The forecast wasn’t great but 10 of us gathered at the rendevous and donned our wet weather gear, fully doubting our sanity! We set off along the road in wind and rain. Visibility was poor but we managed to pick out some fieldfare in the distance. We struggled to keep our glasses and binoculars clear but could see a great crested grebe bobbing about on the rough water. We also had oystercatcher fly over and a lone lapwing. After about half an hour we decided to call it a day and trudged back to the cars thoroughly wet, cold and miserable.

Sightings: great crested grebe, oystercatcher, lapwing, fieldfare, pied wagtail, black headed gull, starling, lesser black-back gull, crow.

Nine of us congregated on the cafe verandah at Sizergh Castle for the hawfinch watch. The weather on the journey was abit grim, but the forecast was good for the rest of the day. As we waited, there was plenty of other birds to keep us entertained: great spotted woodpecker, various tits including marsh tit, greenfinch and nuthatch coming to feed on the ground. Finally 2 hawfinch alighted in a bare shrub just above hedge height and the female stayed a while so we all got a good look. That was the only appearance, but we were all pleased to see them. After the watch ended we enjoyed refreshments in the cafe and then set off on our walk up towards Helsington, down to Park End Moss and back up through Brigsteer wood. The weather had improved and we enjoyed clear skies and sunshine. The birds were singing, the daffodils were glorious and the views were wonderful across the Lyth valley and towards the Lakes. We sat in the hide at Park End and ate our lunch watching the birdlife on the water. The little grebes in particular were resplendent in breeding plumage. After lunch we walked back through the woods – birdsong accompanied us but sightings were hard to come by.

On returning to the cars we then made our way to Foulshaw Moss. We sat in the feeder hide and
marvelled at the constant comings and goings as the birds vied for food. Siskin, redpoll, and tree sparrow were notable visitors. We carried on along the boardwalk and were delighted to see 2 adder among the bracken, having had them pointed out to us – they were well camouflaged! We visited the osprey viewing point, but as suspected they hadn’t yet arrived, but we enjoyed listening to the info from the volunteer monitoring the nest. We did hear that one arrived the next day – c’est la vie.
There’s always something to go back for.

Sightings:
Sizergh – Great spotted woodpecker, greenfinch, nuthatch, robin, chaffinch, song thrush, great tit, blue tit, coal tit, goldfinch, wren, hawfinch, blackbird, crow, marsh tit, dunnock, pied wagtail, jackdaw, woodpigeon, rook, magpie, little egret, little grebe, teal, gadwall, canada goose, wigeon, greylag goose, moorhen, reed bunting, long-tailed tit, chiffchaff, buzzard.

Foulshaw Moss – Grey heron, robin, siskin, great tit, chaffinch, redpoll, goldfinch, pheasant, tree sparrow, greenfinch, blackbird, wren, reed bunting, treecreeper, kestrel, chiffchaff
Adder