20/07/2015 Ospreys in Cumbria and Red Kites on M40

Monday 20th July 2015
Coming home from Cumbria

For the last couple of days I have been tracking my eldest son Peter as he and his friend Steve tackled a sponsored Lands End to John O' Groats Bike Ride.  This meant visiting family in Runcorn, Cheshire and Workington, Cumbria to rustle up support as the lads biked close these respective neighbourhoods.

• On the way back from Cumbria this morning I stopped at the lay-by on the A66 at NY227 255, popped up the bank (all of 5 metres) and looked over towards the Ospreys nest some 400 metres away eastwards towards the  Skiddaw fells.  Incredibly 2 adults and 1 chick were showing well with one adult perched on a dead branch a few metres from the nest along with a chick with another bird in the nest.  A few minutes later the chick took flight and flew down the lake in a northerly direction and out of sight.



Osprey
Library picture

Osprey Chick
Library picture

• On the M40, later on that afternoon, I was privileged to see 15+ Red Kites including 5 at the Oxford Service Station and another 10 further south.  All this on a day which was blustery, damp and overcast.  This spectacle never ceases to amaze me and it always spices up the arduous journey up north to see my family. 

Not bad for a non-birding trip up north!