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Birds |
Page Editor: Norman Jackson Last Reviewed: 19 Jun 2008
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The valley has a good range of habitats, including lakes, rivers, broad-leaved and coniferous woodlands, grassland, marsh, moorland and mountain/crags. This is why some 115 bird species have been recorded in the area in recent years.
The birds recorded are listed in the following table, including an indication of their status in this valley (note: the term 'Rare' relates to this area - they may be common elsewhere e.g. Starlings). Key: W = Winter Visitor S = Summer Visitor A = Present All Year B = Breeding Confirmed |
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If you know of other birds that have been seen and are not on the list, or if you spot anything in the future, please send details to the Page Editor. |
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Great news is that there have been two reports of Barn Owls in the valley this year (2008). The first was seen at Hartsop and the second was heard at Rookings. Nowadays, this is a very rare bird for the valley. It is estimated that there are less than 200 pairs in the whole of Cumbria and most of these are in the agricultural areas of the south, west and north. So it would be wonderful if it stayed, better still if there is a pair and they bred. We should keep a good look out over the next few months - particularly at dusk. |
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Species |
Status |
Notes |
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Mute Swan |
A,B |
Usually 6 or more off the steamer pier |
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Bewick's Swan |
W |
Rare passage migrant - 7 seen on Ullswater off Jenkins Field in Nov 05 |
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Whooper Swan |
W |
Rare passage migrant - reports of a few birds on Angle Tarn in Nov 02 |
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Greylag Goose |
A,B |
Common feral resident. Winter flocks of 400 birds have been seen. |
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Canada Goose |
A,B |
Common feral resident. Breeds in small numbers |
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Barnacle Goose |
A |
At least 100 geese are feral residents but they are occasionally joined in Winter by flocks from the Solway. Over 200 near Blowick in Feb 08 |
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Brent Goose |
W |
Rare - small flocks have been seen on Jenkins Field |
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Wigeon |
W |
Irregular visitor - 140 on Ullswater in Feb 05 |
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Teal |
A |
More common in winter |
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Mallard |
A,B |
Widespread on most lakes and tarns |
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Pochard |
W |
More common in winter |
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Tufted Duck |
A,B |
75 on Ullswater in Oct 06 |
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Scaup |
W |
Uncommon, strays from Solway occasionally seen |
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Goldeneye |
W |
Generally Nov-Mar but a female present on Ullswater Jun & Jul 03. 18 on Ullswater in Nov 03 |
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Red-breasted Merganser |
A,B |
Small numbers seen regularly throughout the year. Breeding records for Ullswater. |
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Goosander |
A,B |
Small numbers seen regularly throughout the year. Breeding records for Ullswater and Brothers Water. |
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Red Grouse |
A,B |
Gowbarrow Fell is a good place to see and hear these birds |
| Pheasant |
A,B |
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Little Grebe |
A,B |
Present all year on Ullswater, Brothers Water and Angle Tarn in the Summer. 18 seen in Nov 03 |
| Great Crested Grebe |
A,B |
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Cormorant |
A,B |
A peak count of 41 birds was recorded on Ullswater in Oct 06 |
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Grey Heron |
A |
Seen regularly but not aware of any Heronries in the valley |
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Sparrowhawk |
A |
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Buzzard |
A,B |
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Golden Eagle |
A |
Not seen in this valley since the female died in 2006 and breeding stopped. Visit the RSPB hut at Riggindale to see the lonely male. |
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Kestrel |
A,B |
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Merlin |
A |
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Peregrine Falcon |
A,B |
Often heard before you see them. |
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Moorhen |
A,B |
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Coot |
A,B |
Gatherings in winter can exceed 500 birds |
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Oystercatcher |
A |
Small numbers regularly seen |
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Lapwing |
A |
Not common in the valley but a few sightings |
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Snipe |
A |
Not common and species is generally in decline |
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Woodcock |
A |
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Curlew |
A |
Flock of 28 seen near Hole-in-the Wall, Jul 07 |
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Common Sandpiper |
S |
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| Redshank |
A |
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Common Gull |
W |
Very large flocks (over 20,000) have been recorded roosting around Ullswater Jan/Feb |
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Lesser Black-backed Gull |
S |
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Herring Gull |
A |
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Great Black-backed Gull |
A |
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Black-headed Gull |
A |
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Stock Dove |
A |
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Woodpigeon |
A,B |
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Collared Dove |
A |
Quite rare in the valley |
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Cuckoo |
S,B |
Having been away, I first heard them on 12 May in 2008 but I'm sure someone must have heard them earlier than this? Let me know. |
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Barn Owl |
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Very rare in the valley - yet two reports in Spring 2008 |
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Tawny Owl |
A,B |
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Swift |
S,B |
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Kingfisher |
A |
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Green Woodpecker |
A,B |
More often heard than seen but fairly common |
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Great Spotted Woodpecker |
A,B |
Common |
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Skylark |
S,B |
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Sand Martin |
S |
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Swallow |
S,B |
First 2008 sighting on 14th April |
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House Martin |
S,B |
First 2008 sighting on 28th April |
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Tree Pipit |
S |
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Meadow Pipit |
A,B |
Very common in Summer |
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Grey Wagtail |
A |
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Pied Wagtail |
A,B |
More common in summer - tend to roost in towns during the winter |
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Waxwing |
W |
Rare but small flocks have been seen here |
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Dipper |
A,B |
Common, particularly on Goldrill Beck |
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Wren |
A,B |
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Dunnock |
A,B |
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Robin |
A,B |
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Redstart |
S,B |
First 2008 sighting on 2 May, 2 pairs near Beckstones |
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Whinchat |
A,B |
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Stonechat |
A,B |
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Wheatear |
S,B |
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Ring Ouzel |
S,B |
Usually only seen above 250m. The fells to the west of the valley seem to have more sightings. |
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Blackbird |
A,B |
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Fieldfare |
W |
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Song Thrush |
A,B |
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Redwing |
W |
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Mistle Thrush |
A |
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Sedge Warbler |
S,B |
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Blackcap |
S,B |
First 2008 sighting on 1 May |
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Garden Warbler |
S,B |
First 2008 sighting on 18 May |
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Wood Warbler |
S,B |
First 2008 sighting on 18 May |
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Chiffchaff |
S,B |
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Willow Warbler |
S,B |
First 2008 sighting on 27 April |
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Goldcrest |
A,B |
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Spotted Flycatcher |
S,B |
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Pied Flycatcher |
S,B |
First 2008 sighting on 2 May, a male near Beckstones |
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Long-tailed Tit |
A,B |
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Blue Tit |
A,B |
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Great Tit |
A,B |
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Coal Tit |
A,B |
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Nuthatch |
A,B |
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Treecreeper |
A,B |
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Jay |
A |
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Magpie |
A |
Still scarce here but numbers are 'unfortunately' increasing |
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Jackdaw |
A,B |
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Rook |
A,B |
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Carrion Crow |
A,B |
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Raven |
A,B |
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Starling |
A |
Actually a rare bird in the valley ! |
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House Sparrow |
A,B |
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Chaffinch |
A,B |
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Greenfinch |
A,B |
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Goldfinch |
A |
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Siskin |
A |
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Linnet |
A |
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Lesser Redpoll |
A |
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Crossbill |
A |
Small flock of 30 birds seen at Glenamara Park Feb 06 |
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Bullfinch |
A |
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Snow Bunting |
W |
Small flocks have been seen on Helvellyn, Glenridding Common and High Street. Usually in Jan/Feb. |
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Yellowhammer |
A,B |
Quite common |
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Reed Bunting |
A |
Occasionally seen along Goldrill Beck |