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| − | [[Image:Bass Lk Osprey Viewpoint BF.jpg|thumb|600px|right|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/> | + | [[Image:Bass Lk Osprey Viewpoint BF.jpg|thumb|600px|right|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>View of southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake from the Upper Viewpoint, May 2009.<br>Click on image to see a larger version]] |
| + | '''[[England]], [[Cumbria]]''' | ||
| + | |||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
| − | Bassenthwaite Lake is a National Nature Reserve, in the Lake District, located in the county of [[Cumbria]] in northwest England. It is owned and managed by the Lake District National Park Authority. The area became famous in 2001, when a pair of wild [[Osprey|Ospreys]] nested there, this being the first time in over 150 years that Ospreys had bred in the Lake District. | + | Bassenthwaite Lake is a National Nature Reserve, in the Lake District, located in the county of [[Cumbria]] in northwest [[England]]. It is owned and managed by the Lake District National Park Authority. The area became famous in 2001, when a pair of wild [[Osprey|Ospreys]] nested there, this being the first time in over 150 years that Ospreys had bred in the Lake District. Since then there have been breeding Ospreys every summer and hundreds of people have visited the viewpoints and visitor centre, to see these wonderful birds of prey. |
| + | [[Image:Bass Lake from Whinlatter.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>View of Bassenthwaite Lake looking from the lay-by on the B5292 up to Whinlatter Pass, April 2012. The Ospreys built a new nest in 2011, in the flat marshy area on the south side of the lake ~ the area on the middle right of the photo]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===2016 Ospreywatch News=== | ||
| + | *The 2016 Ospreywatch season opens on Saturday, 26th March | ||
| + | *On '''26th March,''' an Osprey was sighted on a branch, via the live CCTV at Whinlatter and it was later confirmed as KL, the female. Last year she arrived on 7th April. A second Osprey (not ringed) was sighted on 27th March and is presumed to be Unring. The pair have been mating and are holding territory over their nest. Although they can't be 100% sure, the Ospreywatch team are pretty sure that the male is KL's mate from last year. When Ospreys migrate, they do not spend the winter together. See the [http://www.ospreywatch.co.uk/wordpress/?page_id=60 LDOP website] for up to date information. | ||
| + | *'''13th April:''' KL and her mate Unring have bonded again this year and KL laid her first egg on 12th April. | ||
| + | *'''14th April:''' The Ospreywatch team have been tracking KL's son White 14, from the 2013 nest. He's on his way north, presently crossing the Sahara Desert and heading for Algeria. It will be interesting to see if he takes a similar route to last year across the Mediterranean, which took him over Italy. Last year he eventually found his way back to the north of England, via a roundabout route into southern Sweden! | ||
| + | *'''16th April:''' KL has laid her second egg and White 14 is now crossing Italy having made landfall near Genoa. | ||
| + | *'''17th April:''' 3rd egg laid at 11.25am this morning! | ||
| + | *'''2nd May:''' KL and Unring are still awaiting the first egg to hatch, but meanwhile No 14 has arrived in the UK after spending a few days exploring the French Alps and their lakes. On 1st May his tracker indicated he was heading towards Penrith and he roosted that night a few miles to the east at Whins Pond. On 3rd May, No 14 went exploring and visited the Osprey nest at Foulshaw Moss in south Cumbria, later returning to the River Eden via the River Lune. | ||
| + | *'''6th May:''' Back at the Bassenthwaite nest, KL and Unring had a visit from a ringed Osprey in the afternoon. It swooped down onto the nest and stole a fish that Unring had brought in for KL. The Ospreywatch staff were able to read the number on the blue ring: FF6, which indicates that this bird was ringed at Loch Doon in Galloway, Scotland in 2015. | ||
| + | *'''19th May:''' The OspreyWatch Team announced that the first egg is hatching and the chick did make it out successfully. | ||
| + | *'''20th May:''' Second chick hatched today! | ||
| + | *'''22nd May:''' Some awful news today. The 3rd chick hatched overnight but was snatched from the nest by a Magpie when both KL and Unring were away for a short time! Unfortunately the Magpies hung around all day harassing the parent Ospreys and also managed to take chick number 2 late in the afternoon. | ||
| + | *'''25th May:''' The remaining chick (the oldest of the 3) was safe when the OpsreyWatch team turned on the camera this morning, but it will remain vulnerable for some time until it grows too big to be taken by a Magpie. | ||
| + | *'''13th June:''' The chick is now almost 4 weeks old and doing very well as there is no competition for the fish being brought in. Another pair of Ospreys have been visiting Bassenthwaite along with a lone male, White 14, which is the satellite tagged Osprey, born there in 2013. He's been flying all over the Lakes and the Eden Valley since returning from Bioko in the Spring. | ||
| + | *'''25th June:''' Ringing Day! The chick was found to be female and the heaviest one they've had at Bassenthwaite! She was fitted with a blue ring with the unique letter/number V5, issued by the British Trust for Ornithology. She was also fited with a satellite transmitter. A contest to name this year's chick has been held and V5 is now named "Bega," after the founder of the church at Bassenthwaite Lake. | ||
| + | *'''8th August:''' Bega fledged on 14th July. She is now a strong flyer and is venturing out over the lake, but has not yet caught any fish for herself. Unring is continuing to bring fish to her on her favourite roost near the nest. | ||
| + | *'''14th August:''' Bega has been exploring the area around the lake - she even visited the first Osprey nest built in 2001! Here's a link [http://www.ospreywatch.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/V5-11-aug-16.jpg to a map] showing her recent flights, though the OspreyWatch team mention that she has been over the lake, but these times didn't coincide with the satellite download times! The female adult, KL, has not been seen for several days, so it is presumed that she has left on her southbound migration already. | ||
| + | *'''28th August:''' Monday, 29th August (the August Bank Holiday) will be the last day that the viewpoints will be manned this season, but Bega and Unring are still there and visitors can still go up to the viewpoints with their binoculars and/or their own spotting scopes. Unring is still feeding Bega, however she is practicing jumping into the water from a snag by the mouth of the river. Bega's older brother, White 14, is still being tracked through his movements in the South Lakes area. | ||
==Birds== | ==Birds== | ||
===Notable Species=== | ===Notable Species=== | ||
| − | [[Osprey]], [[Great Spotted Woodpecker]], [[Tawny Owl]], [[Common Dipper]], [[Common Redstart]], [[European Pied Flycatcher]], [[Eurasian Treecreeper]]. | + | [[Osprey]], [[Red Kite]] (28 April, 2010), [[Barnacle Goose]] (These are most probably birds from a resident flock on nearby Derwentwater), [[Eurasian Oystercatcher]], [[Great Spotted Woodpecker]], [[Tawny Owl]], [[Common Dipper]], [[Common Redstart]], [[European Pied Flycatcher]], [[Eurasian Treecreeper]]. |
| − | [[Image: | + | |
| − | + | [[Image:Bass from lower viewpoint.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake from the Lower Viewpoint, May 09. In 2011, the Ospreys built a new nest in a marshy area there]] | |
===Rarities=== | ===Rarities=== | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Red Kite]] ~ a total of 60 young Red Kites were released in Grizedale Forest, near Windermere, in the summers of 2010, 2011 and 2012. This is the 9th reintroduction and part of the final phase of Red Kite reintroductions in different parts of the UK. It is very likely that these wing-tagged kites will be seen over Bassenthwaite Lake as they explore the Lake District. |
===Check-list=== | ===Check-list=== | ||
| − | {{BirdsSee|[[Great Crested Grebe]], [[Grey Heron]], [[Mute Swan]], [[Greylag Goose]], [[Eurasian Wigeon]], [[Gadwall]], [[Eurasian Teal]], [[Mallard]], [[Northern Pintail]], [[Northern Shoveler]], [[Common Pochard]], [[Tufted Duck]], [[Common Goldeneye]], [[Red-breasted Merganser]], [[Goosander]], [[Osprey]], [[Eurasian Sparrowhawk]], [[Common Buzzard]], [[Common Kestrel]], [[Common Pheasant]], [[Water Rail]], [[Common Moorhen]], [[Common Coot]], [[Northern Lapwing]], [[Common Snipe]], [[Eurasian Curlew]], [[Common Redshank]], [[Common Sandpiper]], [[Black-headed Gull]], [[Common Gull]], [[Herring Gull]], [[Common Woodpigeon]], [[Tawny Owl]], [[Common Swift]], [[Great Spotted Woodpecker]], [[Sand Martin]], [[Barn Swallow]], [[Northern House Martin]], [[Meadow Pipit]], [[Pied Wagtail]], [[ | + | {{BirdsSee|[[Great Crested Grebe]], [[Great Cormorant]], [[Grey Heron]], [[Mute Swan]], [[Greylag Goose]], [[Barnacle Goose]], [[Eurasian Wigeon]], [[Gadwall]], [[Eurasian Teal]], [[Mallard]], [[Northern Pintail]], [[Northern Shoveler]], [[Common Pochard]], [[Tufted Duck]], [[Common Goldeneye]], [[Red-breasted Merganser]], [[Goosander]], [[Osprey]], [[Eurasian Sparrowhawk]], [[Common Buzzard]], [[Common Kestrel]], [[Common Pheasant]], [[Water Rail]], [[Common Moorhen]], [[Common Coot]], [[Eurasian Oystercatcher]], [[Northern Lapwing]], [[Common Snipe]], [[Eurasian Curlew]], [[Common Redshank]], [[Common Sandpiper]], [[Black-headed Gull]], [[Common Gull]], [[Herring Gull]], [[Lesser Black-backed Gull]], [[Common Woodpigeon]], [[Common Cuckoo]], [[Tawny Owl]], [[Common Swift]], [[Great Spotted Woodpecker]], [[Sand Martin]], [[Barn Swallow]], [[Northern House Martin]], [[Meadow Pipit]], [[Pied Wagtail]], [[Eurasian Wren]], [[Dunnock]], [[European Robin]], [[Common Redstart]], [[Eurasian Blackbird]], [[Redwing]], [[Song Thrush]], [[Mistle Thrush]], [[Eurasian Reed Warbler]], [[Common Whitethroat]], [[Blackcap]], [[Wood Warbler]], [[Common Chiffchaff]], [[Willow Warbler]], [[Goldcrest]], [[European Pied Flycatcher]], [[Spotted Flycatcher]], [[Blue Tit]], [[Great Tit]], [[Coal Tit]], [[Long-tailed Tit]], [[Eurasian Nuthatch]], [[Eurasian Treecreeper]], [[Common Starling]], [[Eurasian Jay]], [[Eurasian Magpie]], [[Eurasian Jackdaw]], [[Common Raven]], [[Carrion Crow]], [[Rook]], [[House Sparrow]], [[Chaffinch]], [[Eurasian Siskin]], [[European Greenfinch]], [[European Goldfinch]], [[Eurasian Bullfinch]], [[Lesser Redpoll]], [[Common Crossbill]]}} |
| + | [[Image:Whinlatter Visitor Centre.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Whinlatter Visitor Centre, located in Whinlatter Forest Park, on the B5292, west of Bassenthwaite Lake, April 2012]] | ||
==Other Wildlife== | ==Other Wildlife== | ||
| − | [[Red Squirrel]], [[Badger]], [[Roe Deer]], [[Otter]] | + | [[Red Squirrel]], [[Badger]], [[Roe Deer]], [[Otter]], [[Pipistrelle bat]], [[Weasel]], [[Stoat]] |
==Site Information== | ==Site Information== | ||
===History and Use=== | ===History and Use=== | ||
| − | In 2001 it was announced that a pair of [[Osprey]]s had nested in the woods above Bassenthwaite Lake | + | In 2001 it was announced that a pair of [[Osprey]]s had nested in the woods above Bassenthwaite Lake. This was the first time in 150 years that a wild pair of the birds had bred in the Lake District. The Forestry Commission and the Lake District National Park Authority had provided a nesting platform in the hope that the Ospreys, they had been seeing during the summer for the last few years, would stay and breed there. Once the eggs were laid, wardens kept a 24 hour watch on the nest to protect the birds from any disturbance, such as illegal egg collecting. The RSPB is also involved in extra support for the Lake District Osprey Project. |
| − | + | [[Image:BassLake BF.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Bassenthwaite Lake, looking across to Dodd Wood and Skiddaw, from Blackstock Point, July 2015]] | |
===Areas of Interest=== | ===Areas of Interest=== | ||
*'''Osprey viewing''' from Dodd Wood viewpoints | *'''Osprey viewing''' from Dodd Wood viewpoints | ||
| − | *'''Whinlatter Visitor Centre''', where there is a live video feed from the nest to a big screen. NB | + | *'''Whinlatter Visitor Centre''' in Whinlatter Forest Park, where there is a live video feed from the nest to a big screen. NB: Whinlatter is also a major mountain biking centre. |
*'''Forest walks''', provided by the Forestry Commission, starting from the Dodd Wood car park. | *'''Forest walks''', provided by the Forestry Commission, starting from the Dodd Wood car park. | ||
*'''Ivy Crag Wood''' - a small remnant of oak woodland on the slopes of Dodd below Skiddaw | *'''Ivy Crag Wood''' - a small remnant of oak woodland on the slopes of Dodd below Skiddaw | ||
| − | *''' | + | *'''Powterhow Wood''', with a hide (blind), on the south west edge of Bassenthwaite Lake. Access from the car park at Powter How, via a nice walk through the woods, where you might see Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Wood Warblers, and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. There's a tunnel under the A66, so no road crossings involved. Or you can park in the A66 layby at '''Blackstock Point''', and take a walk along the lake side to get there. Location shown by arrow on map referenced in External Links, below.<sup>[[#External Links|'''[2]''']]</sup> |
| + | *'''Dubwath Silver Meadows''', a new wetland nature reserve about 17 acres in size, located at the north west end of Bassenthwaite Lake. 1.6 mile circuit of path and boardwalk, plus hides built in Celtic style.<sup>[[#External Links|'''[3]''']]</sup> | ||
===Access and Facilities=== | ===Access and Facilities=== | ||
| − | *Osprey watching viewpoints are in Dodd Wood, on the east side of the lake. It is 3 miles north of Keswick off the A591, follow signposts to Dodd Wood from the A66. The car park is opposite the entrance to Mirehouse. | + | * The viewpoints will be open and staffed from '''26th March to 29th August''' (Late Summer Bank Holiday), 2016. You may still visit the viewpoints outside of the Osprey season, for beautiful views of Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater. |
| − | *The Lower Viewpoint - open from '''10am to 5pm daily''' and staffed by volunteers. | + | * Osprey watching viewpoints are in Dodd Wood, on the east side of the lake. It is 3 miles north of Keswick off the A591, follow signposts to Dodd Wood from the A66. The car park is opposite the entrance to Mirehouse. |
| − | *The Upper Viewpoint - open from ''' | + | * The Lower Viewpoint - open from '''10am to 5pm daily''' and staffed by volunteers. Excellent views of the Ospreys fishing over the lake. There are feeders out for the local birds, and Red Squirrels sometimes stop by, too. |
| − | *There is no charge to use the viewpoint, but car | + | * The Upper Viewpoint - open from '''10.30am to 5pm daily'''. It is about half a mile, a 30 minutes walk, up a steep incline, to this higher viewpoint. There are telescopes for viewing the nest which is down on the marsh about a mile away. |
| − | *There are public toilets at the car park. | + | * There is no charge to use the viewpoint, but there is Pay & Display Parking at the car park by the Old Sawmill Tearoom. Please note that NO CHANGE IS GIVEN. |
| − | *The Old Sawmill Tearoom at Dodd Wood is open through the Osprey season. | + | * There are public toilets at the car park. |
| − | *The Whinlatter Visitor Centre is located west of Braithwaite, on the B5292 between Braithwaite and Cockermouth - Grid Ref NY208245 | + | * The Old Sawmill Tearoom at Dodd Wood is open through the Osprey season and beyond, closing at the end of October. |
| − | *There is | + | * The Whinlatter Visitor Centre is located west of Braithwaite, on the B5292 between Braithwaite and Cockermouth - Grid Ref NY208245. It is open all year, and the Osprey Exhibition will be open from 10am until 5pm during the period that the ospreys are nesting. Parking charges are the same as Dodd Wood. |
| + | * There is no longer an '''Osprey Bus''' service, due to lack of funding, but a PDF brochure showing a useful map of the area is still available online - see external links.<sup>[[#External Links|'''[4]''']]</sup> | ||
===Contact Details=== | ===Contact Details=== | ||
| Line 46: | Line 71: | ||
Click on images to see a larger version: | Click on images to see a larger version: | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| − | Image:Osprey Viewpoint BF.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Approaching the Upper Osprey Viewpoint, May | + | Image:Osprey info Whinlatter VC.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Osprey information display at Whinlatter Visitor Centre, April 2012 |
| − | Image:Osprey nest Bassenthwaite.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Osprey nest (centre) | + | Image:Whinlatter Osprey display.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Osprey webcam display, Whinlatter Visitor Centre, April 2012 |
| − | Image:Bassenthwaite_Lake.jpg|Photo by {{user|Mad_BMS|Mad_BMS}}<br />Bassenthwaite Lake, looking towards Skiddaw, May | + | Image:Remains of -11.JPG|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Satellite tracked Osprey chick (no. 11) died in West Africa, but its remains were found. Photo on display at Whinlatter Visitor Centre, April 2012 |
| − | Image: | + | Image:Osprey sculpture Whinlatter VS.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Osprey sculpture at Whinlatter Visitor Centre, April 2012 |
| + | Image:Sawmill Tearoom BassLk BF.JPG|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>The Old Sawmill Tearoom at Dodd Wood, August 2013 | ||
| + | Image:Bass Lk north end.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Bassenthwaite Lake looking northwest, July 2010 | ||
| + | Image:Osprey Viewpoint BF.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Approaching the Upper Osprey Viewpoint, May 2009 | ||
| + | Image:Osprey nest Bassenthwaite.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>The 2nd Osprey nest (centre) was only 400m from the Upper Viewpoint. Derwentwater in the background, May 2009 | ||
| + | Image:Bassenthwaite ospreys.jpg|Photo by {{user|charlierocky|charlierocky}}<br>The pair of Ospreys using the second nest for a second year, April 2009 | ||
| + | Image:Osprey nest2 Bassenthwaite.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>The second Osprey nest, May 2009 | ||
| + | Image:Bassenthwaite_Lake.jpg|Photo by {{user|Mad_BMS|Mad_BMS}}<br />Bassenthwaite Lake, looking towards Skiddaw, May 2005 | ||
| + | Image:Osprey BassLk.jpg|Photo by {{user|oncebittern|oncebittern}}<br />Male Osprey fishing on Bassenthwaite Lake, June 2010 | ||
| + | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| − | ''Content and images originally posted by HelenB'' | + | ''Content and images originally posted by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}'' |
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| + | *[http://www.facebook.com/ospreywatch Osprey Watch on Facebook for latest updates] | ||
*[http://www.ospreywatch.co.uk/ Lake District Osprey Project] | *[http://www.ospreywatch.co.uk/ Lake District Osprey Project] | ||
| − | *[http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/ | + | *[http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/ivy-crag-wood Ivy Crag Wood] |
*[http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=321500&y=529500&z=120&sv=Bassenthwaite&st=3&tl=Map+of+Bassenthwaite+Lake,+Cumbria+&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf Bassenthwaite Lake on Streetmap] | *[http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=321500&y=529500&z=120&sv=Bassenthwaite&st=3&tl=Map+of+Bassenthwaite+Lake,+Cumbria+&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf Bassenthwaite Lake on Streetmap] | ||
| + | *[http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=320973&y=524494&z=120&sv=Whinlatter+Forest+Park&st=3&tl=Map+of+Whinlatter+Forest+Park,+Cumbria+Forest+Park&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf Location of the Whinlatter Visitor Centre on Streetmap] | ||
| + | *[http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/171656/bassenthwaite_hirsthole_panel.pdf Bassenthwaite Lake National Nature Reserve - Hursthole Point map and information (printable pdf)] | ||
| + | *[http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/171657/bassenthwaite_ouse_bridge_panel.pdf Bassenthwaite Lake National Nature Reserve - Ouse Bridge map and information (printable pdf)] | ||
| + | #[http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospreywatch/ Flickr album of Osprey and Bassenthwaite photos] | ||
#[http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=322397&y=526720&z=115&sv=322397,526720&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=733&ax=322397&ay=526720&lm=0 Location of hide near Powterhow Wood] | #[http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=322397&y=526720&z=115&sv=322397,526720&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=733&ax=322397&ay=526720&lm=0 Location of hide near Powterhow Wood] | ||
| + | #[http://www.dubwathsilvermeadows.org.uk/ Dubwath Silver Meadows Wetland Nature Reserve] plus [http://www.dubwathsilvermeadows.org.uk/images/stories/dubwath_map.gif Dubwath Silver Meadows map] | ||
| + | #[http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/englandnweospreybustimetable.pdf/$FILE/englandnweospreybustimetable.pdf 2010 Osprey Bus timetable and map of Bassenthwaite area] | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{GSearch|Bassenthwaite}} | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
{{Video|Bassenthwaite}} | {{Video|Bassenthwaite}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Cumbria]] [[Category:Locations]][[Category:Videos]] | + | [[Category:Cumbria]] [[Category:Locations]] [[Category:Videos]] |
Revision as of 02:21, 29 August 2016
Photo by HelenB
View of southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake from the Upper Viewpoint, May 2009.
Click on image to see a larger version
View of southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake from the Upper Viewpoint, May 2009.
Click on image to see a larger version
Overview
Bassenthwaite Lake is a National Nature Reserve, in the Lake District, located in the county of Cumbria in northwest England. It is owned and managed by the Lake District National Park Authority. The area became famous in 2001, when a pair of wild Ospreys nested there, this being the first time in over 150 years that Ospreys had bred in the Lake District. Since then there have been breeding Ospreys every summer and hundreds of people have visited the viewpoints and visitor centre, to see these wonderful birds of prey.
Photo by HelenB
View of Bassenthwaite Lake looking from the lay-by on the B5292 up to Whinlatter Pass, April 2012. The Ospreys built a new nest in 2011, in the flat marshy area on the south side of the lake ~ the area on the middle right of the photo
View of Bassenthwaite Lake looking from the lay-by on the B5292 up to Whinlatter Pass, April 2012. The Ospreys built a new nest in 2011, in the flat marshy area on the south side of the lake ~ the area on the middle right of the photo
2016 Ospreywatch News
- The 2016 Ospreywatch season opens on Saturday, 26th March
- On 26th March, an Osprey was sighted on a branch, via the live CCTV at Whinlatter and it was later confirmed as KL, the female. Last year she arrived on 7th April. A second Osprey (not ringed) was sighted on 27th March and is presumed to be Unring. The pair have been mating and are holding territory over their nest. Although they can't be 100% sure, the Ospreywatch team are pretty sure that the male is KL's mate from last year. When Ospreys migrate, they do not spend the winter together. See the LDOP website for up to date information.
- 13th April: KL and her mate Unring have bonded again this year and KL laid her first egg on 12th April.
- 14th April: The Ospreywatch team have been tracking KL's son White 14, from the 2013 nest. He's on his way north, presently crossing the Sahara Desert and heading for Algeria. It will be interesting to see if he takes a similar route to last year across the Mediterranean, which took him over Italy. Last year he eventually found his way back to the north of England, via a roundabout route into southern Sweden!
- 16th April: KL has laid her second egg and White 14 is now crossing Italy having made landfall near Genoa.
- 17th April: 3rd egg laid at 11.25am this morning!
- 2nd May: KL and Unring are still awaiting the first egg to hatch, but meanwhile No 14 has arrived in the UK after spending a few days exploring the French Alps and their lakes. On 1st May his tracker indicated he was heading towards Penrith and he roosted that night a few miles to the east at Whins Pond. On 3rd May, No 14 went exploring and visited the Osprey nest at Foulshaw Moss in south Cumbria, later returning to the River Eden via the River Lune.
- 6th May: Back at the Bassenthwaite nest, KL and Unring had a visit from a ringed Osprey in the afternoon. It swooped down onto the nest and stole a fish that Unring had brought in for KL. The Ospreywatch staff were able to read the number on the blue ring: FF6, which indicates that this bird was ringed at Loch Doon in Galloway, Scotland in 2015.
- 19th May: The OspreyWatch Team announced that the first egg is hatching and the chick did make it out successfully.
- 20th May: Second chick hatched today!
- 22nd May: Some awful news today. The 3rd chick hatched overnight but was snatched from the nest by a Magpie when both KL and Unring were away for a short time! Unfortunately the Magpies hung around all day harassing the parent Ospreys and also managed to take chick number 2 late in the afternoon.
- 25th May: The remaining chick (the oldest of the 3) was safe when the OpsreyWatch team turned on the camera this morning, but it will remain vulnerable for some time until it grows too big to be taken by a Magpie.
- 13th June: The chick is now almost 4 weeks old and doing very well as there is no competition for the fish being brought in. Another pair of Ospreys have been visiting Bassenthwaite along with a lone male, White 14, which is the satellite tagged Osprey, born there in 2013. He's been flying all over the Lakes and the Eden Valley since returning from Bioko in the Spring.
- 25th June: Ringing Day! The chick was found to be female and the heaviest one they've had at Bassenthwaite! She was fitted with a blue ring with the unique letter/number V5, issued by the British Trust for Ornithology. She was also fited with a satellite transmitter. A contest to name this year's chick has been held and V5 is now named "Bega," after the founder of the church at Bassenthwaite Lake.
- 8th August: Bega fledged on 14th July. She is now a strong flyer and is venturing out over the lake, but has not yet caught any fish for herself. Unring is continuing to bring fish to her on her favourite roost near the nest.
- 14th August: Bega has been exploring the area around the lake - she even visited the first Osprey nest built in 2001! Here's a link to a map showing her recent flights, though the OspreyWatch team mention that she has been over the lake, but these times didn't coincide with the satellite download times! The female adult, KL, has not been seen for several days, so it is presumed that she has left on her southbound migration already.
- 28th August: Monday, 29th August (the August Bank Holiday) will be the last day that the viewpoints will be manned this season, but Bega and Unring are still there and visitors can still go up to the viewpoints with their binoculars and/or their own spotting scopes. Unring is still feeding Bega, however she is practicing jumping into the water from a snag by the mouth of the river. Bega's older brother, White 14, is still being tracked through his movements in the South Lakes area.
Birds
Notable Species
Osprey, Red Kite (28 April, 2010), Barnacle Goose (These are most probably birds from a resident flock on nearby Derwentwater), Eurasian Oystercatcher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tawny Owl, Common Dipper, Common Redstart, European Pied Flycatcher, Eurasian Treecreeper.
Photo by HelenB
Southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake from the Lower Viewpoint, May 09. In 2011, the Ospreys built a new nest in a marshy area there
Southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake from the Lower Viewpoint, May 09. In 2011, the Ospreys built a new nest in a marshy area there
Rarities
Red Kite ~ a total of 60 young Red Kites were released in Grizedale Forest, near Windermere, in the summers of 2010, 2011 and 2012. This is the 9th reintroduction and part of the final phase of Red Kite reintroductions in different parts of the UK. It is very likely that these wing-tagged kites will be seen over Bassenthwaite Lake as they explore the Lake District.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Osprey, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Common Pheasant, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Common Cuckoo, Tawny Owl, Common Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Redstart, Eurasian Blackbird, Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, European Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Common Starling, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Common Raven, Carrion Crow, Rook, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Eurasian Siskin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill
Photo by HelenB
Whinlatter Visitor Centre, located in Whinlatter Forest Park, on the B5292, west of Bassenthwaite Lake, April 2012
Whinlatter Visitor Centre, located in Whinlatter Forest Park, on the B5292, west of Bassenthwaite Lake, April 2012
Other Wildlife
Red Squirrel, Badger, Roe Deer, Otter, Pipistrelle bat, Weasel, Stoat
Site Information
History and Use
In 2001 it was announced that a pair of Ospreys had nested in the woods above Bassenthwaite Lake. This was the first time in 150 years that a wild pair of the birds had bred in the Lake District. The Forestry Commission and the Lake District National Park Authority had provided a nesting platform in the hope that the Ospreys, they had been seeing during the summer for the last few years, would stay and breed there. Once the eggs were laid, wardens kept a 24 hour watch on the nest to protect the birds from any disturbance, such as illegal egg collecting. The RSPB is also involved in extra support for the Lake District Osprey Project.
Photo by HelenB
Bassenthwaite Lake, looking across to Dodd Wood and Skiddaw, from Blackstock Point, July 2015
Bassenthwaite Lake, looking across to Dodd Wood and Skiddaw, from Blackstock Point, July 2015
Areas of Interest
- Osprey viewing from Dodd Wood viewpoints
- Whinlatter Visitor Centre in Whinlatter Forest Park, where there is a live video feed from the nest to a big screen. NB: Whinlatter is also a major mountain biking centre.
- Forest walks, provided by the Forestry Commission, starting from the Dodd Wood car park.
- Ivy Crag Wood - a small remnant of oak woodland on the slopes of Dodd below Skiddaw
- Powterhow Wood, with a hide (blind), on the south west edge of Bassenthwaite Lake. Access from the car park at Powter How, via a nice walk through the woods, where you might see Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Wood Warblers, and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. There's a tunnel under the A66, so no road crossings involved. Or you can park in the A66 layby at Blackstock Point, and take a walk along the lake side to get there. Location shown by arrow on map referenced in External Links, below.[2]
- Dubwath Silver Meadows, a new wetland nature reserve about 17 acres in size, located at the north west end of Bassenthwaite Lake. 1.6 mile circuit of path and boardwalk, plus hides built in Celtic style.[3]
Access and Facilities
- The viewpoints will be open and staffed from 26th March to 29th August (Late Summer Bank Holiday), 2016. You may still visit the viewpoints outside of the Osprey season, for beautiful views of Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater.
- Osprey watching viewpoints are in Dodd Wood, on the east side of the lake. It is 3 miles north of Keswick off the A591, follow signposts to Dodd Wood from the A66. The car park is opposite the entrance to Mirehouse.
- The Lower Viewpoint - open from 10am to 5pm daily and staffed by volunteers. Excellent views of the Ospreys fishing over the lake. There are feeders out for the local birds, and Red Squirrels sometimes stop by, too.
- The Upper Viewpoint - open from 10.30am to 5pm daily. It is about half a mile, a 30 minutes walk, up a steep incline, to this higher viewpoint. There are telescopes for viewing the nest which is down on the marsh about a mile away.
- There is no charge to use the viewpoint, but there is Pay & Display Parking at the car park by the Old Sawmill Tearoom. Please note that NO CHANGE IS GIVEN.
- There are public toilets at the car park.
- The Old Sawmill Tearoom at Dodd Wood is open through the Osprey season and beyond, closing at the end of October.
- The Whinlatter Visitor Centre is located west of Braithwaite, on the B5292 between Braithwaite and Cockermouth - Grid Ref NY208245. It is open all year, and the Osprey Exhibition will be open from 10am until 5pm during the period that the ospreys are nesting. Parking charges are the same as Dodd Wood.
- There is no longer an Osprey Bus service, due to lack of funding, but a PDF brochure showing a useful map of the area is still available online - see external links.[4]
Contact Details
Whinlatter Visitor Centre phone: 017687 78469
Gallery
Click on images to see a larger version:
Photo by HelenB
Osprey information display at Whinlatter Visitor Centre, April 2012
Photo by HelenB
Osprey webcam display, Whinlatter Visitor Centre, April 2012
Photo by HelenB
Satellite tracked Osprey chick (no. 11) died in West Africa, but its remains were found. Photo on display at Whinlatter Visitor Centre, April 2012
Photo by HelenB
Osprey sculpture at Whinlatter Visitor Centre, April 2012
Photo by HelenB
The Old Sawmill Tearoom at Dodd Wood, August 2013
Photo by HelenB
Bassenthwaite Lake looking northwest, July 2010
Photo by HelenB
Approaching the Upper Osprey Viewpoint, May 2009
Photo by HelenB
The 2nd Osprey nest (centre) was only 400m from the Upper Viewpoint. Derwentwater in the background, May 2009
Photo by charlierocky
The pair of Ospreys using the second nest for a second year, April 2009
Photo by HelenB
The second Osprey nest, May 2009
Photo by Mad_BMS
Bassenthwaite Lake, looking towards Skiddaw, May 2005
Photo by oncebittern
Male Osprey fishing on Bassenthwaite Lake, June 2010
Content and images originally posted by HelenB
External Links
- Osprey Watch on Facebook for latest updates
- Lake District Osprey Project
- Ivy Crag Wood
- Bassenthwaite Lake on Streetmap
- Location of the Whinlatter Visitor Centre on Streetmap
- Bassenthwaite Lake National Nature Reserve - Hursthole Point map and information (printable pdf)
- Bassenthwaite Lake National Nature Reserve - Ouse Bridge map and information (printable pdf)
- Flickr album of Osprey and Bassenthwaite photos
- Location of hide near Powterhow Wood
- Dubwath Silver Meadows Wetland Nature Reserve plus Dubwath Silver Meadows map
- 2010 Osprey Bus timetable and map of Bassenthwaite area
