Rain then sun from 3pm to 6.30pm today. Can't believe I have never been here before after living in the NW for 27 years!
Grey Wagtail 6 Great Crested Grebe 2 Grey Heron 1 - posing nicely in front of the sunlit weir Nuthatch 2 seen, at least 3 more heard Jay 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Sparrowhawk - lovely view of female over in the sunlight. Raven 1 pair over seen and calling.
Nice couple of hours this morning but sun soon bought out the walkers. Birds of note; Kingfisher (2) - incessantly calling and flying around lake behind lodge Dipper (2) - at Weir Great Spotted Woodpecker (3) also drumming Nuthatch (6) Grey Wagtail (2) Buzzard - displaying Kestrel Great Crested Grebe (3) Lots of common woodland birds plus Coot, Moorhen, Mallard etc..
non birding sightings - Bank Voles and Common Frogs
An hour this morning in fairly murky conditions Kingfisher on usual perch completed un-phased by dog walkers etc.... Nuthatch, Blue, Great & Coal Tit on the feeders Singel Male Goosander on main lake 100+ Black headed Gulls 1 Common Gull 1 Herring Gull 1 Greta Crested Grebe plus usual assortment of Coots, Moorhens, Mallards, Call Ducks
This was my first visit here today in search of the famed Kingfisher. No luck on that front, but this was made up for by watching two Dippers nest building on the River Yarrow.
Also present on the main lake was a single male Goosander and two Great Crested Grebes, one of which was very photogenic staying close to the side and down to three metres for more than half an hour. Although in full plumage, it seemed to be a young bird and would often go into 'alert mode' low on the water in a very streamlined pose whenever anything passed too close.
The usuals of Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Black-headed Gulls were also present on the main lake.
In the woodlands there was a Treecreeper, a Nuthatch and two Jays in amongst the usuals of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Woodpigeon and Collared Dove.
