In June of 2000, we visited Haweswater and Riggindale, hoping to see the Golden Eagles, as we had missed them the last time in 1998, and this year we were successful.
Instructions on how to get there are below.
The eagles were very active, although the RSPB Warden at the monitoring site told us that they had unfortunately not bred successfully that season. In fact in the last 8 years, only one chick has been successfully fledged and that was in 1996. This is possibly due to the age of the eagles, as the male is now 29 years old and the female, 24. Also disturbance from walkers on the fells above and a poor food supply have been blamed. Golden Eagles first bred at this site in 1969 and since then 16 young have been produced, all being ringed (banded) at the age of 6 weeks. In 1976 the original male eagle died and was naturally replaced, probably from Scotland, and in 1981 the female also died and was replaced in the same way.
[NOTE: since writing this, I believe that another one of the eagles has recently died and been naturally replaced, but I don't have any details]
The monitoring site has several scopes trained on the 4 eyries that the eagles use. We watched them re-arranging sticks on the nest and were told that they were exhibiting "frustrated nesting syndrome", typical of birds which have had a failed breeding season. We also watched them soaring above the head of Riggindale valley.
Other birds seen on our hike to and from the RSPB site, were: 1 Grey and several Pied (White) Wagtails, and a Common Sandpiper on the edge of the lake. Two Great Cormorants diving in the lake - there is a nesting colony on an island at this end of Haweswater. Also, 32 Canada Geese, 100 Greylag Geese, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Grey Heron. The following woodland/garden species were seen: Song Thrush, Redstart, Robins, Chaffinches, Wren, Treecreeper, Chiffchaff, Coal Tits, Barn Swallows, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Wood Pigeon, Rooks, Jackdaws, and Carrion Crows.
The RSPB Warden told us where to look out for Peregrine Falcons on our drive back down the length of Haweswater. On passing the Haweswater Hotel we saw House Martins, and a flyover of a Common Buzzard. We stopped to check out the Peregrines and were very lucky when 3 juveniles and one adult flew over calling. They alighted on a ledge on the rocky outcrop above the road, giving us a great view through the scope that some other birders had. This was the first time that we had had such great close-up looks at Peregrines and it really ended the day on a very positive note.
Directions:
Haweswater is the most easterly of the lakes, situated west of Shap (on the A6) via minor roads through Rosgill, or south of Penrith, via B roads through the villages of Askham and Bampton. Riggindale is located at the southern end of Haweswater, so you need to drive the length of the reservoir and park in the small carpark at the end of the road. This does get full with fellwalkers, specially on nice days, so go early. The path to the RSPB site is signposted and is not a difficult walk - I think its less than 2 miles, but I don't have access to an OS map over here in the States!
Instructions on how to get there are below.
The eagles were very active, although the RSPB Warden at the monitoring site told us that they had unfortunately not bred successfully that season. In fact in the last 8 years, only one chick has been successfully fledged and that was in 1996. This is possibly due to the age of the eagles, as the male is now 29 years old and the female, 24. Also disturbance from walkers on the fells above and a poor food supply have been blamed. Golden Eagles first bred at this site in 1969 and since then 16 young have been produced, all being ringed (banded) at the age of 6 weeks. In 1976 the original male eagle died and was naturally replaced, probably from Scotland, and in 1981 the female also died and was replaced in the same way.
[NOTE: since writing this, I believe that another one of the eagles has recently died and been naturally replaced, but I don't have any details]
The monitoring site has several scopes trained on the 4 eyries that the eagles use. We watched them re-arranging sticks on the nest and were told that they were exhibiting "frustrated nesting syndrome", typical of birds which have had a failed breeding season. We also watched them soaring above the head of Riggindale valley.
Other birds seen on our hike to and from the RSPB site, were: 1 Grey and several Pied (White) Wagtails, and a Common Sandpiper on the edge of the lake. Two Great Cormorants diving in the lake - there is a nesting colony on an island at this end of Haweswater. Also, 32 Canada Geese, 100 Greylag Geese, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Grey Heron. The following woodland/garden species were seen: Song Thrush, Redstart, Robins, Chaffinches, Wren, Treecreeper, Chiffchaff, Coal Tits, Barn Swallows, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Wood Pigeon, Rooks, Jackdaws, and Carrion Crows.
The RSPB Warden told us where to look out for Peregrine Falcons on our drive back down the length of Haweswater. On passing the Haweswater Hotel we saw House Martins, and a flyover of a Common Buzzard. We stopped to check out the Peregrines and were very lucky when 3 juveniles and one adult flew over calling. They alighted on a ledge on the rocky outcrop above the road, giving us a great view through the scope that some other birders had. This was the first time that we had had such great close-up looks at Peregrines and it really ended the day on a very positive note.
Directions:
Haweswater is the most easterly of the lakes, situated west of Shap (on the A6) via minor roads through Rosgill, or south of Penrith, via B roads through the villages of Askham and Bampton. Riggindale is located at the southern end of Haweswater, so you need to drive the length of the reservoir and park in the small carpark at the end of the road. This does get full with fellwalkers, specially on nice days, so go early. The path to the RSPB site is signposted and is not a difficult walk - I think its less than 2 miles, but I don't have access to an OS map over here in the States!