03/05/19. In Cumbria - Pied Flycatcher, Ospreys and Dippers

3 May 2019
Cumbria

Spent the day with Brian in Cumbria.

Loweswater
 

Rather than go to our usual place at Wythop, Brian took me to Holme Wood on the south side of Loweswater Lake where he had seen Pied Flycatchers using a nest box a few days ago.  

• Unfortunately they were not doing so today so we had to graft before getting our prize.  It was well worth the effort with a couple of outstanding views of a male singing away on the exposed branches.

courtesy of Brian Collis



Bassenthwaite Lake

The Ospreys are back again this year but they are playing havoc with the Forestry Commision arrangements.  Instead of returning to the usual nest site, covered by cameras and all, they used the nearby nest set up by the local farmer who has no monitoring equipment in place.

• Although we saw the Osprey flying from our usual vantage point just off the A66 we could not see the new nest.  We had to go round to the opposite side of the lake before we could enjoy good views of the nesting birds.

River Derwent, Workington

• After Brian dropped me off I walked by the River Derwent where I saw 2 Dippers, my first of the year.

courtesy of Carl Thompson on Twitter

A cracking prelude to our Scotland visit.