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Spots in Lake District (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter squidge
- Start date
The Golden Eagle viewpoint at Haweswater is staffed at the weekends, so you would have a very good chance of an eagle sighting. Bassenthwaite is still your best bet for ospreys - go to the Forestry Commission visitor centre at Whinlatter and there's tons of osprey information there that the kids would love. Optics - nothing much more than Jessops in Carlisle that I can think of.
Mike
For Optics I would head down to Lambert's in Lancaster. It is purely an binocular/telescope shop, not a photographers with a few bins in the corner.
As for the Golden Eagle I would defiantly go when the observation post is staffed, especially in August when the bird can spend all day sat in a tree. The volunteers know where all the favourite perches are.
As for the Golden Eagle I would defiantly go when the observation post is staffed, especially in August when the bird can spend all day sat in a tree. The volunteers know where all the favourite perches are.
squidge
Wha Whassssat
Had a great time in the lakes. I got to see plenty of birds. 3 lifers but unfortunately no goldie at Haweswater, Needle in a haystack comes to mind but boy what a place to be on a sunny morning with not a sinner in sight, It was breathtaking.
The Osprey viewpoint at Bassenthwaite is an excellent place to stop for an hour or two as while the Ospreys were busy hiding from view the bird feeders that are placed at the viewpoint were very busy indeed. There were Great Spotted woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Jays, Siskins and tons of Coal,Great and bluetits. Also a visit from a beautiful Red Squirrel.
Everywhere I went in the lakes and Yorkshire dales there was plenty of birdlife and I was really impressed by the amount of birdfeeders I saw in the villages and peoples front gardens as I was driving through. A thoroughly enjoyable holiday, Thanks Ger.
The Osprey viewpoint at Bassenthwaite is an excellent place to stop for an hour or two as while the Ospreys were busy hiding from view the bird feeders that are placed at the viewpoint were very busy indeed. There were Great Spotted woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Jays, Siskins and tons of Coal,Great and bluetits. Also a visit from a beautiful Red Squirrel.
Everywhere I went in the lakes and Yorkshire dales there was plenty of birdlife and I was really impressed by the amount of birdfeeders I saw in the villages and peoples front gardens as I was driving through. A thoroughly enjoyable holiday, Thanks Ger.
Scrufftyguy
Missing them east coast rares...
Glad you had a good time! Missed your thread as I've not been checking up on birdforums for a while. Let me know if you're back up here again and I might be able to direct you to a few sights!
squidge
Wha Whassssat
Will do, I'm up there quite regularly. That was my 5th time up there but my first with my interest in birds. To think I honeymooned up there and if I had my interest in birds then It would have been a short marriage I think:-O Ger.
Scrufftyguy
Missing them east coast rares...
Yeah, might not have gone down too well dashing around trying to catch up with a few species! 
Ranger James
Well-known member
Any pointers/sites for a Devon-based birder who will be spending a week near Windermere at the end of September?
Thanks in anticipation,
James
Thanks in anticipation,
James
Scrufftyguy
Missing them east coast rares...
Is there anything you're particularly wanting to see? Or just wanting to know some sights to visit?
Gill Osborne
Well-known member
Yeah, might not have gone down too well dashing around trying to catch up with a few species!
You need to get the Other Half a pair of bins too
Neil & I honeymooned in the Lakes in August/September 2001 and had a brilliant time....had lifers in Osprey & Bittern (Bassenthwaite and Leighton Moss respectively) :t:
Mind you, Neil has always known with me it's a case of Love Me, Love My Bins
They go EVERYWHERE with me :-O
barontan2418
Well-known member
Hi squidge. I visit Hawswaster every year for the Golden Eagle and I like yourself failed to see it this July. Spent over 4 hours looking, never missed out before. I would be interested to know if he has been seen lately?
squidge
Wha Whassssat
You need to get the Other Half a pair of bins too
Neil & I honeymooned in the Lakes in August/September 2001 and had a brilliant time....had lifers in Osprey & Bittern (Bassenthwaite and Leighton Moss respectively) :t:
Mind you, Neil has always known with me it's a case of Love Me, Love My Bins
LOL I've tried to no avail. I'll keep working on it but I think I've more of a chance of seeing a dodo than getting my wife interested, No patience. Although she did come with me to the Bassenthwaite and enjoyed it so maybe there is hope.:t: Ger.
squidge
Wha Whassssat
Yep no sign of the Eagle and not a person around to ask if he had been seen lately. Although I had only bins with me so scoping the surrounding mountains had its limitations. It wasnt too bad as I had a Dipper and the Ravens to keep me company. Maybe next time
Ger.
Gill Osborne
Well-known member
You need to show her something that gets her excited!!! *and not being rude here!* :-O But I think that's often the way with birding - folk aren't interested until they see something which sparks that interest and it just grows from there. I've been nuts about wildlife since watching David Attenborough when I was about 3yo in the early 70's but with Neil it was only in 1997, when I took him down Jesmond Dene, and he saw his first moorhen! He was just blown away by the subtle colours and they're still his favourite bird....even tho' I've shown him kingfishers, bee-eaters etc :king:
Last time Neil & I were in Lakes was 2009 and we did the hike up to the Bassenthwaite viewpoint and he really enjoyed that too....once his lungs had recovered :-O
The best time to see the eagle at Haweswater is in May & June when it is displaying, after that is just sits around for a few hours, flies the minimum distance to find some food and then sits around for a few more hours.
It is best to go up when the RSPB volunteers are up there as they keep track of it and know where all the fave spots are. The observation distances can be huge, going when the volunteers are there means you can use their scopes rather than lug your own. Although I have been up there several times when folk have set up their own scopes and had to be laboriously directed, just right of the pointy rock by the second scrubby tree.. rather than use the RSPB scope that is pointed straight at the bird!
Mono
It is best to go up when the RSPB volunteers are up there as they keep track of it and know where all the fave spots are. The observation distances can be huge, going when the volunteers are there means you can use their scopes rather than lug your own. Although I have been up there several times when folk have set up their own scopes and had to be laboriously directed, just right of the pointy rock by the second scrubby tree.. rather than use the RSPB scope that is pointed straight at the bird!
Mono
squidge
Wha Whassssat
Yes unfortunately there was no warden at the time I was there. I think its wardened from 11.30am on. I was there around 6am so it was just me and a lot of pointy rocks and scrubby trees.
Ger.To be fair he will and does at most times- although the next couple of months he may be a bit less conspicuous-i`ve seen him displaying from early January onwards.
I was in Riggindale at the end of August and he was flying about most of the afternoon.
The Viewpoint is only staffed usually from the end of March until the end of August and only at weekends and Bank Holidays (11-3 i think)
cheers
I was in Riggindale at the end of August and he was flying about most of the afternoon.
The Viewpoint is only staffed usually from the end of March until the end of August and only at weekends and Bank Holidays (11-3 i think)
cheers
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