than never. We didn’t go there specifically to birdwatch, but simply because we love the area at this time of year. The tree colour was magnificent. There was lots of beech, birch, and, oak, and the colours ranged from a deep bronze to gold.
Anyway, we stayed in Grasmere village, and decided to make the lake and village our local patch. Although our cottage was right in the centre of the village, (it was the last of three cottages down a little lane), it felt more like countryside, with the River Rothay running through the garden. There were a lot of trees round the property, including a magnificent sequoia about two feet from the front door, with a nuthatch on the trunk when we first arrived.
Because I’m disabled and walking is a problem, we initially found access to the lake difficult. The only option seemed to be to park at the White Moss Common car park and walk through the woods to the lake, but as this is about a kilometre, I could only do this on one of my really really good days. Parking in the village and walking out also involved a similar distance, so it was rather frustrating.
We had noticed a layby cut into the rock south of the village, where there was space for two or three cars. During the day this was understandably popular, so we decided to go before breakfast, when there was usually only one other car using it. All we had to do then was cross the road and we were beside the lake, and I had a nice level walk up and down on the pavement. The lake shore was lined with many native species of tree and bush and on the other side of the road was a steeply rising field with more oaks and beech in it. As the holiday progressed, more leaves fell off the trees and so gaps giving views of the lake increased.
We visited the lake five times. The highlights for us were the species we wouldn’t normally see here in Surrey. There were always Goldeneye on the lake, and on four visits Goosander. If we crossed the road quietly and approached the lake stealthily, these were often very close to the roadside shore, and we had quite extraordinary views of them. It felt like a real privilege to see these birds so close at hand.
On our second visit, we were just about to cross the road back to the car. I scanned the near shore to see if there were any ducks close by, and thought I saw a crisp packet. Being conscientious, I lifted my binoculars to check it out and discovered that it was in fact a dipper on a rock, but not just one dipper, there was a second on the next rock. We spent ages watching these lovely birds. This seemed to be a favourite place for them, because we also saw them there on two later visits.
There were lots of woodland birds in the trees lining the road and highlights of these included seeing two treecreepers, and then almost immediately three goldcrests together. In the woods at the White Moss Common car park, we also saw a party of 12 siskin.
The total bird list for the five visits is:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Mallard
Tufted duck
Goldeneye
Goosander
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Buzzard
Coot
Black headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dipper
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Goldcrest
Long tailed tit
Coal tit
Blue tit
Great tit
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
31 species
I had hoped to see some winter thrushes, but didn’t at Grasmere. However, one day we were driving through Borrowdale when we saw a flock landing in nearby trees. We parked the car, got the binoculars out of the boot and just as we lifted them to our eyes, a sparrowhawk flew down at them. We weren’t able to tell if we were looking at redwings or fieldfare, or a mixture, but it was exciting to watch the aerial mayhem for the next couple of minutes. The hawk did eventually isolate one of the thrushes, but we didn’t see it catch it before they disappeared round the bend.
A thoroughly enjoyable read of your holiday Florall, you make it all sound so colourful and really Autumnal.
Pleased to see you found an easy access to the lake too!
I expect there is not much foliage if any left on the trees now! Makes the birds more visible for us though doesn't it! Glad you had a great holiday and thanks for sharing it with us!