It’s been another very wet and soggy couple of weeks here at Geltsdale, but at least it’s still fairly mild (with only one sharp frost). And we must be grateful that we did avoid the extreme flooding that they had to endure further East. Sightings of summer visitors continue around the Reserve, with stonechats, chiff chaffs and ring ouzels all seen in recent days. Finches and tits are now gathering into large foraging flocks, often many scores together. We’re still waiting for redwings and fieldfares to appear, though mistle thrushes are often to be seen in double figure parties.
We’ve had our first couple of early Jack snipe (seen on the Eastern side of the Reserve), and there are still plenty of flocks of Lapwing moving around. Pink-footed geese skeins are occasionally spotted, and the first flock of Barnacle geese were seen passing over towards the Solway last week.
Black grouse are becoming more visible now, with groups of both males and females seen around the visitor trails recently. On the Tarn there have been a few more ducks around, with Pochard and Teal prominent. Last week a Water rail was heard squealing from next to the Tarn screen. And finally a Barn owl has started to roost in the barn near the Visitor Centre – hopefully it will over-winter successfully and find a mate in time for the spring.