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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. | ||
| − | *'''25th March:''' the Lake District Osprey Project at '''Dodd Wood''' opens on Saturday, '''31st March, 2012''' and will run through Sunday, 2nd September, 2012. Mr and Mrs "No Ring" have not yet returned to Bassenthwaite and the 2010 satellite tagged chick, no. 12, is still on his "wintering" grounds in The Gambia, West Africa! The Osprey Project team have built a secure platform and attached it to the tree down by the | + | *'''25th March:''' the Lake District Osprey Project at '''Dodd Wood''' opens on Saturday, '''31st March, 2012''' and will run through Sunday, 2nd September, 2012. Mr and Mrs "No Ring" have not yet returned to Bassenthwaite and the 2010 satellite tagged chick, no. 12, is still on his "wintering" grounds in The Gambia, West Africa! The Osprey Project team have built a secure platform and attached it to the tree down by the River Derwent, where the pair built their new nest last year, as it was pretty much destroyed in a bad storm over the winter. They have been able to attach a camera, so that progress in the nest can be observed this year. |
*'''Latest News:''' 28th March - Ospreys were seen over Wythop Forest and Derwentwater, but Mr and Mrs No-Ring still not back. The '''Exhibition at the Whinlatter Centre''' will be staffed and open from '''2nd April, 2012.''' | *'''Latest News:''' 28th March - Ospreys were seen over Wythop Forest and Derwentwater, but Mr and Mrs No-Ring still not back. The '''Exhibition at the Whinlatter Centre''' will be staffed and open from '''2nd April, 2012.''' | ||
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[[Osprey]], [[Red Kite]] (28 April, 2010), [[Barnacle Goose]] (5 June, 2010 - photo below right. 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]]. | [[Osprey]], [[Red Kite]] (28 April, 2010), [[Barnacle Goose]] (5 June, 2010 - photo below right. 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 the marshy area by the River Derwent]] |
| − | [[Image:Bassenthwaite ospreys.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Photo by {{user|charlierocky|charlierocky}}<br>The pair of Ospreys using the nest in the | + | [[Image:Bassenthwaite ospreys.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Photo by {{user|charlierocky|charlierocky}}<br>The pair of Ospreys using the nest in the second location for a second year, April 2009]] |
===Rarities=== | ===Rarities=== | ||
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===Access and Facilities=== | ===Access and Facilities=== | ||
| − | *'''Both viewpoints will be open and staffed from | + | *'''Both viewpoints will be open and staffed from 31st March, 2012 to 2nd Sept, 2012.''' 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. | *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. No views of the nest, but excellent views of the Ospreys fishing over the lake. | *The Lower Viewpoint - open from '''10am to 5pm daily''' and staffed by volunteers. No views of the nest, but excellent views of the Ospreys fishing over the lake. | ||
| − | *The Upper Viewpoint - open from ''' | + | *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 car parking charges | + | *There is no charge to use the viewpoint, but car parking charges for 2010 were as follows: £1.60 for 1.5 hours, £2.50 for 2 hours, £4.50 for 4 hours and £5.80 for all day. |
*There are public toilets at the car park. | *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 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. | *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. | ||
| − | *There | + | *There was no '''Osprey Bus''' running for the 2011 season, due to lack of funding and no information can be found for the 2012 season. 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=== | ||
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Click on images to see a larger version: | Click on images to see a larger version: | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| − | |||
Image:Bass Lk north end.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Bassenthwaite Lake looking north, May 09 | Image:Bass Lk north end.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Bassenthwaite Lake looking north, May 09 | ||
Image:Osprey Viewpoint BF.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Approaching the Upper Osprey Viewpoint, May 09 | Image:Osprey Viewpoint BF.jpg|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br/>Approaching the Upper Osprey Viewpoint, May 09 | ||
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Image:Osprey BassLk.jpg|Photo by {{user|oncebittern|oncebittern}}<br />Male Osprey fishing on Bassenthwaite Lake, June 2010 | Image:Osprey BassLk.jpg|Photo by {{user|oncebittern|oncebittern}}<br />Male Osprey fishing on Bassenthwaite Lake, June 2010 | ||
Image:Dipper.jpg|Photo by {{user|charlierocky|charlierocky}}<br />Common Dipper, photographed near Keswick | Image:Dipper.jpg|Photo by {{user|charlierocky|charlierocky}}<br />Common Dipper, photographed near Keswick | ||
| + | Image:Barnacle Geese BassLk.jpg|Photo by {{user|oncebittern|oncebittern}}<br/>The unusual sight of 10 Barnacle Geese over Bassenthwaite Lake, 5 June 2010 | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 21:32, 30 March 2012
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.
- 25th March: the Lake District Osprey Project at Dodd Wood opens on Saturday, 31st March, 2012 and will run through Sunday, 2nd September, 2012. Mr and Mrs "No Ring" have not yet returned to Bassenthwaite and the 2010 satellite tagged chick, no. 12, is still on his "wintering" grounds in The Gambia, West Africa! The Osprey Project team have built a secure platform and attached it to the tree down by the River Derwent, where the pair built their new nest last year, as it was pretty much destroyed in a bad storm over the winter. They have been able to attach a camera, so that progress in the nest can be observed this year.
- Latest News: 28th March - Ospreys were seen over Wythop Forest and Derwentwater, but Mr and Mrs No-Ring still not back. The Exhibition at the Whinlatter Centre will be staffed and open from 2nd April, 2012.
Birds
Notable Species
Osprey, Red Kite (28 April, 2010), Barnacle Goose (5 June, 2010 - photo below right. 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.
Southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake from the Lower Viewpoint, May 09. In 2011, the Ospreys built a new nest in the marshy area by the River Derwent
The pair of Ospreys using the nest in the second location for a second year, April 2009
Rarities
Red Kite ~ 60 young Red Kites were released in Grizedale Forest, near Windermere, in the summers of 2010 and 2011. This is the 9th reintroduction and part of the final phase of Red Kite reintroductions in different parts of the UK. 30 more will be released in the summer of 2012. 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, 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, Common Woodpigeon, 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, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, European Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill, House Sparrow, Common Starling, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Raven
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.
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
- Both viewpoints will be open and staffed from 31st March, 2012 to 2nd Sept, 2012. 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. No views of the nest, but excellent views of the Ospreys fishing over the lake.
- 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 car parking charges for 2010 were as follows: £1.60 for 1.5 hours, £2.50 for 2 hours, £4.50 for 4 hours and £5.80 for all day.
- 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.
- There was no Osprey Bus running for the 2011 season, due to lack of funding and no information can be found for the 2012 season. 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
Bassenthwaite Lake looking north, May 09
Photo by HelenB
Approaching the Upper Osprey Viewpoint, May 09
Photo by HelenB
Osprey nest (centre) is only 400m from viewpoint. Derwentwater in the background, May 09
Photo by HelenB
Osprey nest, May 09.
Photo by Mad_BMS
Bassenthwaite Lake, looking towards Skiddaw, May 05
Photo by oncebittern
Male Osprey fishing on Bassenthwaite Lake, June 2010
Photo by charlierocky
Common Dipper, photographed near Keswick
Photo by oncebittern
The unusual sight of 10 Barnacle Geese over Bassenthwaite Lake, 5 June 2010
Content and images originally posted by HelenB
External Links
- Lake District Osprey Project
- Ivy Crag Wood
- Bassenthwaite Lake on Streetmap
- Location of the Whinlatter Visitor Centre on Streetmap
- Daily video diary of Osprey activities
- Location of hide near Powterhow Wood
- Dubwath Silver Meadows Wetland Nature Reserve plus Dubwath Silver Meadows info and map
- 2010 Osprey Bus timetable and map of Bassenthwaite area
