Birding list Lakes June 2013

Ok so its a couple of days late but here's a list of what I remember we saw over the week, including the journey.

Pied Wagtail;

Grey Wagtail;

Ouster Catcher;

Swallow;

House Martin;

Swift;

Pied Flycatcher;

Robin;

Blackbird;

Wood Pigeon;

Jackdaw;

Crow;

Magpie;

Raven;

Buzzard;

House Sparrow;

Song Thrush;

Wren;

Collard Dove;

Red Kite;

Chaffinch;

Blue Tit;

Mallard;

Dipper

Goosander

Grey Heron;

Cormorant;

Mute Swan

Grey Lag Geese

Canada Geese;

Tufted Duck;

Herring Gull ;

Black headed Gull;

Black Backed Gull;

Kestrel;

Peregrine Falcon;

June 15th Coniston Water and Little Langdale

The weather forecast for the southern lakes was passable today but with the Great lakes Swim at WIndermere we decided to go to Coniston for the day.

Lyth Valley looking to Morecambe Bay

A cross country route took us across the Lyth Valley and down to Newby Bridge past Gummer How  then through some narrow lanes to the eastern side of Conniston Water.

Gummer How

Windermere from Gummer How Car Park

 A coffee and cake break was taken at Jumping Jennys a tea rooms at Brantwood House named after Ruskins sailing boat. 

Old Man of Conniston from Jumping Jenny's

We then drove into Coniston Village intending to have a look at Blue Bird K7 at the Ruskin Museum unfortunately the boat is not currently on display as it is undergoing restoration. From Coniston we drove up to Tilberthwaite  to park up and walk to Little Langdale. On route we past some locals who reminded me of my youngest sons.

Harrison Stickle

Horse & Rolling Grag Wrynose Fell

Looking at Lingmoor Fell across Little Langdale Tarn

Reaching Little Langdale we decided we needed some refreshment so had to stop at The Three Shires and sample the local hospitality

Three Shires Inn 

Heading back to Tilberthwaite we decided to take a different route which would involve a ford, fortunately when we arrived at the river there was actually a bridge to help us cross with dry feet. The path ran up through the old slate workings which gave an opportunity to photograph the rock formations.

The slate mine spoil heap as big as some of the smaller fells.

Looking down Tilberthwaite to Coniston Moor

June 15th

The rain caught up with us to and with Chris having to attend a meeting this morning we did not leave the house till almost lunch time. So a quick trip down to Sizergh for lunch at the Strickland Arms, friendly staff nice food good beer only let down by the reverb in the room.

As it was still wet we thought we would visit Sizergh Castle only to find it is closed on Fridays so we headed of to Silverdale to see if we could find some shelter in a woodland walk.

Driving down the road to Silverdale we came across Wolf House Gallery and Studios so stopped to have a look. The Bran contains a gift shop with a mix of arty gifts and children's toys, across the yard is the Studio where  Janice McGloine plies her trade as an artist. The studio displays paintings of local buildings in a quirky style as well as some other gifts for sale. The last of the trio of buildings is the tea rooms with some of the best home made cakes I have come across.

After a cup of tea and a cake we set of to walk to Jenny Brown's Point for a view over Morcambe Bay, the rain decided that we needed a wash but this id not diminish our enjoyment.
Sorry no photos today it was too dull.

June 13th Grassmere & Rydal

The rain was very hard this morning and we thought the day may be a wash out. But again the very localised weather reports in The Lake District pointed us to Grasmere as having good weather so we set off.

Parking at White Moss we walked up the road to join the 'Coffin Road' into Grasmere.
Its called the coffin route because this was the path taken by funeral parties from Ambleside  to Grasmere, before the parish church in Ambleside was consecrated the nearest consecrated grave yard was in Grasmere some 4 miles distant.

We found a nice little bakers in the village of Grasmere where we bought pasties and cakes before we followed the western side of the lake then circling the southern tip of Rydal water  returning to the car park along a another length of the 'Coffin Road'. Not very much bird life around today but there was a strong wind which normally makes them hide.

So here are a few landscape:

Wonderful colour of the Rhododendron

River Rothhay between Grasmere & Rydal Water

Rydal Water from the south west

Nab Scar

Rock out crop on Nab Scar

Rydal water from the east

a window onto the water

mix of colours

The foot of Rydal Water

Cottage below Rydal Mount. I liked the Wisteria 

A Penny Tree A strange Cumbrian Tradition

The rock out crop I photographed from the other side of the lake

The  Loughrigg Fell above Rydal Water,

Under my feet there is a stop cock cover, Chris suggested that this may be the control for the waterfall

following on from Octobers visit Fungi!

June 12

The rain came at last, it fell in that fine drizzle that soaks you to the bone. Looking at the detailed weather forecast it appeared that the North of Cumbria would miss out on this so we headed for Penrith. First stop Larch Cottage Nurseries, Melkinthorpe a lovely Garden Center with a wonderful Tea Rooms.

We sat on the balcony overlooking the pond and were visited by a black bird who was so tame she took crumbs from our hands. Sorry no pictures.

We then moved on to Brougham Castle once the strongest fortification in Cumberland and the home of the Clifford Family. Now a ruin but very interesting visit. {photos by Steve H}

Sam Chris and myself  on the ground floor shot taken from the second

 

The only gargoyles on the castle

Of much interest to us all was the graffiti dating back as far as the early 1800's, there is nothing new under the sun.






We ended the day visiting Penrith Castle famous for being the home of Richard of Gloucester.

June 11th

Firstly I should say that all yesterdays photos were Steve's as I forgot my camera!

Today is not quite the Lakes but.... we visited Chester Zoo as Chris's daughter Sam wanted to visit again, having been there earlier this year as part of her college course.

Not the best of weather but at least we didn't have the rain that was forecast.
So here are some photos, I missed about two hours as my camera misted up in the Butterfly house!

Let me out!

young blackbuck

Giant one horned rhino

a rather scruffy Camel

as you see the camera is misting up

look very closly you will see a more hen in the middle of the fountain

Giant otters

 BIG CATS

Sumatran tiger

Asiatic lion

Cheetah

For my friend Maria not quite Llamas they are actually Vicuna 

For Dave! Its a Bongo!!

Grevys Zebra

Painted Dogs

one of the information panels in the wild dog area

Rock Hyrax

Black Rhino

Simples

 And now more Elephants sorry could not resist putting all theses in.

And finaly I could not get a good photo of the Penguins so here is  a short video clip

If the weather is a s bad as they forecast I may post some of Steve's photos tomorrow.