A Lovely day with My Daughter - Rebecca

Thursday 1st July 2010

Arrived at Carlisle and met my fabulous daughter, Rebecca, who'd caught a train very early from Hartlepool, for a great day together.

Breakfast and a pair of flip flops [for her!] and then to Carlisle Castle. High road and low road explanations in the dungeon; 30 hung drawn and quartered many years ago.

Shrek Forever After in the afternoon and a real surprise. The 'real' Shrek is back with plenty of heart and soul. I loved Shrek 1, which some may think is sad for a 50 year old plus. Still I didn't feel the same about Shrek 2 and didn't bother with Shrek 3. This Shrek though was back to the first with Shrek's fatherhood issues being close to my own heart. Lovely to share this film with 'Rebs'.

A meal in a pub and then she was gone; taking the long train home via Newcastle. Long that is in time not length.

Cycled to Geltsdale to be met by the wonderful Jen; taken to a small cottage where they were kindly putting me up for the night and met Lee dark there, a monitoring member of RSPB staff. We had just a few things in common and despite the promise of a year tick, namely a short-eared owl, the walk eventually taken rather late only gave us one bird - a buzzard. Come to Geltsdale and see 1 bird. maybe the rumours were correct.

Friday 2nd July

Up early and out to walk the same way as the previous evening. Short-eared owl withing 5 minutes [208 year list] So there are birds here. Male ring ouzel, a pair of whinchat with young, stonechat likewise, plenty of birds and good ones too.

Back to the cottage and a walk down to the offices to meet other RSPB staff. A ride to see merlin, a new moth - wood tiger and orchids; greater butterfly and fragrant. Brilliant people, a lovely friendly group - Steve, Belinda, Jen and Lee.

An afternoon with a computer and then an interview for BBC Radio Dumfries and Galloway. More walks in a very strong SW wind and then an evening of football. Set up the moth trap and bed.

Saturday 3rd July

Moths included elephant and poplar hawkmoth, garden tiger and a lot of silver ground carpets. Better ones to me were antler moth and flames carpet.

antler moth

flamed carpet

Haweswater and The Golden Eagle

Well I was going to arrive at the reserve at midday but thanks to meeting so many fabulous people, I actually arrived at about 5.30pm.

Had met a lovely couple, Iver and Wendy, whose passion was trail hounds. Indeed their four dogs had won internationals as well as national and local events.

Then met up with Stuart from Woking who with 4 of his friends were cycling from Land's End to John O' Groats to raise money for CHASE. I didn't get their email address but I'll put a link for their website/blog once I've found it. [Get in touch lads if you see this]

The Steve, a cyclist from Hoy on the Orkneys on hsi way to Essex. Photos and a bap with the CHASE lads at Shap.

Finally a couple from Perth Australia who chatted about seabirds.

Oh dear time up!!!

Friends - Scarfell to Campfield RSPB Reserve

So Scarfell was climbed, well walked up and St Bees was almost reached before camping up for the night.

Next day, the 27th of June, Sunday. Sincere thanks to the girls at the lighthouse atop the cliffs for the tea and mobile recharge. Met at the RSPB viewpoint of the guillemot colony there by friends from Upton Warren; my patch in Worcestershire. Fabulous to see them.

Hundreds of guillemot here, small number of razorbills and 1 puffin. Also some lovely people too:-

Cycled to Whitehaven and got in at the Catholic Men's Society Club on the outskirts to watch the worst England World Cup match and then the Red Arrows. Which did I prefer - not hard really to guess is it?

Phoned a friend from over 28 years ago on the off chance that she and her spouse would be in. paul answered and an hour later sat in the sitting room, chatting as though 28 years was only a couple of weeks ago. Pauline was a fabulous friend when I was at college at Chester. Paul is her husband and what a thrill to see them both together. I can't think of any other couple from that time who are still together. Brilliant.

Monday 28th June

Pauline off to an inspection at her school, Paul off to work and me a cycle to some well known supermarket, after blogging update in Workington.

Was cycling with the wind at my back towards Maryport when I decided to head inland to the Osprey viewpoint at Bassenthwaite. Into the wind and a couple of hours later, 4.30pm, found the cafe there but the viewpoint closed and rain starting. Apple and blackcurrant crumble with a small amount of custard then camped about a mile away.

Tuesday 29th June

Osprey pair seen and osprey chicks likewise. Fabulous people at the viewpoints met and all round great time had.



Cycled to Campfield in the afternoon and met the site manager Norman. Spent the evening walking to the high spot that looks over the reserve, Rogersceugh, seeing quite a few large heath butterflies on the way. Barn owl and 2 roe deer on the return trip to the tent.

Sorry about the lack of detail but my notebook is back at the volunteers house whilst I am currently using the computer in the office at geltsdale RSPB reserve.

Up early on the 30th of June at Campfield and saw 51 bird species before breakfast, including tree sparrows to wake me up, 27 golden plover most with some summer plumage feathers on the beach and a grasshopper warbler reeling some way along the same.

Slept in the hide for a couple of hours due to the early start and the heat; waking to find hazy sunshine caused by some thin cloud cover. Rest of the day spent walking around the reserve, along the long broadwalks finding butterflies and dragonflies including a male emperor and a lot of four-spot libs and more large heath. A cuckoo flew close giving the best views I've had of one this year and then I found 21 lesser butterfly orchids afetr thinking I'd found a quail. The string was averted by a female pheasant leaping out in front of me 10 metres further down the path.

Two lovely people met on returning to the tent; John and Judith, and a very intense Led Zeppelin fan, Dave.

Right, now to watch my favourite Zep track on Youtube - Dazed and Confused. Seems apt. Tired out after a fabulous day at Geltsdale RSPB reserve, Cumbria.

More later.

All the best everyone,

Gary

Hodbarrow RSPB Reserve - 25th June 2010

Early rise, packed and the hunt was on for bee orchids, which I eventually found near to the old renovated [thanks to a local Primary School] lighthouse.

Once again, as at Leighton Moss, 50 bird species before breakfast including eider, lesser whitethroat, stonechat and sandwich terns. Also a new butterfly for the year with some graylings seen well.

Off to the local library and then a ride to an excellent Roman Bath House at Ravenglass.

Mid afternoon by now and Wast Water reached. I conned myself to stay at the youth hostel by saying to myself that I would ask about camping but when the receptionist said there was a bed I accepted it quickly.

Talked with a lovely lady, Jayne, who was with a group of 'Fix the Fells' workers and they kindly invited me to their evening BQ. My contribution was all I'd got; a tin of sardines and a pot of cheese spread.

Midges seen off by Avon and then 3 bikers from the Derby area came over saying they'd found a dead bird of prey. It turned out sadly to be an adult osprey. The lads were Bob, Tony and Roy from Swanwick and they were as gutted as I was by this sad demise.

Saturday 26th June [thought it was Friday for most of the day]

Breakfast at it's usual brilliant best at the youth hostel. Tried phoning the RSPB over the osprey but no reply. It may have helped if I'd remembered to say that it was dead!

Now the views of this valley are said to be the best in Britain and it was easy to see why it was voted such. Breathtaking views as I cycled to the end where to start a walk up to the 4th peak - Scarfell Pike. Stunningly beautiful.

Chained up the bike and started walking. Lots of people were doing the 3 peaks challenge for a variety of charities.

RAF Benson, Squadron 78 were carrying stretchers in order to Help The Heroes and UCARES

http://www.justgiving.com/3-Peaks-Stretcher-Run

Met the Fix the Fells people again and joined them until lunch where I carried on up the mountain. These people are beyond amazing and wonderful. To give up so much time to fix the paths, mend dry stone walls, litter pick etc; they deserve so much praise and admiration. So to Jayne, Dave, Heather, Ian, Ivan and Lauren - and especially Alfie, here's to you and thanks so much. It was truly fabulous meeting you all.

Now at Workington Library after having successfully got to the top of Scarfell, having met friends from Upton Warren and having met 2 very dear friends from too long ago; 28 years ago in fact.

More next library time.

All the very best

Gary

Haweswater - Golden Eagles and Golden-ringed dragonflies

So after an evening of enjoying pied and spotted flycatchers and an England victory in the real sport of cricket, a gratefully received cumberland sausage and lovely chat with Rex and Irene; got up the next morning early and after tiying up saw the tree nursery with Dave Shackleton, the warden of Haweswater RSPB reserve. A fabulous tree nursery tended by a superb man. It was great to see the hundreds of juniper and oak trees and know that Dave and his team would be planing them in the area. I remember a book about an old French man who spent his final years sowing acorn seeds and by the end of the book he's changed the local climate from desert to forest. A lovely book and I feel the Dave is the English equivelant.

Cycled down to the south end of Haweswater, after meeting a couple who were editors for a large magazine about the lakes and having my photo taken by them. Chained Sid - the bike up and walked around to the RSPB viewpoint for the golden eagle. A red squirrel came close running along the top of a dry stone wall, a male redpoll did similar after washing in the nearby lake, it preened nearby and a family of wheatear were also very close.

Met 2 lovely police ladies from Essex at the viewpoint and Rex and Irene from the warden's house came and joined me. Together we watched for over an hour before through irene's scope I saw a raven coming over the ridge near to where the golden eagle is known to roost. "Keep on the raven," was the instruction from Irene who knew a lot of the eagle's habits and I did as it dived down the cliff face to join another obviously mobbing something on the cliff. There it was the male golden eagle. It flew, landed and continued to be mobbed for some time. After a while the ravens left and the eagle took aff again and did a superb glide down over behind a stone brick wall to somewhere we could n't see. Brilliant bird and number 207 on the year list.

After a littel difficulty with a gentleman who wanted access to the valley; quite correctly denied to him as this is a schedule 1 bird and the only one in England, Rex, Irene and I walked back to the car park and I cycled back to watch the England match [should I have bothered?]

Oh yes after almost 6 months I've found out how to put photos on the blog!

Met Spike and other volunteers who were on their way to the pub but watched the 1 - 0 win with Rex. I'd intended to join Spike and the rest at the pub but got a bit lost and ended up at a pub where I met a great couple, Graham and his partner [I really must remember to put down names straight away because at my almost senior age I soon forget!] Graham has said about going to Mont Blanc next eyar and I really must keep in touch with this wonderful couple.

Played the game of nail the nail i.e. hit the nail with an axe. Was hopeless at it despite a local boy showing how it should be done then cycled to Ullswater.

Had a fabulous thing happen whilst cycling along a small lane. Some jackdaws were causing a fuss and all of a sudden, in a split second a sparrowhawk almost hit my helmet as it wooshed past. So amazingly close and an absloute thrill. Imaging the headlines "Biking Birder knocked over by a sprog!" Brilliant.

Slept in a field beside Ullswater and a bit of overnight rain was heard.

Next day got to Ambleside, then Coniston via a hilly cycle path where I met Pete, a sustainability scientist and his wife [thanks for the water and the donation].

Yew Tree tarn was totally dried up hence the fishing sign :-

Thanks to Carl and Maxine whom I met there and Jan and Graham for their donations.

So onward to Millom and the lovely sight of watching 4 possibly 18 year olds, 2 girls, 2 boys from my camping position. As the sun went down they played ....... hide and seek using their mobiles. "Where are you?" Sweet!

All the best everyone

Gary

Leighton Moss - The Biking Birder Visit

OK, can someone help me with the meaning behind my recurring dream. I frequently dream that i am driving a double decker bus. No problem here one might think but I am always driving it from upstairs and always worried about two things. One I can't reach the brake pedal and 2 I can't see what's immeadiately in front of me. I've had this dream with a lot of variations for years and had the same last night. All thoughts would be gratefully received.

An hour's birdwatching from 6.30am with marsh harrier and bearded tits seen.

So to the morning moth breakfast on Sunday the 20th of June. All previous night's moths neatly arranged in plastic containers on the table of the education room, ready for everyone's perusal. people arrived and I sat chatting and photographing each species. One thing I liked is that with birds aI would be thinking that a golden eagle is a better bird to see than a blue tit. Both lovely birds but one has the wow factor and it's not the blue tit. With the moths I had no idea on their relative 'values' and enjoyed each. I knew quite a few from when i had my own trap but quite a few were new to me. 40 species photographed and then outside for the opening of a trap that had been left on all night. More new species and the fun of release.

Off to explore the reserve. First to the Eric Morecambe hide but no birds because no water. Lunar landscape of a totally dry scrape with only sheep tracks crossing the mud. Then to Wharton Crag RSPB reserve with peregrine chicks attended by the female on the cliffs of the quarry and the male some way to the left. Up the crag and soon saw small pearl bordered and high brown fritilaries and northern brown argus butterflies seen.

Back to the reserve at leighton and off with Dagmar, Ruth and 'oh dear I've forgotten her name' to see the fly orchids near by. A new orchid for me so chuffed to bits and afterwards explored the quarry face by climbing around the edge to get to the top.

Back to the reserve and this time a walk with Michael, an assistant warden to see lady slipper orchids. I couldn't believe that I was seeing this and despite the fact that the flower head had faded to a seed head I was thrilled to get another orchid sp. on the list. I remember that not so long ago lady slipper was down to one plant so where did this one come from. Glad to see that it's protected by CCTV.

Late evening 9.15 onwards spent birdwatching for a change. Marsh harriers, little egrets and a great-crested grebe with a chick. 4 red deer at the Grizedale hide.

Still time for bat detecting before bed. Pipistrelles heard, sounding like "a massage from the Swedish Prime Minister!"

Monday 21st June

Early morning quest to see 50 bird sp. before breakfast and moth trap opening at 8.00am. Made it with a lapwing and a swallow at 3 minutes to 8. Male and female marsh harrier and very close party of bearded tits preening seen. All of these over at the west end of the reserve so now I'd walked around the whole area.

27 moth sp. in the trap; after which I met a wonderful assitant warden, David, who had started his RSPB career at Minsmere many years ago, with Bert Axell as his much appreciated mentor.

So thanks to all at Leighton Moss. A fabulous reserve which must be in the top 5 RSPB reserves. Brilliant place with brilliant people.

Off to Gait Burrows after a bit of hassle over getting a new tyre but thanks to DYNO START in Carnforth. Found dark red helleborines at the reserve and this made 3 new orchid species in 2 days. I'd seen these in Switzerland but never over here.

Cycled to Arnside and on lorraine's advice [a superb volunteer at Leighton Moss] had fish and chips here. Met children from Kendall College before cycling to camp in a field nearer to Kendall itself. I don't know whether there has been an explosion of scarlet ermine moths but 35 meters of the hedgerow was covered with what looked like huge spider's webs with thousands of pupae visible inside.

Finally

Thanks to everyone who has donated :-

Edna and Grayson from Carnforth.
Lorraine from Leighton Moss.
Magada and John from Bolton Le Sands.
Iver and Wendy nr Kendall.
Zaedd and Jude from Kendall College.
Bev and Allen from Perth Australia.
Annie from Penrith.
Chris from Bretherdale.
Graham at the pub!!
Pete at Hillcrest.
Carl and maxine at the totally dry Yew Tree tarn   and
Jan and Graham.

Also to those who have donated using the JUST GIVING sites on the right.

Many thanks to you all.

All the very best,

Gary

Tits and Kiss me Quack at Leighton Moss.

Well I was met at Heysham, despite the boat being over an hour late in due to a low tide.

5 young ladies - Jen, Lorraine, Rachel, Annabelle and Dagmar were on the quay, shouting 'Biking Biredr as I came up the ramp off the boat. I had tried to get in amongst the leather clad motorcyclists to get some street cred but ended up alone.

What a wonderful way to come back into England. I felt like kissing the ground. Too shy to kiss the girls!

We cycled to the Eric Morecambe statue and to their great credit the girls sand 'Positive Thinking' brilliantly. Thanks Harry for holding the camera so well. Am trying to put the video onto youtube and will tell you when it's uploaded successfully.

Next to a pub! A quick shandy and donuts before getting to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve. Now these girls were not ardent cyclist so for them to have cycled 30 miles there and back was wonderful and shows what characters they all are. To say it was fun would be an understatement. Brilliant!

No time for birding - it was off to the railway station to catch a train to Lancaster for a pint at a pub [you may get the feeling that these people know how to have fun] and then to a restaurant for a meal. Back late but still time to join in with the moth watch going on at the reserve. More on that on the next blog.

In Kendall now on the way to Haweswater.

Will update you on Leighton Moss next time but put it briefly - 63 bird sp. 3 new orchids for my British list, 80 moth sp. red deer, 12 butterfly sp inc high brown and small pearl bordered frits. Superb place with superb people.

All the best everyone. [especially the people at leighton Moss and the children and staff at Kendall College; Jo, Tash, Josh, Zaeed, Sophie, Jude and all]

Gary