Last week my wife, Srasri, and I went camping in the Lake District. We had mixed weather with some dreadful rain but also some bright sunshine which at least allowed us to get out into the mountains a little.

We arrived in Eskedale on wednesday 29th August, driving over Hardknott Pass which provided some excitement and excellent views as well as a Stonechat, several Meadow Pipits, a Raven and a Buzzard. Staying at Fisherground campsite the weather became rather windy and cold in the evening and waking up in the morning of the 30th confirmed the change in the weather. However, in the campsite plenty of birds were busy feeding, including 2 Nuthatches, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Song Thrush, numerous Chaffinches, Blue Tits and Great Tits.

After breakfast we went for a walk along the river Eske, where the woodland could give us some shelter from the winds.

Beautiful scenery was compensation for a surprising lack of birds, although a Grey Wagtail joined us for a paddle in the stream and a few Coal Tits were feeding in the trees. However, the highlight of the walk was a Red Squirrel which seemed to creep up on us from behind and was busy collecting something tasty from the ground. After watching it for some time and unsuccessfully trying to take a photo of it, it finally ran away. Further along the stream we found a Nuthatch and a couple of Magpies and when we were admiring the view into the mountains a Common Toad jumped out onto the trail.

After a shopping trip and lunch we spent a windy afternoon along Wasdale, admiring the view and drinking beer. In Wastwater a few Black-headed Gulls were fishing and 2 juvenile Goosander were resting. In the pub, lots of people were drinking beer and eating which reminded us to get back to the campsite and start our barbeque.

On friday 31st August the weather became pretty dreadful with rain and winds, so we decided to take a trip on the Ravenglass-Eskdale railway. It was interesting to note that a pair of House Martins were still busy feeding young in a nest under the eaves of the station at Boot.

We spent all day riding on this and visiting various pubs but I did see some birds as the train passed through some marshes. A Curlew, a Whimbrel, several Redshank, a Snipe and numerous Black-headed Gulls along with a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls were easily seen.

Despite the rotten weather we walked up to Eel Tarn in the late afternoon and got wet, although the weather did break up enough to see something of the mountains. The only birds were 2 Ravens, a Kestrel, lots of Swallows and Jackdaws.

Saturday 1st September was pretty much a bird free day with poor weather to start we spent the day visiting several villages in the national park. On the way back to the campsite in the evening we did drive over Hardknott Pass as the weather had cleared somewhat and saw the obligatory ravens near the top.

On sunday 2nd September the weather improved somewhat and we moved to the National Trust campsite in Great Langdale. Plenty of birds in the campsite including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Robin, Chaffinch and Great Tit. The clearer skies gave us the impetus to walk further along the valley to take in the mountain views. Crossing a river we saw a flock of Yellowhammers and a large group of Linnets. In fact, lots of groups of Linnets, Chaffinches and Meadow Pipits made me realise that the small birds are already flocking and summer migrants such as Wheatear were conspicuous by their absence. An adult lesser Black-backed Gull seemed slightly out of place in this mountainous valley but a Peregrine Falcon being mobbed by a huge cloud of Swallows was more expected.

Despite some nice birds, the most impressive sighting of this walk was perhaps the rescue helicopter that flew into the valley and proceeded to land on a pointy mountain top. I am not sure if they were just practising or actually rescuing someone, but it was a memorable sight regardless.

The activity of the helicopter flushed out a group of 4 Buzzards which then proceeded to circle around the valley, calling to each other.

The next day, 3rd September, was a beautiful sunny one and Srasri and I went for a longer walk along the valley. Beautiful scenery more than made up for only a few species: Swallow, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Meadow Pipit, although flocks of Linnets and Chaffinches were also obvious. With such good weather and amazing views it was difficult not to take too many pictures.

Our enthusiasm meant that we climbed some way up the mountainside, although we didn’t get anywhere near the top before heading down for lunch. A female Stonechat showed itself on the way back.

In the evening we had a barbeque and headed to the pub for a few pints of Old Peculiar for a nice conclusion to our stay in the Lakes.

I woke up feeling like my legs needed stretching this morning and with strong winds I decided to head to the Drewton Estate near North Cave where plenty of woodland in a valley provides shelter.

This proved to be a good choice. The first birds of interest were huge numbers of House Martins and Swallows hawking for insects over cut hay fields and woodland; along with these were 3 Swifts, possibly the last I’ll see this year? Whilst watching the Swifts a Red Kite flew over at low altitude: a rather ragged individual with its wings and tail in an advanced state of moult. I had heard rumours that the Kites in this area had moved on, but this was proof that they are still present.

Walking along the valley a family group of Bullfinches were tricky to see before they flew off, but a Marsh Tit gave a nice display of feeding upside-down on thistle seeds. A small hay field contained a good variety of plants, such as red clover, harebells and thyme (not sure which species though) which were being fed upon by a few butterflies including Large White, Small White and Wall Brown.

Walking further along another Red Kite passed overhead: a different individual to before as this one was rather smart. There is a small spring along this valley and it provided drinking water today for Blue Tits, a Great Tit and a Coal Tit. Further along, the path heads alongside some woodland and an old railway track. This path held large numbers of calcareous plants, with Field Scabious, Thyme, Wild Basil, Marjoram, Harebell and Agrimony all common.

Field Scabious

Marjoram

The woodland here contains a mixture of broadleaved and coniferous species and I came across a large group of Coal Tits and Goldcrests feeding in pine and spruce trees. Whilst watching these a Buzzard began noisily screaming from a little further along the path and I managed to get a view of it sitting on a tree just about 50 metres away. As it flew off and circled around over some pasture, another Buzzard joined it and they called to each other as they glided off, being mobbed by a Kestrel at the same time. This comotion flushed a Great Spotted Woodpecker into the open and it landed on top of a conifer and began feeding on the seeds from the cone.

With my attention back on the plants I noticed 2 Speckled Wood butterflies and managed to get some decent photos of the female.

Speckled Wood

Beginning to walk back to the car I quickly came a cross a family group of Marsh Tits which allowed me to approach closely and watch for some time. This site is really good for Marsh Tit, I have never failed to see it on my visits here, both in the woodland and in the hedgerows. Also on the way back to the car I saw a very bright, fresh plumage Willow Warbler along with common species such as Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon and Moorhen.