English Golden Eagle, English Black Guillemots, and a climb up Mount Snowdon! (1 Viewer)

I have just returned from a rather special three days: one in the Dales, one in the Lake District, and one in Snowdonia!

I should stress straight away, though, that the "English" of the title is not so much a nationalistic statement as a statement of rarity. I know that quite a few of you have seen Golden Eagles and Black Guillemots in Scotland (and Black Guillemots in Wales and Isle of Man, too). However, those located in England are rather rarer: both in terms of Golden Eagles (one) and Black Guillemots (high count of five this year so far).

The long weekend actually started with a tutorial I was running in Leeds on Saturday morning [note in case my students are reading: obviously this was one of the highlights of the weekend too......]. Then shot off to Bolton Abbey for my annual very enjoyable trip there.

Saw the specialist birds there I had gone to see - Pied Flycatchers, Redstart, and Wood Warbler (all firsts for the year). Good views of all too. However - and has anyone else noticed this? - Wood Warblers seem to be getting much harder to see these days. When I first went to Bolton Abbey to see them in 1999, they were all over the place, including one at point blank range in the lowermost branches of a tree right by the main path.

However, each year they seem to have got more difficult to see. This year, having heard one, I had to scramble up a wooded slope (taking care not to trample the bluebells) to reach it. Eventually saw it after some looking, and got the good views, but only for about seven or eight seconds until it was off into the foliage again.

There was a strong supporting cast at Bolton Abbey as well, including Nuthatches, Dipper, Treecreepers, Grey Wagtails, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Song and Mistle Thrushes, Oystercatchers, Curlew, and Grey Heron.

On and upwards, on the next stage of the great expedition, to St Bees Head on the west coast of Cumbria, the site of England's only colony of Black Guillemots. Got there earlier than in past years, so, having missed the Black Guillemots there last year for the first time ever, I hit upon a cunning plan. Instead of waiting until the next morning, as I normally do, I went out that evening. And sure enough, I quickly saw one! Success restored after last year's miss. So happily retired to the v. good B&B I stay in annually.

Went out next morning, Sunday, and saw very good views of three Black Guillemots, plus Razorbills, Stonechats, Whitethroats et al, but missed the Ravens that I normally see there. Also very good views of the countryside (as at Bolton Abbey and indeed throughout the weekend).

Then on to the Golden Eagle site at Haweswater. The Eagle was there, still looking for a mate, and consequently we were treated to superb display flights. They certainly deserved success - hope a passing female Eagle agrees! It ended up perching incredibly close to us, right above the viewing centre - the closest I'll ever likely to be to a wild Golden Eagle. It looked stunning.

Also picked up two other first for the year - Ravens and Ring Ouzel, as well as Wheatears. The two Ravens were battling with two Crows midair - not much corvid solidarity there, then. Made for impressive viewing, though!

Then set off south, turning right at Wales and reaching Snowdonia. Made it before sunset so visited Dolbarden Castle and great views of it and surrounding scenery. Then reached the beginning of the Watkin Path at the base of Snowdon's foothills (recommended by BFer Paul Ashton), and settled down to sleep in the car (had brought duvet and pillows with me - if something is worth doing, it's worth doing properly!). And got a decent night's sleep as well.

Next day, Monday, in glorious weather, climbed Mount Snowdon. Saw Pied Flycatcher, Grey Wagtails, Stonechats, and Wheaters in the foothills. Then a disconcertingly long period with few birds (and hard slog!) before finally reached the top of the highest mountain in Wales and England. Saw four Ravens at the top, and, interestingly, Herring Gulls. And shortly after the descent began, saw Ring Ouzel too.

Alas, though, no Choughs! [sigh]. They have definitely taken over from Hawfinch [see another thread of mine!] as my bogey bird. However, it was still a terrific long weekend, with great birds, and a really enjoyable time. Year list up to almost 190, which for me in early May is a record!

A cracking weekends birding Alan.
I'm getting itchy feet to head up to Haweswater after reading about your visit!

I know what you mean about bogey birds - still looking for my first Hawfinch! Haven't read your previous thread on this but will take a look at that later.

If you get the opportunity to come back to North Wales and are still looking for them Choughs, South Stack on Anglesey has proved a reliable spot in the past for me.

markgriff said:

A cracking weekends birding Alan.
I'm getting itchy feet to head up to Haweswater after reading about your visit!

I know what you mean about bogey birds - still looking for my first Hawfinch! Haven't read your previous thread on this but will take a look at that later.

If you get the opportunity to come back to North Wales and are still looking for them Choughs, South Stack on Anglesey has proved a reliable spot in the past for me.

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Hi Mark,

Thanks for your kind comments re the thread. Haweswater is fantastic - do get there if you can.

However, as far as South Stack goes, it helps to show why Choughs have become my bogey bird, now that Hawfinch has been vanquished! I must be one of the few people to have gone to South Stack and not seen Choughs! I went on what turned out to be a very foggy day in August 2001. None of us saw Choughs that day, even when the fog partially lifted. Did see Peregrines, Ravens and Shags, but it wasn't the same.

I think I'll go for those Cornish Choughs some time - they may be more forthcoming!

Alan

A well written report Alan, though I was exhausted just through reading it. You certainly put in some miles that weekend. Some superb birds too. The Bolton Abbey birds are pretty much the same as we have in Teesdale. We certainly have plenty of Wood Warblers this year, but as you say they are proving hard to spot. I have only had fleeting glimpses of them so far and only heard the Redstarts.

We're off to Cumbria for a week at the start of June and after reading your report we will be calling in at Haweswater and popping over to St. Bee's Head. Didn't you bother with the Ospreys at Bassenthwaite? They'll likely be the only ones that we see this year. I wouldn't mind Ring Ouzel too!

You report made for an interesting and informative read :t:

IanF said:

A well written report Alan, though I was exhausted just through reading it. You certainly put in some miles that weekend. Some superb birds too. The Bolton Abbey birds are pretty much the same as we have in Teesdale. We certainly have plenty of Wood Warblers this year, but as you say they are proving hard to spot. I have only had fleeting glimpses of them so far and only heard the Redstarts.

We're off to Cumbria for a week at the start of June and after reading your report we will be calling in at Haweswater and popping over to St. Bee's Head. Didn't you bother with the Ospreys at Bassenthwaite? They'll likely be the only ones that we see this year. I wouldn't mind Ring Ouzel too!

You report made for an interesting and informative read :t:

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Hi Ian,

Thanks for your kind comments about the thread - glad you enjoyed it, and glad it inspired you to go to St Bees Head and Haweswater.

Also glad you agree with me about the growing elusiveness of Wood Warblers! Anyone got a theory on why this is?

No, I didn't bother with the Ospreys at Bassenthwaite, because I should hopefully get them at Loch Garten when I make my annual trip up to the Cairngorms. I'm already looking forward to my trip, next month. The Cairngorms are fantastic. Others evidently agree: I gave my annual trip there a brief mention in the very first thread I did for BF, late last year, and even that brief mention excited a good level of interest.

Yes, like you I do enjoy seeing Ring Ouzels - they are in my top 20 British birds. I should see them in the Cairngorms too, but it was good that I saw them at Haweswater and again on Snowdon, just in case!

Alan

An excellent read Alan - and sounds like an enjoyable weekend, I have never been fortunate enough to connect with Golden Eagle at Haweswater, thought I did have a superb male Peregrine just above the car park on my last visit.
If you are hoping for Ring Ouzel in the cairngorms keep your eyes peeled around the car park at Cairngorm itself - there was a very showy male singing perched on the avalanche fences around the base of the ski - lift car on my recent visit.