BIRDS AROUND
APPLEBY
DOWPITTS
WOOD; A good area for common woodland
birds, including: Great Spotted Woodpecker; Tawny Owl; Spotted Flycatcher;
Willow Warbler; Blackcap; Tree Creeper and Nuthatch, which has only recently
moved into the area. Also, on the River Eden which runs alongside the eastern
edge of the wood, can be seen: Mallard; Goosander; Grey Heron; Moorhen; Dipper;
Redshank; Common Sandpiper and, occasionally, Kingfisher.
FLAKEBRIDGE
WOODS; Again, a good site for woodland
birds, including: Green Woodpecker; Redpoll; Jay; Pheasant; Grey and Red-legged
Partridge and common Buzzard , with Siskin in winter.
FLODDERS/BRACKENBER
MOOR; The small Flodders Tarn is a
magnet for passing birds, including Greylag and Canada Geese, with the
occasional Pink-footed Goose. Also present are Mute Swan; Shelduck; Teal;
Mallard and Reed Bunting. On the Moor can be found Skylark; Linnet and
occasional Stonechat.
BANDLEY
AREA; Kingfisher; Redstart; Spotted and
Pied Flycatcher; Long-Tailed Tit; Common Sandpiper; Redshank; Moorhen; Great
Spotted Woodpecker and Tawny Owl. Also Green Sandpiper have been seen on
migration.
DUFTON
GHYLL; A good area for woodland birds,
with the possibility of woodcock.
RIVERSIDE
PATH FROM APPLEBY TO ORMSIDE; Blue,
Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tit; Spotted Flycatcher; Tree Creeper; Willow
Warbler; Blackcap; Garden Warbler; Yellowhammer; Great Spotted Woodpecker and
Kestrel. There is a possibility of Woodcock and Sedge Warbler have been noted in
the past. On the river can be seen Goosander; Kingfisher; Moorhen; Grey Heron;
Dipper; Mallard; Tufted Duck and Cormorant.
PENNINES;
A vast area of fell and valleys with
many interesting and rare bird species, including Red and Black Grouse; Ring
Ouzel; Peregine ; Merlin; Short-eared Owl; Golden Plover; passage Dotterel;
Raven; Meadow Pipit; Twite; Curlew; Skylark; Stonechat; Whinchat; Lapwing;
Wheatear; Snowbunting in winter and a remote chance of a Hen Harrier.
SUNBIGGIN
TARN; A well known area of low moorland
with its attendant tarn, which is a magnet for many visiting birds during
migration, plus its resident species, including Mallard; Teal;
Wigeon; Gadwall; Pochard; Pintail; Gpldeneye; tufted Duck and Shelduck;
Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe; Water Rail; Coot; Moorhen; Snipe; possible
Jack Snipe and, almost yearly, migrating Black Tern. Sedge Warbler; Cuckoo;
Meadow Pipit; Red Grouse; Common Buzzard; Redshank; Wheatear and possible
migrating Green Sandpiper and Marsh Harrier.
CULGAITH,
TEMPLE SOWERBY AREA; This area is
regularly visited during the winter months by a good number of
Whooper Swans and large numbers of Greylag Geese.
SMARDALE
GHYLL; A good area for woodland birds
and including Spotted Flycatcher; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Redstart; Raven;
Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
CLIBURN
MOSS; A National Nature Reserve, home
to a good variety of woodland birds, including Sparrowhawk ; Common Buzzard;
Great Spotted Woodpecker; Tawny Owl; Woodcock; Treecreeper; Willow Warbler;
Chiff Chaff; Blackcap.
WET
SLEDDALE RESERVOIR; Another magnet for
birds on migration and home to several water and moorland birds.